Jena Receives CAREER Award

Assistant Professor Debdeep Jena of the Department of Electrical Engineering has been named the recipient of a 2007 National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career (CAREER) Award. A faculty member since 2003, Jena’s winning proposal, “Dielectric Engineering of Quantum-Wire Solids: Fundamentals to Applications,” addresses the fundamental properties of tiny semiconductor “nanowires” and includes research activities and curricula for undergraduates, graduate students and high school outreach.

Jena’s research focuses on two topics: the growth and properties of “III-V semiconductors,” which are complex electronic materials capable of operating faster than silicon, the traditional workhorse for the semiconductor industry, and their application to solid-state devices such as high-speed electronic devices and photovoltaics (solar cells); and the investigation and development of nanoscale devices based on quantum wires.

Established by NSF in 1995, the CAREER program recognizes and supports junior faculty who exhibit a commitment to conducting research and providing educational opportunities for students. It is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to young faculty in engineering and science.

Copyright 2007. University of Notre Dame.