October 23, 2009
Assistant professors in electrical engineering Drs. Seth Bank and Mikhail Belkin have received prestigious Young Investigator Awards from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research to develop novel materials for control and detection of infrared light. The new materials promise to improve the performance of infrared systems used for chemical sensing, security screening, free-space communications, microscopy, and defense-related applications. Together, the two awards total over $1 million.
Bank will work on manipulating the interfacial electrical and optical properties of dissimilar materials using metallic nanostructures. Belkin will investigate tunable quantum electronic metamaterials in the mid-infrared spectral range.
The U.S. Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program is open to U.S. scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last five years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The program’s objective is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators, and increase opportunities for young investigators to recognize the U.S. Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.
This year the program received 202 proposals and granted 38 awards. The University of Texas at Austin led the nation in number of awards with a total of three. A third award was given to Prof. Michael Walfish of the Computer Science department.
This year the program received 202 proposals and granted 38 awards. The University of Texas at Austin led the nation in number of awards with a total of three. A third award was given to Prof. Michael Walfish of the Computer Science department.
About the Cockrell School of Engineering:
The Cockrell School ranks among the top ten engineering programs in the United States and aspires to move into the top five. With the nation's fourth highest number of faculty members elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the Cockrell School's more than 7,000 students work with many of the world's finest engineering educators and researchers. This environment prepares graduates to become engineering leaders and innovators working for the betterment of society.