Adrienne Stiff-Roberts facts for kids

Adrienne Stiff-Roberts is an American electrical engineer. She is a professor at Duke University. She holds the Jeffrey N. Vinik Professor title in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her work focuses on creating new types of materials. These materials are used in devices that work with light and energy.

Early Life and Learning

Adrienne Stiff-Roberts started her college journey at Spelman College. She earned her bachelor's degree in physics in 1991. While there, she was part of a special program. It was for women in science and engineering. This program was supported by NASA and Spelman College.

During her summers, she worked as an intern. She helped at the Ames Research Center. After Spelman, she went to the Georgia Institute of Technology. She earned a degree in engineering there in 1999.

She then moved to the University of Michigan. There, she studied for her advanced degrees. She researched tiny light sensors called quantum dot photodetectors. These sensors help detect light. She earned her PhD in 2004. She also received support from important fellowships. These included the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and AT&T Labs.

Research and Career

In 2004, Dr. Stiff-Roberts joined Duke University. She leads a lab that works on a special technology. It is called Resonant Infrared Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (RIR-MAPLE). This method helps create new materials. It is a very precise way to build things.

The RIR-MAPLE technique starts with a frozen liquid. This liquid contains tiny building blocks. A laser then blasts these frozen blocks in a vacuum. The laser is set to match the liquid's molecules. This allows scientists to control the material very carefully. She is also working with another scientist, David Mitzi. They are creating perovskite solar cells. These cells can turn sunlight into electricity.

Dr. Stiff-Roberts also works to make engineering more diverse. She wants more different people to join the field. At Duke University, she runs a program. It is called SENSOR Saturday Academy. This program helps minority students in 8th grade. It gives them chances to do research.

In 2017, she took part in Duke University's celebration of "Hidden Figures". This event honored important African-American women in science. She is also a member of the National Society of Black Physicists. In 2019, she was promoted to a special professor role at Duke.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Stiff-Roberts has received many important awards for her work:

• 2016 Julian Abele Award for Graduate Mentor of the Year. This award recognized her great work helping students.
• 2009 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Early Career Award in Nanotechnology. This award was for her early achievements in tiny technology.
• 2008 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is a top award from the U.S. President.
• 2007 Young Investigator Program Award from the Office of Naval Research.
• 2006 National Science Foundation CAREER Award. This award helps young scientists with their research.

See also

In Spanish: Adrienne Stiff-Roberts para niños