Evelyn Hu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelyn L. Hu
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|---|---|
| Born | 1947 |
| Nationality |  American |
| Alma mater | Barnard College Columbia University |
| Known for | Fabrication of nanoscale devices |
| Awards | NAE (2002) NAS (2008) IEEE Andrew Grove Award IEEE Maxwell Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Applied Physics |
| Institutions | Harvard University U C Santa Barbara |
| Doctoral advisor | Chien-Shiung Wu |
Evelyn L. Hu (Chinese: 胡玲) is a famous scientist. She is a professor of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering at Harvard University. Professor Hu has done amazing work in nanotechnology. This field is about working with super tiny materials. She designs and creates complex nanostructures, which are structures built at the nanoscale.
Her work often involves making tiny devices from special materials called semiconductors. She also creates new devices by mixing different materials, both natural and man-made. Some of her research focuses on nanophotonic structures. These could one day help with quantum computing, which is a new type of super-fast computer.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Evelyn Hu was born in New York City. Her parents moved to the United States from China in the 1940s. She went to Hunter College High School.
She studied physics at Barnard College, earning her first degree in 1969. She then continued her studies at Columbia University. There, she earned her master's degree in 1971 and her PhD in 1975. Her PhD advisor was a famous nuclear physicist named Chien-Shiung Wu.
Career and Important Discoveries
Evelyn Hu worked at AT&T's Bell Laboratories from 1975 to 1984. After that, she became a full professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She has been a professor there since 1984. She also led the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UCSB for several years.
In 2008, she was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United States. She was a pioneer in making tiny electronic and photonic devices. In 2009, she became a professor at Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
Since 2000, she has also helped lead the California NanoSystems Institute. This is a joint effort between UCSB and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Nanofabrication and New Materials
Professor Hu's work in nanofabrication is very important. Nanofabrication means making things at a very, very small scale. She has found ways to create tiny patterns and etch circuits onto nanoscale materials.
She has also explored using biology to create new nanotechnology. This means using natural ways that living things build themselves to control how new devices are made. Some of her ideas even led her to start a company called Cambrios Technology. This company creates new, affordable materials for electronic devices.
At UCSB, she has led several important research centers. These centers focus on quantum engineering, electronic structures, and robotic systems in microelectronics.
Quantum Dots and Future Technology
In 2012, Harvard University shared news about Professor Hu's research. She was looking into using tiny gallium nitride pieces. These pieces are called quantum dots. They are used in nanophotonics.
Nanophotonics is the study of how light behaves with materials at the nanoscale. This research could lead to better smartphone screens. It might also help scientists study biological cells more safely. For example, they could use special lights to "tag" cells to see how they work. Professor Hu also works as an editor for the science journal Science.
Awards and Honors
Evelyn Hu has received many important awards for her scientific work:
- 1994: She became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
- 1995: She became a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
- 1998: She became a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- 2002: She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
- 2008: She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
- 2013: She received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University.
- 2019: She received the IEEE Andrew Grove Technical Field Award.
- 2019: She received an honorary doctorate from ETH in Zurich.
- 2021: She received the IEEE/RSE James Clerk Maxwell Medal.
See also
In Spanish: Evelyn Hu para niños
