Mitra Dutta facts for kids

Mitra Dutta (born 1953) is an Indian-American scientist. She is an expert in both physics and electronics engineering. She is especially known for her work with optoelectronics. This is a field that combines light and electronics.

Mitra Dutta is a very respected professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She used to be in charge of all the research at the university.

Her Journey in Education and Career

Early Studies and Degrees

Mitra Dutta started her higher education at Gauhati University. She then earned a master's degree in physics from the University of Delhi. Later, she moved to the University of Cincinnati in the United States. There, she earned another master's degree and her PhD in physics.

Working in Research

After her studies, Dr. Dutta worked as a researcher at several important places. These included Purdue University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. She then joined the United States Army Research Laboratory. There, she became a team leader and eventually led the physics division.

In 1996, she moved to the Army Research Office. She became the head of the electronics division. Later, she was the director for research technology and integration. This meant she helped guide new research projects.

Leading at the University

Dr. Dutta joined the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2001. By 2004, she was named a "Distinguished Professor." This is a special title for professors who are highly recognized.

For over ten years, she led the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 2012, she was chosen to be the Vice Chancellor for Research. This was a very important role where she oversaw all the research activities at the university. She held this position until 2018.

Books She Has Written

Mitra Dutta has also written several books. She co-authored Phonons in Nanostructures in 2001. She also co-authored Introduction to Optical and Optoelectronic Properties of Nanostructures in 2019. These books help others learn about tiny structures and how light and electronics work together. She has also edited other collections of scientific papers.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Dutta has received many honors for her work.

• In 1998, she became a Fellow of the Optical Society.
• In 1999, she was named a Fellow of the IEEE. This was for her important contributions to devices that use both light and electronics.
• The IEEE gave her the Harry Diamond Memorial Award in 2000. This award recognized her creative designs and research in high-performance electronic devices.
• The Society of Women Engineers honored her with their Achievement Award in 2003.
• In 2012, she became a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). This was for her leadership in research in both government and universities. She was recognized for supporting how physics helps society and for improving physics education.
• She is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.