March 7, 2000
University Park, Pa. -- Venkatraman Gopalan, assistant professor of materials science and engineering with Penn State's Materials Research Laboratory, and Zi-Kui Liu, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, have received National Science Foundation CAREER awards.
CAREER awards support exceptionally promising college and university junior faculty who are committed to the integration of research and education. The awards range from $200,000 to $500,000 for a period of four to five years. Wishing to nurture professorial career development, NSF places a high value on the synthesis of research and education as integral to stimulating the discovery and learning process. Career awardees also become eligible to receive the White House's highest honor for new scientists and engineers, the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
Gopalan received the award to pursue real-time studies of domain dynamics in ferroelectrics for photonic applications. Over the next four years, his group will investigate the structure and dynamics of individual domain walls in ferroelectrics using a range of probing techniques such as real-time electro-optic imaging microscopy, second harmonic generation microscopy, near-field scanning optical microscopy and scanning probe microscopy.
These fundamental studies will break new ground in understanding the nucleation, growth and merger dynamics of domains on nanometer length scales, and microsecond time scales, and suggest effective ways to shape domains into diverse shapes for integrated optical applications.
Liu received the award to combine thermodynamic calculations with phase transformation calculation to design magnesium alloys with tailored properties of interest to the automotive industry. These alloys would be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Unlike classical alloys, his approach first designs the alloy using computer models.
The project will also use computers, computational approaches and data mining in engineering thermodynamics classes to teach students core courses.
NSF established the CAREER grants program to help top-performing scientists and engineers develop simultaneously their contributions and commitment to research and education early in their careers. The program rewards academic talent in all areas supported by NSF's research and education programs in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
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Contacts:
A'ndrea Elyse Messer (814) 865-9481 (o)/ (814) 867-1774 (h)
Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 (o)/ (814) 238-1221(h)