Axel Scherer

Axel Scherer is the Bernard Neches Professor of Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics and Physics and Merkin Institute Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He has been a faculty member at Caltech since 1993, progressing from Associate Professor to full Professor in 1995, and was appointed to the Bernard Neches Professorship in 2000 and the Merkin Institute Professorship in 2021. He previously served as Director (2006-08) and Co-Director (2008-11) of the Kavli Nanoscience Institute at Caltech.

Professor Scherer received his B.S. (1981), M.S. (1982), and Ph.D. (1985) from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. His academic career has been centered at Caltech where he has made significant contributions to nanotechnology and photonics.

Professor Scherer's research focuses on the application of microfabrication to integrated microsystems, with recent specialization on developing sensors and diagnostic tools for low-cost point-of-care disease detection and precision health monitoring. His group has pioneered microcavity lasers and filters, and currently works on integrating microfluidic chips with electronic, photonic, and magnetic sensors. They have also developed silicon nanophotonics, surface plasmon enhanced light emitting diodes, and perfected the fabrication of ultra-small structures below 10nm. Key research areas include silicon photonics for optical communications, point-of-care diagnostic tools, implantable wireless health monitors, nanostructure fabrication, and plasmonic sensing of biomolecules.

Analysis of Professor Scherer's recent publications (2019-2024) reveals a continued focus on nanofabrication techniques, particularly for sub-10nm structures, and the development of advanced optical and sensing systems. His work spans multiple disciplines including nanophotonics, microfluidics, vacuum nanoelectronics, and biomedical sensing. A notable trend is the development of compact, robust optical systems for practical applications like disease detection and environmental monitoring.

• Elected to National Academy of Inventors
• Recipients of Demetriades - Tsafka - Kokkalis Prizes

Professor Scherer leads the Caltech Nanofabrication Group, which specializes in the design, fabrication, and characterization of nanoscale photonic, magnetic, and fluidic devices and systems. His research has been supported by various grants enabling the development of innovative technologies such as silicon photonics for agile optical data communications, point-of-care diagnostic tools, and implantable wireless health monitors. The group has made significant contributions to the miniaturization of vacuum tube technology and optical strain gauges.

Professor Scherer has also been involved in educational initiatives at Caltech, teaching courses such as APh 119 (Nanofabrication Techniques), EE/APh 180 (Nanotechnology), and APh/EE 9 (Solid-State Electronics for Integrated Circuits). His laboratory, the Caltech Nanofabrication Group, continues to push the boundaries of nanoscale device fabrication and application.