David G Cahill

David G Cahill is the W. W. Grainger Chair and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Science and Engineering, and Materials Research Lab at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on thermal conductivity of advanced materials, energy storage systems, and magnetothermal phenomena. He has pioneered techniques like time-domain thermoreflectance for nanoscale thermal characterization.

Key research areas include:

• Anisotropic thermal properties in polymers and 2D materials
• Thermal management of lithium-ion batteries
• Magnetic materials for spintronic and thermoelectric applications

Recent work emphasizes:

• Ultrahigh thermal conductivity in cubic boron arsenide
• Thermal regulation in shape-memory alloys
• Superparamagnetic thermometry innovations

Awards include AAAS Fellowship (2019), American Academy of Arts and Sciences membership (2023), and the Yeram S. Touloukian Award for thermophysical properties research. His lab collaborates across disciplines to bridge fundamental materials science with engineering applications.