Francesca Iacopi

Prof Francesca Iacopi is an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). She also holds an adjunct position at Purdue University, IN, USA, and serves as Imec Fellow & Director of the Indiana R&D Center for Imec USA. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering/Materials Science from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2004) and MSc in Physics (1996) from Sapienza University of Rome, she has 20+ years of leadership in semiconductor R&D and academic innovation.

• IEEE Fellow & Elected Board of Governors Member (2021-2026)
• Inaugural Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Materials for Electron Devices
• Chief Investigator & Industry Liaison Chair, ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems

Research Focus spans graphene electronics, additive manufacturing for microwave components, and energy-efficient nanodevice design. Her work bridges semiconductor industry experience (GlobalFoundries, IMEC) with academic breakthroughs in epitaxial graphene integration, nanoscale thermal emitters, and brain-machine interface sensors.

Key Trends in her recent publications: 3D-printed metasurfaces for wireless communication, Fermi level tuning in graphene devices, and high-temperature operando characterization of graphene growth mechanisms. These align with her broader vision of multi-functionality on silicon platforms.

Scientific Recognition:

• Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (2012-2016)
• Gold Graduate Student Award (2003, Materials Research Society)
• Global Innovation Award (2014)
• IEEE Fellowship (2024)

Leadership & Education: Founded UTS's Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Major in Electronics. Serves on UTS Academic Board (2021) and leads the Integrated Nano Systems Lab. Her teaching spans semiconductor physics, nanofabrication, and IoT component design, emphasizing cross-domain integration of CMOS, photonics, and energy storage systems.