John Dallesasse

Prof. John Dallesasse is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, serving since 2018. He also holds the Gregory E. Stillman Professorship (2024-present) and acts as Associate Dean for Facilities and Capital Planning (2022-present). With a Ph.D. from UIUC (1991) under Nick Holonyak Jr., he spent 20+ years in industry (Skorpios Technologies, MicroLink Devices, Emcore) before returning to academia.

• Education
  • Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1991
  • M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1987
  • B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1985

His research focuses on photonic integration, III-V oxidation processes, and compound semiconductor devices. He co-invented III-V oxidation technology for VCSELs and led development of transistor-injected quantum cascade lasers. Current projects explore heterogeneous integration of III-V materials on silicon, wide bandgap semiconductors, and mode control in VCSELs. His group has produced 8 Ph.D. graduates and 3 M.S. students (as of 2024).

Recent publications (2025-2021) demonstrate breakthroughs in silicon optical coatings for single-mode VCSELs, resonant tunneling transistor bistability, and III-V heterogeneous integration. Key patents address photonic polarization rotators, template-assisted wafer bonding, and quantum cascade laser design.

• Awards
  • IEEE Fellow (2015)
  • Optica Fellow (2013)
  • Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2016)
  • Editorial roles in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics (2014-2019, Editor-in-Chief since 2024)

He teaches courses like ECE 498 SI: Semiconductor Innovations and ECE 536: Integrated Optics and Optoelectronics, emphasizing commercial leap-ahead technologies and mentorship. His work addresses critical challenges in silicon photonics, including material compatibility and scalable manufacturing.