Ray LaPierre

Dr. Ray LaPierre is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University, where he leads a research group focused on semiconductor materials and devices. His work specializes in group III-V compound semiconductors for applications in photonic and optoelectronic devices including infrared photodetectors, thermoelectrics, betavoltaics, and quantum information processing.

The group utilizes advanced facilities including molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD), and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy. Current research projects include metamaterials through nanowire morphology control, thermoelectric transport in nanostructures, nuclear nano-battery development, multispectral infrared photodetectors, and quantum dot applications.

Dr. LaPierre teaches courses including III-V Materials and Devices, Quantum Materials, and Engineering Metrology. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Eng. in Engineering Physics from McMaster University and a B.Sc. in Physics from Dalhousie University.