Caroline A. Ross

Caroline A. Ross is the Ford Professor of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the School of Engineering. Her research focuses on magnetic, ferroelectric, and multiferroic materials, particularly oxide thin films for device applications, magneto-optical films for integrated photonics, and nanocomposites for advanced lithography. She teaches courses on materials structure and magnetism.

Education:

• PhD in Materials Science, University of Cambridge (1988)
• BA in Materials Science, University of Cambridge (1985)

Professional Experience:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University (1988–1997)
• Engineer at Komag, Silicon Valley (developed hard disk storage technology)
• Joined MIT faculty in 1997

Research Interests:

Her work bridges materials synthesis, characterization, and device applications. Key areas include:

• Oxide thin films for energy and information storage
• Magneto-optical materials for photonics integration
• Nanostructured materials via block copolymer self-assembly
• Advances in nanoscale fabrication techniques

Awards & Honors:

• Irwin Sizer Award (MIT’s top teaching honor, 2004)
• Joseph Lane Award for Teaching Excellence (2000)
• IEEE Fellow (2013), MRS Fellow (2009), APS Fellow (2004)

Grants & Labs:

Leads The Ross Group at MIT, focusing on interdisciplinary materials research. Active in securing grants for nanotechnology and device innovation.