Craig J. Fennie

Craig J. Fennie is Professor in the College of Engineering at Cornell University, where he has been on the faculty since July 2008. His appointment spans the interdisciplinary space between physics, materials science, and solid-state chemistry.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics, Rutgers University (2006)
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Villanova University (1996)

Research Focus: Fennie’s group pursues computational and theoretical materials physics, with a long-term goal of realizing a first-principles “materials-by-design” paradigm. By integrating microscopic Hamiltonians, symmetry analysis, and density-functional theory, the team explores how crystalline motifs—composition, symmetry, geometry, and topology—govern emergent phenomena such as multiferroicity, magnetoelectric coupling, and tunable dielectric response. Particular attention is paid to complex oxides, layered heterostructures, and materials under extreme conditions where chemical intuition can fail.

Publication Trends: From 2011 to 2016, Fennie co-authored a series of high-impact papers in Nature family journals and Physical Review Letters. These works collectively advance the understanding and design of room-temperature magnetoelectric multiferroics, bulk magnetoelectric effects in hexagonal manganites, tunable microwave dielectrics through defect mitigation, and the fundamental scarcity of ferroelectric perovskites. The studies span synthesis, characterization, and theory, underscoring a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach.

Awards & Honors:

• MacArthur Fellowship, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (2013)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE, 2012)
• NSF CAREER Award (2011)
• Army Research Office Young Investigator Award (2010)
• Fellow of the American Physical Society (2015)

Advising & Funding: While specific student names are not listed, Fennie leads a vibrant research program supported by NSF, ARO, and other agencies. His group trains graduate and post-doctoral researchers at the intersection of physics, materials science, and chemistry, preparing them for careers in both academia and industry.

Labs & Teams: Work is conducted within Cornell’s shared high-performance computing ecosystem and leverages national user facilities such as the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and collaborations with experimental groups worldwide.