David R. Smith

Dr. David R. Smith is the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, with a secondary appointment as Professor of Physics in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He serves as Director of the Center for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics at Duke University and holds additional positions as Adjunct Associate Professor at UC San Diego and Visiting Professor at Imperial College London.

Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, San Diego in 1994, following his B.S. degree from the same institution in 1988. His academic credentials have positioned him as a leader in the field of metamaterials research.

Dr. Smith's research spans the development and application of metamaterials and plasmonic structures for electromagnetic wave control. His work bridges fundamental physics with practical engineering solutions, particularly in computational imaging using dynamic metasurface apertures. He has pioneered techniques that have revolutionized microwave and millimeter-wave imaging systems, with applications ranging from security screening to nuclear safety. His research also extends to radiation detection, plasma physics for fusion energy, and novel optical devices.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent theme of using metasurface technology to solve challenging problems in electromagnetic wave manipulation, with applications across multiple domains including imaging systems, radiation detection, and wireless communications. His work demonstrates the versatility of metamaterials across different frequency ranges and applications.

• Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (2016)
• Highly Cited Researcher (Thomson Reuters, 2014)
• Fellow of the Optical Society of America (2013)
• Top Ten Breakthroughs for 2006 (Science Magazine, for Cloaking)
• Top 50 Researchers (Scientific American, 2008)
• Top Ten Breakthroughs for 2003 (Science Magazine, for Negative Index Materials)
• Top 100 Science Accomplishments for 2006 (Discover Magazine, for Cloaking)
• Descartes Prize for Research (European Union, 2008)
• Fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (1986)

Dr. Smith has secured significant research funding for projects including "Metasurface Antenna for Cloud-Targeting Radar (MACTRad)" (2023-2026), "Metasurface Antennas" (2023-2025), and "Large-scale Adaptive Metamaterial Apertures for Space (LAMAS)" (2023-2024), awarded by MetaCept, Inc., Kymeta Corporation, and NASA. These grants support his innovative work in developing next-generation metamaterial-based technologies.

As Director of the Center for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics, Dr. Smith leads a multidisciplinary research team working at the intersection of physics, electrical engineering, and materials science. His laboratory has been instrumental in advancing metamaterials from theoretical concepts to practical applications, particularly in imaging systems and electromagnetic wave control technologies.