Harley T. Johnson

Harley T. Johnson is the Executive Director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and a Founder Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He holds courtesy appointments in Materials Science and Engineering, and is affiliated with the Materials Research Lab (MRL) and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). He directs the Illinois NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC). His roles include past Associate Dean for Research (Grainger College, 2019–2025) and leadership in multiple interdisciplinary initiatives.

Education:

• Ph.D., Engineering, Brown University (1999)
• Sc.M., Applied Mathematics, Brown University (1998)
• B.E.S.M., Engineering Science and Mechanics, Georgia Tech (1994)

Research Interests: Focuses on mechanics of electronic/photonic materials, nanostructure behavior, and optical properties. Key areas include quantum dots mechanics, stress in MEMS/microelectronics, dislocations in electronic materials, nanophotonics design, and materials processing for solar energy and sensing. His group employs atomistic and continuum modeling to study multiphysics phenomena, aiding experimental design.

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes 2D materials (graphene, MoS₂), dislocation theory in twisted bilayers, and computational methods for material optimization. Themes include moiré engineering, strain-driven phenomena, and defect dynamics in nanomaterials.

Awards: Notable achievements include SES Fellow (2020), ASME Fellow (2012), NSF CAREER Award (2001), and leadership recognition from UIUC. He has pioneered emergency ventilator design during the 2020 pandemic.

Advising & Grants: Leads I-MRSEC and collaborates on materials informatics training programs. His grants include NSF, DOE, and industry partnerships. He has advised numerous graduate students through interdisciplinary initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Active in MRL and NCSA, focusing on quantum materials, microelectronics, and computational modeling. Collaborates globally, including through Fulbright and invited professorships in France.