Joseph P. Heremans

Joseph P. Heremans is a Professor and Ohio Eminent Scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University, with courtesy appointments in Physics and Materials Science and Engineering. He holds prestigious fellowships from the American Physical Society (1987) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2011), and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2013). His research focuses on thermal and magneto-transport properties of electrons, phonons, and spin in semiconductors, semimetals, and nanostructured materials.

Education: B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Catholic University of Louvain (1975-1978). Postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen, MIT, and University of Tokyo. Prior industrial experience includes roles at GM Research Lab (1984-1998) and Delphi Research Labs (1999-2005).

Research Interests: Thermoelectrics, spin caloritronics, thermal chiral anomaly, quantum materials, and topological insulators. Key contributions include discovering the giant spin-Seebeck effect in non-magnetic materials and demonstrating magnetic control of heat and sound.

Awards: Over 250 publications, 39 patents, and awards such as the Clara M. and Peter L. Scott Award and Delphi Inventors Hall of Fame recognition. His work has led to commercial automotive sensors and advanced thermoelectric devices.

Labs & Teams: Thermal Materials Laboratory at Ohio State, collaborating on projects ranging from goniopolar materials to quantum defect engineering in diamond.