معرفی
Naomi J. Halas is the University Professor at Rice University, holding appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Materials Science and Nanoengineering, and Bioengineering. She is also a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich (TUM-IAS). Her research focuses on plasmonics, nanophotonics, and their applications in sustainability and biomedicine. Halas has authored over 350 publications, holds 20+ patents, and co-founded companies like Nanospectra Biosciences and Syzygy Plasmonics. Her work spans light-driven photocatalysis, photothermal cancer therapy, and solar desalination.
Education: B.S. in Chemistry (La Salle University), Ph.D. in Physics (Bryn Mawr College), postdoctoral work at AT&T Bell Labs. She has been elected to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Research Interests: Her lab designs optically active nanostructures for applications in energy, medicine, and environmental remediation. Key areas include plasmonic materials for solar-driven processes, nanoshell-based medical treatments, and sustainable photocatalysis using plasmons and 2D materials.
Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes solar energy conversion, off-grid water purification, and machine learning-enhanced detection of environmental toxins. Earlier contributions include foundational studies on nanoshell-mediated thermal therapy and plasmonic photocatalysts.
Awards: Includes the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry, 2024 Mildred Dresselhaus Prize, and 2022 Eni Energy Transition Award. Recognitions highlight her innovations in nanotechnology and their societal impact.
Advising and Grants: Supervised numerous PhD students (e.g., Corey Radloff, Cristin Moran). Her research is supported by grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation and industry partnerships. Collaborations include projects at TUM with Professors Jonathan Finley, Ian Sharp, and Emiliano Cortés.
Labs/Teams: Leads the Halas Research Group at Rice, focusing on nanoengineered photonics and plasmonics. Collaborates with the TUM-IAS Focus Group on sustainable photocatalysis using plasmons and 2D materials (SusPhuP2M).
