Paul V. Braun

Paul V. Braun is the Ivan Racheff Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is affiliated with the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, Beckman Institute, Department of Chemistry, Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, and Mechanical Science and Engineering Department.

• 1993 B.S. from Cornell University (with distinction)
• 1998 Ph.D. from University of Illinois
• 1998–1999 Postdoctoral Fellow at Bell Labs
• Joined Illinois faculty in 1999

His research focuses on creating 3D architectures with unique optical, electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Key areas include photonic crystals, nanostructure templating, quantum dots, and plasmon-enhanced energy conversion. He pioneered electrochemically grown photonic materials and multiphoton polymerization techniques.

Scientific awards include the Beckman Young Investigator Award, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, and Xerox Awards for Faculty Research. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, holds multiple patents, and co-authored a book on advanced materials.