Ralph G. Nuzzo

Ralph G. Nuzzo is the G. L. Clark Research Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Research Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has served since 1991. He also holds a Visiting Associate appointment in Applied Physics and Materials Science at Caltech. His research focuses on the chemistry of materials, including nano/micro-scale fabrication, soft materials, and integrated devices. Key areas include surfaces/interfaces, catalytic transformations, and energy systems applications like photovoltaics and sensors.

Education: B.S. (Chemistry, Rutgers University, 1976); Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry, MIT, 1980). Formerly at Bell Laboratories (1980–1991), he co-founded Semprius, a high-performance electronics company. He directs the Light-Matters Institute EFRC and serves on numerous editorial and advisory boards.

Awards:

• Fellowships: AAAS, Royal Society of Chemistry, ACS, AVS
• Forschungspreis (Humboldt Foundation, 2011)
• IEEE George E. Smith Award (2009)
• ACS Arthur Adamson Award (2003)

Research emphasizes nanoscale design rules, advanced imaging techniques, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Notable projects include luminescent concentrators for displays and skin-interfaced biosensors.