Siddha Pimputkar

Siddha Pimputkar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at Lehigh University, part of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. His research focuses on synthesizing bulk and thin-film single-crystal materials, particularly nitrogen-containing semiconductors like cubic BN, InN, and AlGaN/InGaN for advanced optoelectronic and power device applications. He leads efforts in developing novel high-pressure chemical vapor deposition (HPS-CVD) systems and hybrid ammonothermal-hydrothermal methods for oxy-nitride growth.

• Notable achievements: P.C. Rossin Assistant Professor (2019), NSF CAREER Award recipient.
• Funding: Grants from NSF, Department of Homeland Security, NASA, and industry partnerships.
• Professional roles: Conference chair for IWBNS, guest editor for Journal of Crystal Growth, organizer of ammonothermal summer schools.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Ph.D. in Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Single-crystal growth of wide-bandgap semiconductors, thermodynamic modeling of ammonothermal systems, defect engineering in nitride materials, and equipment innovation for high-pressure synthesis. His work bridges materials science and engineering, aiming to advance semiconductor technologies for energy-efficient lighting, power electronics, and UV optoelectronics.

Publications & Impact: Authored 19 papers, 1 book, and 2 book chapters. Holder of 3 patents with 25 pending applications. Invited speaker at 18 conferences, including presentations on ammonothermal growth advancements and GaN device prospects.

Labs & Teams: Director of the MATS Laboratory at Lehigh, focusing on advanced materials synthesis and characterization. Collaborates with industry and academic partners to translate research into practical applications.