Vladimir M. Shalaev

Vladimir M. Shalaev is the Robert and Anne Burnett Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, with additional appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Physics. He serves as Scientific Director for Nanophotonics at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center and co-directs the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute. His research spans nanophotonics, plasmonics, and optical metamaterials.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics, Siberian Federal University (Russia), 1983

Shalaev pioneers optical metamaterials with negative refractive index and spaser technology for nanoscale light sources. His group explores photonic time crystals, 2D quantum photonics, and machine learning-assisted optical design. Recent work focuses on refractory plasmonics and quantum emitter engineering in silicon nitride and transition metal dichalcogenides.

The 15 most recent articles highlight his leadership in quantum nanophotonics, with trends including 2D material integration, machine learning for photonics, and epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) optics. Key subfields span quantum light sources, plasmonic-enhanced nonlinear optics, photonic time crystals, and advanced nanofabrication techniques.

Scientific Recognition:

• 2025: Elected to National Academy of Engineering and American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2015-2024: Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (Physics)
• 2015: IEEE Photonics Society William Streifer Award
• 2012: UNESCO Medal for Nanosciences
• Multiple journal-specific 'Most Cited Author' distinctions

Advising focus on quantum photonics and plasmonic materials, Shalaev's team has secured 40+ US patents and maintains a Google Scholar h-index of 128 with 72,000+ citations. His research drives Purdue's quantum technology initiative, with applications in secure communications and nanoscale sensing.