Seth Bank, an electrical engineering assistant professor, was awarded a 2009 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on young professionals in the early stages of their research careers.
Bank will receive the prestigious $1 million grant over five years. He is one of four winners from the university.
The U.S. Army Research Office nominated Bank to study metal/semiconductor nanocomposites (metallic nanoparticles embedded in a semiconductor). The goal is to use these new materials to produce efficient sources of terahertz radiation for a number of applications in chemical/gas sensing and security.
Bank is part of the Microelectronics Research Center (www.mrc.utexas.edu) within the Cockrell School of Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2006 and joined the Cockrell School in 2007, after post-doctoral work at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
According to a press release from The White House, 100 researchers were given the award, which was established by former President Bill Clinton in 1996. Nine federal departments and agencies nominate the scientists and engineers.
"These extraordinarily gifted young scientists and engineers represent the best in our country," President Obama said. "With their talent, creativity, and dedication, I am confident that they will lead their fields in new breakthroughs and discoveries and help us use science and technology to lift up our nation and our world.”
Awardees are selected on the basis of two criteria: pursuit of innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology, and a commitment to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, or community outreach.
Bank’s group Web site is: http://lase.ece.utexas.edu.
