The Department of Electrical and Computer and Engineering at Rice University is excited to announce that Prof. Yuji Zhao will be joining the department as an Associate Professor on July 1st, 2021.
Prof. Yuji Zhao, joins ECE from Arizona State University, where he led a group focused on semiconductor materials and devices. His research group focused on advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices based on new materials, currently wide bandgap III-nitride semiconductors. His research interests also include GaN-based wide bandgap materials and devices for applications in energy efficiency, power electronics, high-temperature memory and ICs, and quantum information.
Prof. Yuji Zhao received his B.S. degree in Microelectronics from Fudan University, China, in 2008, and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2012, after Nobel Laureate Professor Shuji Nakamura. Before joining ASU in 2014, he was an Assistant Project Scientist in the Materials Department and Solid State Lighting and Energy Center (SSLEC) at UCSB. Since joining ASU in August 2014, Prof. Zhao has received the 2019 Presidential Early Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2019 MIT TR 35 – China Award, 2017 ASU Fulton Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, 2016 DoD DTRA Young Investigator Award, 2015 NASA Early Career Faculty Award, and 2015 Bisgrove Scholar Career Faculty Award.
Prof. Zhao has worked extensively on III-nitride materials and devices, with more than 150 conference and journal publications, one book chapter, and over ten patents. He has won an Outstanding Research Award from UCSB SSLEC for a record four consecutive times (2010 to 2013). His work on III-nitride LEDs and lasers was recognized with a Most Cited Article of the Year Award from Applied Physics Express, an Editor's Pick of the Year Award from Applied Physics Letters, a Best Paper Award from CLEO. It was featured in over 100 international news outlets with over five languages, including Science, Nature Photonics, Optical Society of America (OSA), and Compound Semiconductors.
Zhao's research expertise ranges from electronics and photonics. In the coming months, Prof. Zhao will begin setting up his research group and lab at Rice University.