Bao recognized for contributions to the field of semiconductor and metallic nanostructures
Jiming Bao, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the UH Cullen College of Engineering, was elected a Fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA) for his “contributions to semiconductor and metallic nanostructures and their applications in nanophotonics and solar energy harvesting.”
OSA members who have served with distinction in the advancement of optics and photonics can be proposed for election to the class of fellow. The number of fellows is limited by the Society's bylaws to no more than 10 percent of the total membership. According to OSA, at present only about 50 percent of the nominees are elected each year.
“I’m honored by this recognition from my peers,” said Bao, referring to his election as an important career milestone. “This makes me feel that I have made valuable contributions to the science of our community.”
Bao’s research focuses on new and novel materials, semiconductor nanowire optoelectronics, silicon photonics and metallic nanostructures for plasmonics, solar water-splitting, and fiber optic sensors.
He was part of a UH research team studying the nonlinear transmission of light through an aqueous suspension of gold nanoparticles when they noticed something unexpected: a pulse laser appeared to have forced the movement of a stream of liquid in a glass laboratory cuvette. This observation led to a new optofluidics principle.
“Whenever I publish new findings or discoveries from my lab, I feel very happy,” Bao said. “That’s the most rewarding aspect of my career.”
In 2012, Bao won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to study the optical properties of graphene. He recently published a paper in Advanced Functional Materials about the ability to control and pattern graphene orientation in all three dimensions using a rotating magnetic field. This finding opens up new possibilities for broad device applications of graphene.
Bao earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. Then he went onto earn his Ph.D. in applied physics from the University of Michigan. He served as a postdoctoral fellow and a research associate on the research team of Federico Capasso at Harvard University from 2003 to 2008.
In addition to receiving member benefits and recognition of their fellow status, OSA fellow members may also apply for travel grants to visit and lecture in developing countries.
Founded in 1916, OSA is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and entrepreneurs in the science of light. Its mission is to promote the generation, application and archiving of knowledge in optics and photonics and to disseminate this knowledge worldwide. For more information, visit: osa.org.