The University of Virginia and the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) are pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Mool G. Gupta as Langley Professor in Quantum/Molecular Materials Design for Sensors. Dr. Gupta is the fifth of six Langley Professors to be appointed by each of the six founding member universities of NIA. Dr. Gupta will be the principal U.Va. faculty member resident at NIA, with an appointment in the Charles L. Brown Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

“Dr. Gupta comes to NIA with a strong background in establishing collaborative research efforts,” says Dr. Robert Lindberg, NIA President and Executive Director. “In establishing and leading NIA’s new sensors research program, Dr. Gupta will strengthen our working relationships with industry, and with NASA and other government agencies.”

Dr. Gupta brings 25 years of academic and research experience to his new position as Langley Professor. He was the Founding Director of the Applied Research Center and NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Laser and Plasma Applications at Old Dominion University (ODU). Concurrently, he served as Graduate Program Director for the Materials Science and Engineering Program and Research Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prior to joining ODU, Dr. Gupta was Deputy Director of Technology and Professor for the New York State Advanced Thin Film Technology Center of the State University of New York. Research positions held include Group Leader at the Research Laboratory of Eastman Kodak Company and Senior Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Dr. Gupta received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics from the Gujarat University in India, and Ph.D. degree in Physics from Washington State University.

“We are very excited about Professor Gupta’s arrival,” says Professor Lloyd Harriott, Chair of the Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “His research and expertise adds a new dimension to the department in the area of opto-electronics, photonics and quantum devices. We are also looking forward to his presence here working to strengthen our ties with NASA.”

Each Langley Professor holds a teaching and research faculty appointment at one of the founding member universities. They work closely as an integrated team with researchers at NASA, NIA and NIA’s member universities to create a unique research and education institute. NIA has announced the selections of Dr. Alan Wilhite (Georgia Tech), Dr. Kathryn Logan (Virginia Tech), Dr. James Hubbard (University of Maryland), and Dr. Robert Tolson (North Carolina State University) as Langley Professors.

The National Institute of Aerospace is a non-profit research and graduate education institute located just outside NASA’s Langley Research Center. It was created to complement Langley’s mission to do leading-edge aerospace and atmospheric research, develop new technologies for the nation, and help inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

NIA was formed by a consortium of leading research universities and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation. The roster of major research universities includes consortium members: Georgia Tech, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and affiliate members: Old Dominion University and The College of William & Mary.

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