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.
More information about the National Institute of Aerospace
is available at: http://www.nianet.org. More information
about the Charles L. Brown Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department is available at: http://www.ee.virginia.edu/.
