GREENSBORO, NC – March 23, 2020 – Imagine a device worn on the wrist to monitor health issues at a level that gives more freedom to those who are chronically ill and lowers their healthcare costs; that makes self-driving vehicles safer by assessing distance in a detailed and highly accurate way; boosts computer speed greatly while lowering cost; and leads to flexible solar cells that can be used in textiles and in lightweight building supplies.
These applications are among the many futuristic uses for the award-winning nanowire research carried out by a N.C. A&T State University graduate student at Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN), located at Gateway Research Park.
Manish Sharma, Ph.D., a 2019 JSNN alumnus, received a national 2020 Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CBHGS) ProQuest Dissertation Award for the synthesis of materials in the wire configuration at nanoscale, leading to a device that detects light and converts it into electrical energy in the infrared wavelength, which is beyond the visible wavelength.
“We’re very happy to see Manish be recognized with this prestigious award,” said JSNN Dean Sherine Obare. “JSNN has the facility, faculty and the learning of multiple disciplines that enable students to discover technologies to shape the future of science and technology.”
“It’s an honor to be acknowledged for my contributions to the field,” said Dr. Sharma, now a Technology Development Module and Integration Yield Engineer at Intel Corporation. “I could not have done it without the assistance and guidance of my advisor, Dr. Shanthi Iyer.”
Dr. Iyer said, “ Nanowires are very versatile and this work shows great promise for designing miniaturized advanced devices of the next generation. These devices can play a critical role in a number of optoelectronic components used in daily life by increasing efficiency and lowering cost.” Dean Obare added, “Manish is an inspiration to other students, and I look forward to other students striving to developing innovative discoveries that impact society.”