ECE’s Datta elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Supriyo Datta, the Thomas Duncan Distinguished Professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has added a major feather to his professional cap. On April 30, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of his distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

He is credited with introducing spin-orbit coupling as a means to control electron spin with an electric field, rather than a magnetic field. This relativistic effect is now widely used in the field of spintronics and quantum computing. And, he is well-known for his innovative theoretical proposals that have inspired new fields of research, including molecular thermoelectricity, negative capacitance devices and spintronics.

“To me, science emphasizes conceptual advances, while engineering emphasizes practical impact,” Datta said. “Nanoelectronics involves both. Miniaturizing devices to nanometer dimensions requires new ways of thinking about current flow. At the same time, it has enabled chips with billions of transistors whose impact we all know.”

In addition to the NAS, Datta is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received multiple awards for both research and teaching from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and from Purdue University.

Read more about Supriyo Datta’s election to the NAS on the College of Engineering’s website. 

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