Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Four Oregon State University researchers have received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, which supports emerging scholars and educators.

The CAREER award is the agency's most prestigious award for new faculty members, and provides funding to recognize and support the early career development activities of academic leaders of the future.

The awards were made to Patrick Chiang, an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering; Brady Gibbons, an assistant professor in materials science and mechanical engineering; Adam Higgins, an assistant professor in bioengineering; and Ethan Minot, an assistant professor of physics.

Chiang, who has a doctoral degree from Stanford University, investigates circuit and system-level techniques to improve the energy efficiency of advanced electronics, with such applications as wearable sensors that can provide continuous biological monitoring to improve healthy aging.

Gibbons, who received his doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University, is developing new environmentally benign materials that can be used for a variety of sensing and actuation applications such as sonar, ultrasound, and energy harvesting. He is also examining materials for novel cooling devices and energy storage.

Higgins, who has a doctoral degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, is developing microfluidic technologies for cryopreservation of cell-based therapeutics, which could improve treatment of a wide variety of illnesses ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cancer.

Minot received his doctorate from Cornell University, and studies the use of carbon nanotubes and other devices in work ranging from energy conversion to molecular biology and medical diagnostics. His award will focus on improved control of the optical and electronic properties of carbon nanotubes.