HOUSTON,
April 28, 2005 – From
detecting tumors to encrypting data better, one young engineering professor's
nanotechnology work at the University of Houston holds enormous potential
for medicine and electronics.
Pradeep
Sharma, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
at UH, received the Office of Naval Research's
Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award for his
proposal on the "Novel Size-Effects in the Coupled Mechanical
Deformation and Opto-Electronic Behavior of Quantum
Dots and Wires." The total award of $262,471 for
three years is intended to further propel Sharma's
research.
"It's a proposal that will investigate new scaling
laws for quantum dots due to mechanical strain," Sharma
said. "Quantum dots are very small clusters of semiconductor
material, and they exhibit some unusual and exciting
opto-electronic properties. They have tremendous
potential in future nanoelectronics."
Some examples of those nanoelectronics applications
include next generation lasers and lighting devices,
quantum cryptography, information storage and chemical
sensors. On the medical side, this research may one
day aid doctors in detecting and surgically removing
cancerous cells in the body.
"Among many other applications, quantum dots can
be used as biological labels," Sharma said. "For
example, one can suitably tailor the size and bio-treatment
of a dot so that it preferentially seeks and attaches
to tumor cells. Then, simply by shining light on
the body, one may optically detect and pinpoint precise
locations of tumors."
Though Sharma is well aware of the possible products
of his research, he maintains his work is largely
fundamental and provides the basis for these potential
uses rather than the actual technology itself. He
estimates that his current quantum dots work will
be put to practice in the nanoelectronics and medical
arenas in the next five to 10 years.
The YIP program is designed to support and encourage
the teaching and research of outstanding new faculty
members in higher education, who have received a
graduate degree. Sharma, who began teaching at the
Cullen College of Engineering in January 2004, received
his doctorate from the University of Maryland-College
Park in 2000. Also benefiting from this award are
two UH doctoral students who will have the opportunity
to work with Sharma on his research for the next
three years.
"This award is supposed to be a jump start for young
professors, and historically, that's what it's done," Sharma
said.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and teaching
institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and
sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental
entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands
at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000
students.
About the Cullen College of Engineering
UH Cullen College of Engineering has produced five U.S. astronauts, ten members
of the National Academy of Engineering, and degree programs that have ranked
in the top ten nationally. With more than 2,600 students, the college offers
accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical, chemical, civil
and environmental, electrical and computer, industrial, and mechanical engineering.
It also offers specialized programs in aerospace, materials, petroleum engineering
and telecommunications.
For more information about UH, visit the university's
Newsroom at www.uh.edu/newsroom .
To receive UH science news via e-mail, visit www.uh.edu/admin/media/sciencelist.html .
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