May 5, 2014
Nanshu Lu, an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, has been selected to receive the 2014 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award
Lu's project focuses on establishing a design framework to create the utmost stretchable electronics/sensor networks. This research could lead to deployable electronics fabricated on small wafers, which would cover large surfaces such as the human body and other structures, such as aircraft. A variety of anticipated applications include wearable sensors, structural health monitoring sensors, deployable solar cells and antennas.
The 3M award recognizes outstanding young new faculty who excel in research, academic leadership and experience. For over 25 years, the award has been given to help young faculty achieve tenure while teaching and conducting research. The company's Research and Development Community, in partnership with 3M's Corporate Giving Program, administer the award. Recipients are nominated by 3M researchers.
The Lu Research Group's ultimate goal is to help develop high-quality, multifunctional flexible electronics in forms that can conform to the surfaces of the human body for sensing, stimulating and energy harvesting. Lu's research has led to the design and construction of various health-related inventions, including the electronic tattoo (ultra-thin, wearable electronics), the smart fingertip, and the 3D electronic sock for the heart.
Lu joined the ASE/EM department in 2011. She recently received a National Science Foundation CAREER award for her work on wearable electronics and in March, co-authored a paper that was published in Nature Nanotechonlogy. She has also been invited to speak at the prestigious 2014 SPIE Defense and Security Conference on May 7.
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Watch this recent Texas Exes video about Nanshu Lu's work on the electronic tattoo.
