NSF ADVANCE Professorships :: Mei-Yin
Chou
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MEI-YIN
CHOU
NSF ADVANCE Professor of Physics |
Research Activities
Chou plans to use the termed-professor funds to start new
research projects in semiconductor nanostructures. As we approach
the bottleneck of traditional silicon technology and search for
alternatives, one bottom-up miniaturization strategy, driven by
physical, economic, and environmental considerations, is to utilize
nanostructures as the functional devices and, at the same time,
as the self-assembling building blocks. When the size of the material
approaches the fundamental length scale characteristic of its
physical properties, striking and new quantum phenomena emerge
that cannot be predicted through scaling or extrapolation from
the bulk. Chou’s goal is to develop a fundamental understanding
about the nature and origin of the evolution of the physical properties
of materials upon miniaturization.
This specific effort also aims to advance the state of the art
in algorithms for large-scale electronic-structure and atomistic
simulations through the study of quantum phenomena in semiconductor
structures of reduced dimensions. Unique physical properties emerge
as size and dimensionality are reduced. Chou will first focus
on quantum wires, namely, one-dimensional nanostructures that
represent the smallest dimension for efficient transport of electrons
and holes. Controlled doping and assembly of free-standing, single-crystal
semiconductor nanowires have just been achieved within the last
few years, producing prototype structures that function as nanoscale
devices such as light-emitting diodes, bipolar transistors, logic
gates, photodetectors, and biological and chemical sensors. Exciting
potential of these quantum wires in nanotechnology includes applications
in integrated electronic and photonic circuits, optical switches,
and interconnects, all of which have a substantial impact in future
development of electronic devices.
ADVANCE Activities
Chou aims to work with faculty and administrators to advance women
in the College of Sciences (CoS) as follows:
A. Study the needs and opportunities in CoS for increasing
representation and advancing women faculty. Develop an understanding
of the current status and distribution of women faculty in the
College. Identify common challenges and difficulties faced by
female faculty in CoS, by interviewing existing female faculty.
B. Organize lunch meetings of women faculty in CoS to form
a support group to enhance the retention of women faculty. These
informal lunch or dinner meetings, held once every month or
two, will be an opportunity to talk about the difficulties faced
by women faculty, such as family responsibilities, stress management,
and relationships with colleagues and students. These meetings
will also be an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences,
and build friendships and support. After the group members are
acquainted, Chou will invite senior women faculty from other
Colleges as guests.
C. Work with chairs and deans on policy issues concerning women
faculty and initiatives related to institutional transformation.
Help ensure a healthy and encouraging environment for women
faculty in every department and establish a proper policy for
family leaves.
D. Help with recruitment of female faculty. Meet with female
faculty candidates if the Department or College feels that it
will help recruitment.
E. Work with the Committee on the Status of Women in Physics
of the American Physical Society (APS) to plan activities at
Georgia Tech, such as the APS workshop, "Survival Skills
for Successful Women Physicists," and a research internship
for undergraduate women.
Related Websites
Chou’s Biography (http://www.physics.gatech.edu/people/faculty/mchou.html)
Georgia Tech College of Sciences, School of Physics (http://www.physics.gatech.edu/)
