Parcours d'Alumni

Jean-Pierre Leburton, winner of the 2021 "Pioneer award" from the Nanotechnology Council


Jean-Pierre Leburton holds a degree and a doctorate in physical sciences from the University of Liège. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) has just named him the recipient of the 2021 "Pioneer award" from the Nanotechnology Council, as a pioneer for his research in the field of nanotechnologies.

Award-winning research

The IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is an association of thousands of professionals in the field of IT and telecommunications around the world. It is organized into more than 40 thematic societies bringing together around 419,000 members from 160 countries. Its main objective is to promote knowledge in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.

The Pioneer award rewards his research in the development of mathematical and physical models for the understanding of the properties of material structures of nanoscopic dimensions (ie of the order of millionth of a centimeter, and smaller), such as wires and quantum dots.

Professor Leburton was one of the first to introduce quantum-order confinement effects into the development of physico-mathematical models to predict or interpret the function and operations of electronic and optical devices of nanoscopic dimensions, such as transistors, the basic building blocks of computers, and lasers for high performance optical communications systems.

Back on his journey

His years at ULiège

I have fond memories of some of my teachers from Liège, whose rigor of teaching and enthusiasm have determined many aspects of my career.

In 1979, after his doctorate at the University of Liège, he joined the semiconductor technology group of the firm Siemens A.G. in Munich, to learn about simulation techniques for electronic devices. It was in 1981 that he joined the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering where he continued his academic career as a full Professor in 1991, Professor with Chair in 2003, and Professor of Physics in 2008. Since 2011, he is Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Throughout his career, Jean-Pierre Leburton has had the opportunity to visit and speak in many research institutions in the five continents, notably as a Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo (1992) , or at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausaune (2000).

His advice to (future) doctors?

My advice to (future) doctors? Travel to build up a research experience in laboratories or academic institutions abroad and to be exposed to techniques, methodologies and scientific visions different from those assimilated during your university studies ! This will allow you to acquire a significant scientific background and broaden your professional horizon to start your career.

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