Anik Mazumder presents his poster titled “Design Optimization for Carrier Injection and Optical Mode Profile in Mid-Infrared Transistor Injected-Quantum Cascade Lasers” at CS MANTECH 2026.
Author: Leah Espenhahn
Congratulations Robert Kaufman & Kevin Pikul
Robert Kaufman and Kevin Pikul have earned their Doctor of Philosophies (Ph.D.) and are leaving the group to head to industry. Robert Kaufman will be joining SpaceX in Redmond, WA and Kevin Pikul will join Coherent Corp. in Sherman, TX. We are sad to see them go, but look forward to what they will accomplish!
Leah Receives Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Leah Espenhahn was chosen to receive the Harold L. Olesen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Graduate Students for the 2024-2025 academic year, which is based on teaching service performed during the Spring 2025 semester. She was nominated for this award by her students in ECE 498 SI. A committee of faculty made the final decision. This award is given to recognize an outstanding effort in undergraduate teaching. The award indicates that she performed her duties as a teaching assistant with commitment and enthusiasm.
Prof. John Dallesasse honored with Gregory E. Stillman Professorship
Named professorships are the highest honor for faculty. Prof. Dallesasse is honored to receive the Gregory E. Stillman Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Leah Presents Researcher Identity Work at IEEE’s Frontiers in Education 2024 Conference
Leah presented her work done with the Historically Underrepresented Genders in ECE Initiative, a GIANT-funded program (Grant # GIANT2022-02), at the 2024 FIE conference in Washington, DC.
Leah Presents Integration Work at CS International
At the 2023 CS International Conference in Brussels, Belgium, Leah gave an invited talk on her work making heterogeneously integrated VCSELs on silicon. These VCSELs integrated via epitaxial transfer have improved thermal performances compared to non-integrated counterparts.
Celebrating the Life of Nick Holonyak Jr.
The group attended the “Celebrating the Life of Professor Emeritus Nick Holonyak Jr.” service in honor of Dr. Holonyak’s passing. Dr. John Dallesasse spoke as a past student of Holonyak, and Leah Espenhahn spoke as a current student of Dallesasse and thus a “research grandchild” of Holonyak.
After a number of speeches in honor of Dr. Holonyak, red LEDs in heart casings were past out to attendees in honor of Holonyak, who created the first visible LED. The group honors the passing of a great man, and give their best wishes to his widowed wife, Kay.
Robert, Kevin, and Leah Present at the Engineering Research Fair
Robert Kaufman, Kevin Pikul, and Leah Espenhahn present a high-level view on the research conducted within the group at the 2023 Engineering Research Fair. Over the course of two hours, 74 undergraduate students show interest in the group and the research being performed.
Laser Islands: Illinois Researcher Leah Espenhahn Shows How to Fully Integrate VCSELs on Silicon
Leah Espenhahn, Kevin Pikul, and Prof. Dallesasse are interviewed about their article published in Compound Semiconductor. They explore the topics of VCSELs and III-V/Si integration via epitaxial transfer.
Compound Semiconductor Article
Prof. Dallesasse Speaks on Importance of Microchips
Prof. John Dallesasse is interviewed for a CBC Radio article on the importance and prevalence of microchips in the modern age.
