NOTE TO JOURNALISTS:
A photo of Pradeep Sharma is available on the Web at http://www.egr.uh.edu/me/faculty/sharma/.
TUMOR DETECTION, DATA
ENCRYPTION TO BENEFIT FROM UH RESEARCH
Professor Pradeep Sharma Awarded More Than $250K for Quantum Dots
Work
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.
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