Dr. Maxim Shcherbakov, Assistant Professor, UCI Samueli School of Engineering,  recently received the prestigious National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. His project, “Bridging Infrared and Visible Photonics with Chip-ready Nonlinear and Quantum Metadevices,” addresses the problem of efficient frequency conversion on a chip.  The project explores the nonlinear and quantum properties of phonon-polaritonic materials, offering a framework for on-chip light management with unprecedented bandwidth, footprint and efficiency.

The research will connect signals across five octaves of light through nonlinear and quantum light-matter interactions in designer nanostructures called photonic-phononic metasurfaces. Photonic-phononic metasurfaces will be conceived using modern tools of nanotechnology, as well as rigorous numerical design approaches and state-of-the-art optical testing tools, including femtosecond lasers and single-photon correlation techniques.

The results of Dr. Shcherbakov’s research will pave the way to better, more efficient signaling on a chip, which will allow seamless integration of heterogeneous photonic platforms and chiplets. The broader societal impact extends to advancements in on-chip photonics, impacting computing, signal processing, telecommunication, quantum information, and biophotonics.

An essential component of the project is an integrated educational effort to train a diverse group of future semiconductor microelectronics and quantum information specialists. Through clean room training, hands-on experience with quantum communication protocols and public talks, the team will play an important role in shaping the landscape of high-tech research and education of tomorrow.

About the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

About the U.S. National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science; advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and secure national defense. NSF is the only federal agency whose mission supports all fields of fundamental science and engineering disciplines, from mathematics, engineering and geosciences to biological, behavioral and computer sciences.

Click here to learn more on the NFS website.