Biography

Dr. Wierer's research interests include semiconductor device physics and semiconductor materials science. Specifically, he is interested in researching electronic and optoelectronic devices with wide bandgap semiconductors. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1999 and was advised by Nick Holonyak, Jr. Before joining NC State University, Dr. Wierer worked at Philips-Lumileds, Sandia National Labs, and Lehigh University. At Lumileds Advanced Laboratories, his research focused on novel III-nitride light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This includes the development of the first high-power (1 Watt) flip-chip III-nitride LED and seminal work on III-nitride photonic crystal LEDs.  At Sandia National Laboratories, his interests broadened into other III-nitride research areas, including — solar cells, intersubband devices, layer intermixing, power electronic devices, ultra-violet LEDs, and nanowire LEDs. His most notable work there was proposing laser diodes as an ultra-efficient light source for solid-state lighting. Dr. Wierer has authored or co-authored over 200 journal publications and conference presentations and holds 42 patents, predominantly related to III-nitride devices. He is a senior editor for the IEEE Photonics Technology Letters journal and an associate editor for the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics. He is an Optica Fellow and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Education

  • Ph.D. 1999
    Electrical Engineering
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Master's 1995
    Electrical Engineering
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Bachelor's 1994
    Electrical Engineering
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Involvement

  • IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
    Senior Editor
  • IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
    Associate Editor

Awards & Honors

  • 2024 - Optica - Fellow
  • 2019 - Optica (formerly OSA) Senior Member
  • 2018 - Joel and Ruth Spira / Lutron Electronics  Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2014 - Honorary Member of Illumination Engineering Society (IES)
  • 2012 - R&D100 Award, “Photovoltaics that fit,” R&D Magazine
  • 2011 - IEEE Senior Member
  • 2004 - R&D100 Award, “Cantilever Epitaxy and Growth of Low-Dislocation Gallium Nitride,” R&D Magazine
  • 1998 - Gregory Stillman Semiconductor Research Award

Recent News

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Jonathan Wierer Elected as Fellow Member of Optica

Posted on November 3, 2023 | Filed Under: Awards and Faculty and News

ECE Professor Jonathan Wierer was elected as a Fellow Member of Optica by the Society’s Board of Directors this October. He is being honored specifically “For pioneering contributions to the physics and engineering of high-efficiency, high- …

Jon Wierer to Join ECE Faculty

Posted on May 21, 2021 | Filed Under: Faculty

ECE is proud to announce the addition of a new member of our faculty to bolster the stellar research and teaching going on in the department—welcome to the Pack!

 

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