Melissa Pappas
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology — the kinds of tech used in fiber optics, laser surgery, solar cells and quantum computing. The society’s Early Career Achievement Award recognizes academics’ significant and innovative technical contributions in these fields within the first five years of a faculty appointment.
Deep Jariwala, Peter and Susanne Armstrong Distinguished Scholar and Associate Professor in Electrical and Systems Engineering, is a 2025 recipient of an SPIE Early Career Achievement Award for his “pioneering contributions towards understanding strong light-matter interactions in quantum-confined excitonic and magnetic semiconductors, and for the development of excitonic metamaterials.” This honor rounds out Jariwala’s “trifecta” of early career awards in optics and photonics, including his IEEE Photonics society Young Investigator award in 2022, and his Optica Adolph Lomb medal in 2024.
“This award is a welcome addition to the recognition of my research group’s efforts in optoelectronic and photonic materials and their devices,” says Jariwala. “I am very pleased to share this honor with the other 2025 recipients and join the list of prior recipients, which includes very prominent researchers who I look up to.”
Jariwala has brought innovative research on the study of nanometer- and atomic-scale devices, materials and interfaces for applications in computing, sensing, information technology and renewable energy to Penn in just five short years. He is uncovering new ways in which light interacts with different kinds of materials and develops novel materials such as exciton-based metamaterials that have unique properties not found in nature. By examining the ways photons interact with quantum-level structured materials, Jariwala is able to combine new techniques to assemble, grow and integrate nanostructured materials to create novel electronic and photonic devices. While advancing nano, quantum and low-dimensional materials for opto-electronic and photonic device applications, Jariwala also approaches science and research with rigor while leveraging a broad multidisciplinary perspective facilitated through collaborative opportunities at Penn.
“Penn strongly supports collaborative research in optics of novel materials and novel optical concepts,” says Jariwala. “I have drawn inspiration through many collaborations, most notably the works and guidance of Nader Engheta, which have been very influential in my work. Nader has been an omnipresent supportive figure and invaluable colleague for me in this area of research. I’m also grateful for various other colleagues in the Department and School, including Cherie Kagan, Rob Carpick, Eric Stach and Troy Olsson, who have been influential in other areas of my group’s research.”
Read more about Jariwala’s early career accomplishments in the SPIE press release here.