UCSB announced on Wednesday that David Awschalom, a professor of physics as well as electrical and computer engineering, has been named the Faculty Research Lecturer of 2008. Awschalom, who serves as director of the Center for Spintronics and Quantum Computation as well as the associate director of the California NanoSystems Institute, is the fifty-third recipient of this award. His research and findings have created new opportunities in the world of semiconductor spintronics and quantum computation.
Steven Fisher, the recipient of last year’s award noted that Aschalom’s dedication to teaching is “one of his most lasting contributions to the stature of our campus,” and said the committee chose Awschalom for his “outstanding research contributions, scholarship, scientific leadership, broad contributions to enriching the intellectual stature of UCSB, and for his outstanding role as a teacher and mentor.” Awschalom expressed his astonishment at being acknowledged, “I am extremely surprised and deeply honored to receive this award. This level of appreciation from my colleagues across the campus means a great deal to me.”
Awschalom’s Faculty Research Lecture will be on campus and free and open to the public. The date has yet to be confirmed.