The University of Chicago Department of Chemistry is honored to host Professor Moungi Bawendi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the distinguished speaker for the upcoming Harkins Lecture. Professor Bawendi, a former doctoral student of the Chemistry department who worked under the mentorship of Professor Takeshi Oka, will return to campus, bringing with him a legacy of transformative scientific contributions.
Professor Bawendi was a recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, an accolade shared for the seminal discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. His pioneering work in this area has fundamentally advanced nanotechnology, with profound implications for diverse fields including optoelectronics, display technologies, and biomedical imaging.
The Harkins Lecture presents a significant occasion for the University of Chicago community to engage with a globally recognized scientific leader. Professor Bawendi's trajectory, from his formative graduate studies within the department to his Nobel laureateship, serves as an inspiring narrative for aspiring scientists. His lecture, titled “Quantum dots: from Curiosity to Technology”, is anticipated to provide valuable perspectives on the forefront of chemical research and innovation.
The department looks forward to welcoming Professor Bawendi back to campus and celebrating his distinguished achievements.
Moungi Bawendi
“Quantum dots: from Curiosity to Technology”
3:45pm - 5:00pm CDT
Kent Chemical Laboratory, Room 120
Following the lecture, a reception will be held in the Kent Atrium, providing an occasion for further engagement and discussion.
The University of Chicago Department of Chemistry is delighted to announce that the upcoming Harkins Lecture will be delivered by 2023 Nobel Prize winner and esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, Moungi Bawendi. This special event marks the return of a distinguished alumnus whose significant research has earned him global recognition.
Bawendi has distinguished himself as a leading figure in the fields of nanoscience and quantum chemistry. His profound contributions were recognized with the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded "for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots"—semiconductor nanocrystals exhibiting size-dependent optical and electronic properties that have spurred significant advancements in display technologies, biomedical imaging, and photovoltaics
Currently, Professor Bawendi is the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT, where he also serves as Advisor for the Minor in Energy Studies with the MIT Energy Initiative.
His distinguished academic journey includes an A.B. (1982) and A.M. (1983) from Harvard University.
Notably, Professor Bawendi's earned his Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1988 under the guidance of the Professor Takeshi Oka.
As a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry from 1983 to 1988, Bawendi immersed himself in rigorous academic inquiry and research. This period under Professor Oka's mentorship provided a crucial intellectual foundation for his later groundbreaking work. Following his Ph.D., he pursued postdoctoral research at Bell Laboratories under the guidance of Louis Brus before joining the faculty at MIT in 1990.
The Harkins Lecture offers a unique opportunity for the University of Chicago community to hear firsthand from a Nobel laureate and a former member of our department.
Following the lecture, a reception will be held in the Kent Atrium, providing an occasion for further engagement and discussion.