Top 10 Hottest University Labs in Nanotech
The most recent issue of
Nanotechnology Law and Business (NLB, Vol. 1, Issue 4) provides a top ten
list of "hottest" nanotechnology university labs. NLB is a journal which
explores the rapidly developing world of nanotechnology and miniaturization.
To date, efforts to commercialize nanoscale materials, devices, and systems
have largely been driven by academic pioneers. Research labs at different
universities across the country have been responsible for some of the most
promising and disruptive breakthroughs in nanotechnology. With a substantial
federal commitment to funding nanoscience and the construction of new
nanoscience centers at numerous universities, professors, undergrads,
graduate students, and post-docs will spend an increasing amount of their
time and energy on understanding nanoscale phenomenon and developing new
technologies in the coming years. In this issue, we review the ten hottest
university labs in nanotechnology. We identified research groups that have
not just made great scientific strides, but are also actively leading the
way toward commercialization of nanotechnology.
The Ajayan Group, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The Ajayan group is using carbon nanotubes as templates and molds for
fabricating nanowires, composites, and novel ceramic fibers. The group’s
research goals include producing macro-assemblies made of nanostructures for
applications, understanding growth mechanisms of nanostructures and
designing new structures and multifunctional nanocomposites. Other research
interests are phase stability in metal clusters, the graphite-diamond phase
transition, and growth of nanostructures under electron irradiation. Several
start-ups have spun out of this group, and it collaborates with GE Global
Research. The group is lead by Pulickel M. Ajayan, Professor of Materials
Engineering at RPI.
The Alivisatos Group, UC Berkeley
Research in the Alivisatos group is primarily focused on nanocrystals.
Alivisatos is Chancellor's Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science at
UC Berkeley, Director of the Materials Sciences Division at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, and Director of the Molecular Foundry, a
Department of Energy Nanoscale Science Research Center. Ongoing research
projects in the Alivisatos group include nanocrystal / polymer composites
for light emitting diodes and photovoltaics, and nanocrystal electron
transistors, and nanocrystal/antibody conjugates as biological tag
molecules, and DNA directed assembly of nanocrystal patterns. IP generated
by this group relating to semiconductor nanomaterials is being developed at
both Nanosys and its East Bay neighbor, Quantum Dot Corporation.
The Belcher Group, MIT
The Belcher group, which is comprised of 24 people, is exploring how to
utilize biological systems to manufacture nanostructures. Angela Belcher’s
research, which dates back to her days as a graduate student at UCSB,
involves modifying viruses to produce nanowires, self-assembling films, and
other nanomaterials. Cambrios Technologies Corp., the company formed to
commercialize her technology, is currently seeking to raise money and is a
hot topic in venture capital circles. Belcher, only 37, has received
numerous honors, including Small Times’ 2002 innovator and researcher
finalist awards; Beckman, DuPont and Army Young Investigator awards, and a
Presidential Early Career Award. In September 2004, she was awarded a
“genius grant” and the distinction of a MacArthur Fellow.
The Dai Group, Stanford University
The Dai group at Stanford University is likely to play a major role in the
commercialization of carbon nanotubes. Dai discovered how to grow nanotubes
in specific directions and orientations on substrates using a chemical vapor
deposition process. His company, Molecular Nanosystems, holds intellectual
property related to synthesis of nanotubes, nanotube sensors, and nanotubes
as AFM tips. Nearly every academic and corporate research group working with
carbon nanotubes has utilized Dai’s techniques.
The Lieber Group, Harvard University
Charlie Lieber’s goup is developing nanostructures for a variety of
applications. The group’s research is primarily focused on self-assembly
techniques for axial nanowire structures, radial nanowire structures, and
branched nanowire structures, with device applications such as biological /
chemical sensing & detection, digital electronics & computing, and
photonics. Nanosys has licensed a substantial portion of the IP portfolio
from Lieber’s lab. With funding from the Air Force, Army, Navy, DARPA,
Ellison Medical Foundation, Intel Corporation, National Cancer Institute,
and NSF, the Lieber group is likely to continue to make pioneering
breakthroughs in the march toward commercialization of nanotechnology.
The Mirkin Group, Northwestern University
The Mirkin group focuses on developing methods for controlling the
architecture of molecules and materials on the 1-100 nm length scale, and
utilizing such structures in the development of analytical tools for
chemical and biological sensing, lithography, catalysis, and optics. The
Mirkin group pioneered the use of biomolecules as synthons in materials
science and the development of nanoparticle-based biodiagnostics. Many of
the concepts and materials developed within his laboratories are now the
basis for commercial detection and lithography systems. Mirkin is the George
B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and Director of the NU Institute for
Nanotechnology. He is the inventor on over 50 patents, is an active
consultant with several major chemical companies, and is the founder of two
companies: Nanosphere and NanoInk.
The Quate Group, Stanford University
One of the most veteran research leaders on this list, Cal Quate has spent
years developing imaging and lithography applications of scanning probes. He
is a named inventor on 37 issued patents assigned to Stanford. Intellectual
property developed by his group formed the basis for NanoDevices, a company
that was acquired by Veeco. Quate’s IP has also been licensed to Molecular
Nanosystems, and he sits on the scientific advisory board of the company.
The Quate group is currently focused on increasing throughput by scanning
simultaneously with multiple probes all moving at high speeds. Specifically,
the group’s research involves the micromachining of cantilevers, fabrication
of electron devices, system and circuit design, and the development and
implementation of novel sensors and actuators.
The Roukes Group, Caltech
The Roukes group is developing and applying new techniques to create
three-dimensional structures and machinery at the nanoscale. Roukes and his
students have been pioneers in development of nanoelectromechanical systems.
Roukes is the Director of Caltech’s Kavli Nanoscience Institute, cofounder
of the Nanosystems Biology Alliance, co-founder and co-director of both the
Initiative in Computational Molecular Biology and the Laboratory for Large
Scale Integration of Nanostructures, and chair of the external advisory
board of Harvard University’s nanoscience center. He recently teamed up with
colleagues Yu-Chong Tai (Director of the Caltech Micromachining Laboratory)
and Scott Fraser (Director of the Caltech Biological Imaging Center) to form
Nanotechnica (division of Arrowhead Research Corporation), a company seeking
to mass produce a variety of different nanoscale devices and systems.
The Smalley Group, Rice University
Perhaps the most important academic figure in the nanotech revolution is
Richard Smalley, Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics & Astronomy
at Rice University. Research in his lab lead to the discovery of the
fullerene molecule and ultimately earned him a Nobel Prize in 1996. His
current group is focused on single walled carbon nanotubes. The goal of the
group is to develop methods of production, purification, derivitization,
analysis, and assembly of nanotubes to solve real world problems. Carbon
Nanotechnologies Inc., holder of the exclusive license to the suite of
intellectual property developed in his lab, is developing a plant for mass
production of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
The Whitesides Group, Harvard University
The Whitesides Group may be engaged in the most diverse and
interdisciplinary areas of research of any group on this list, with projects
stretching across biochemistry, materials science, catalysis, and physical
organic chemistry. Ongoing projects include rational drug design,
fabrication of nanostructures, microfluidic systems, soft lithography, fuel
cells, and self-assembly of meso-scale systems. Perhaps the most vivid
illustration of the impact that the Whitesides group could have on
commercialization of nanotechnology is the role that graduate students
played in guiding early efforts at Nanosys. Whitesides is the Mallinckrodt
Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University and holds advisory positions
with the National Science Foundation, National Research Council, and
Department of Defense. |
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