Education

  • Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 2005
  • M.S. (Laurea), University of Padua, Italy, 2001

Background

Dr. Bassiri-Gharb began at Georgia Tech in Summer 2007 as an Assistant Professor. Prior, she was a Senior Engineer in the Materials and Device R&D group of MEMS Research and Innovation Center of QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. Her work included characterization and optimization of the optical and electric response of the IMOD displays, and research on novel materials for improved processing and reliability of the IMOD. She was promoted to Professor in 2019.

Research

Dr. Bassiri-Gharb's research interests are in ferroelectric and multiferroic materials and their application to nano- and micro-electromechanical systems as sensors and actuators. Her research projects integrate micro and nanofabrication techniques and processes, with fundamental science of ferroelectric materials.

In the area of novel characterization techniques for ferroelectrics, Dr. Bassiri-Gharb studies the effects of the external fields (electric, strain and temperature) on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of these materials. The experimental characterization and mathematical modeling of the nonlinearities in ferroelectric materials are then implemented for design and prediction of the on-field behavior of the piezoelectric devices (e.g., MEMS sensors and actuators and multilayer capacitors).

Dr. Bassiri-Gharb's research in the area of smart nano-systems is centered on ferroelectric nanostructures for application in environmental energy harvesting, tunable photonic crystals (TPC) and ultrasonic transducers. Cutting edge fabrication techniques, including Electron Beam Lithography and Nano-imprint, are employed for the production of the final devices. Collaborations with other groups on and off campus are in progress for piezoelectric characterization of the nanostructures and devices.

Another of Dr. Bassiri-Gharb's research topics is piezoelectric MEMS-based reflective flat panel displays and micro-stage for manipulation of nanoscale materials. Research work involves optimization of the actuating piezoelectric layers, and improved design and functionality of the other materials and components of the system. In particular, novel materials for the challenging new field of MEMS on glass are studied and implemented.

All projects involve interdisciplinary research across the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, and Electrical Engineering.


Ashley Bernal (B.S., Rose-Hulman Institute) on the rotary evaporator for synthesis of sol-gel solutions in the Smart Materials and Devices Lab.

 


Dr. Nazanin Bassiri-Gharb (standing) and graduate student Ashley Bernal at a microprobe station for dielectric characterization of ferroelectric thin films and nanostructures.

Distinctions & Awards

  • Nature Scientific Reports, Editorial Board, 2014-present
  • IEEE-UFFC Ferroelectrics Young Investigator Award, 2013
  • NSF CAREER award, 2013
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Class of 1969 Teaching Fellow, 2012
  • Bennett Aerospace, Researcher of the year award, 2011
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Society:

    - President 2018 - 2019
    - President-Elect 2016 - 2017
    - Newsletter, Editor in Chief, 2012-2013
    -  IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, Associate Editor, 2011-present
    -  IEEE Nanotechnology Council, AdCom Representative, 2008-2013
    -  Women in Engineering, Society Liaison, 2008-2013
    -  Educational Committee Officer, 2006-present
    -  Outstanding Student Paper Award, 2004
  • Journal of Electroceramics Editorial Board, 2007-present
  • Society of Women Engineers, General Motors Award, 2005

Patents

Soft Template Manufacturing of Nanomaterials, U.S. Patent 61/420,958 with A. Bernal, 2011.

Representative Publications

"Free-standing ferroelectric nanotubes processed via soft-template infiltration," Bernal, A., Tselev, A., Kalinin, S. V. & Bassiri-Gharb, N.Advanced Materials 24, 1159-1164, (2012)

"Enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric response in PZT superlattice-like films by leveraging spontaneous Zr/Ti gradient formation," Bastani, Y. & Bassiri-Gharb, N. Acta Materialia 60, 1346–1352, (2012).

"Direct Fabrication of Arbitrary-Shaped Ferroelectric Nanostructures on Plastic, Glass, and Silicon Substrates," Kim, S., Bastani, Y., Lu, H., King, W. P., Marder, S., Sandhage, K. H., Gruverman, A., Riedo, E. & Bassiri-Gharb, N. Advanced Materials 23, 3786–3790, (2011).

"Effects of orientation and composition on the extrinsic contributions to the dielectric response of relaxor-ferroelectric single crystals," Bernal, A., Zhang, S. J. & Bassiri-Gharb, N. Applied Physics Letters 95, 142911, (2009).

"Domain wall contributions to the properties of piezoelectric thin films," Bassiri-Gharb, N., Fujii, I., Hong, E., Trolier-Mckinstry, S., Taylor, D. V. & Damjanovic, D. Journal of Electroceramics 19, 47-65, (2007).