Deep Jariwala has been appointed the Governor’s Chair for Quantum Devices at UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) to enhance the region’s leadership in artificial intelligence and quantum science. Reputable quantum materials and next-generation electronics researcher Jariwala will join ORNL and UT’s Tickle College of Engineering. January 2027 will see him at both schools.
The Governor’s Chair initiative connects ORNL and UT’s strengths to boost research and talent development. The program recruits qualified researchers like Jariwala to boost the region’s high-tech competitiveness. The university needs such great academics to boost its status and expand in cutting-edge subjects like quantum physics and engineering, said Chancellor Donde Plowman. According to Plowman, the collaboration with ORNL offers faculty and students options that are unmatched at other establishments.
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Revolutionizing Microchips for the AI Era
Jariwala moves to UT following an illustrious nine years at the University of Pennsylvania. His most recent positions were as an associate professor and the Peter and Susanne Armstrong Distinguished Scholar in the Materials Science and Engineering and Electrical and Systems Engineering departments. His work focuses on new materials that might serve as the basis for microchips used in artificial intelligence (AI), sensing, and computing in the future.
One of the main issues Jariwala tackles is the enormous amount of energy needed to run contemporary AI. His research focuses on enhancing the hardware more especially, the microchips used to train and execute AI algorithms to increase AI’s efficiency. He approaches this from two different scientific angles:
- Neuromorphic Computing: The process of building microchips to resemble the human brain, which is about 1,000 times more energy-efficient than existing AI technology, is known as neuromorphic computing.
- Quantum Physics: Utilizing the special physical characteristics of quantum materials to carry out challenging computational tasks is known as quantum physics.
According to Jariwala, both approaches have a strong foundation in the investigation of new materials and the physical phenomena they display. With his arrival, UT will have academic members with experience in every stage of chip development, from basic materials research and design to fabrication and practical application.
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Entrepreneurship and the “Arc of Translation”
In addition to his scholarly work, Jariwala infuses Knoxville with a strong business energy. As a testament to his dedication to faculty entrepreneurship, he co-founded Agni Semiconductor, a start-up company. According to Jariwala, “completing the arc of translation” entails turning laboratory research into a product that can be produced on a large scale and sold.
He hoped to “spin out more new companies from UT” and praised Tennessee’s business climate. By commercializing scientific breakthroughs, this focus is expected to enhance local and state economies.
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A Hub for Collaboration and Mentorship
A key component of Jariwala’s new post will be the creation of a material deposition and characterisation research facility at UT’s Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (IAMM). This facility will be situated at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, which acts as a hub for cooperation between ORNL, the university, and several business partners. According to Jariwala, UT and the national lab would engage in a “constant exchange of people and information” to develop new research avenues by utilizing their core facilities.
The upcoming generation of scientists is likewise meant to gain from this cooperative setting. In his advanced study, Jariwala intends to include both graduate and undergraduate students. Increasing their competitiveness for future employment and advanced graduate programs is his aim. He was repeatedly acknowledged by Penn students for his mentoring.
Deb Crawford, UT’s vice chancellor for research, innovation, and economic development, stressed the appointment’s significance. Jariwala’s findings will boost UT’s artificial intelligence and quantum material knowledge, she said. Crawford says that the fact that UT and ORNL work together “significantly increases the value of both organizations for Tennessee and the whole country.”
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A Distinguished Professional Background
Significant honors and academic contributions have characterized Jariwala’s career. He is well-known in his area and has received awards from esteemed institutions such as Optica, IEEE, and the American Physical Society. He has written more than 200 peer-reviewed articles for numerous journals and conferences to far. He also contributes to the larger scientific community as an associate editor for the American Chemical Society’s publication Nano Letters.
His academic career included two years at Caltech as a Resnick Prize Postdoctoral Fellow. In addition to an undergraduate degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology of Banaras Hindu University, he earned a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University.
As Jariwala is ready to join UT and ORNL in 2027, the organizations anticipate a new phase of quantum device innovation that will change the face of contemporary technology.
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