Prof. Dr. Roman Engel-Herbert

Prof. Engel Herbert is the Director of PDI and holds a W3-S faculty position at the Humboldt University of Berlin. His research interests are centered around the growth of thin films and heterostructures using molecular beam epitaxy of III-V and III-nitride compound semiconductors, and in particular of functional oxide-, and chalcogenide-based materials. This includes the scale-up and integration of these compounds with established material platforms, as well as the development of innovative thin film synthesis methods to achieve unprecedented control over stoichiometry and layering. Synthesis efforts to rapidly develop and mature these novel material systems are complemented by property characterization and device fabrication activities to explore and harness the so far unexploited electronic and optical functionalities arising from sizeable electron correlation effects, strong spin-orbit coupling, and non-trivial topological states for applications in quantum technology.

The properties of these rationally designed and artificially crafted crystal structures are tailored by arranging elements with atomic precision. Engel-Herbert has co-pioneered hybrid MBE that enables the growth of complex oxides with an unprecedented level of perfection. He has recently demonstrated that perovskite thin films can be integrated on Si using this scalable growth technique and has made substantial contribution to the development of high-k dielectrics on compound semiconductors for beyond Si CMOS technology.

His most notifiable breakthrough was the discovery of a novel design paradigm for transparent conductors.

Honors & Awards

• Wilson Award for Outstanding Service, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 2021
• Paul F. Robertson Award for EMS Research Breakthrough of the Year 2018
• Tech Connect Innovation Award, TechConnect-National Innovation Summit 2016
• Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Award 2014
• Early Career Award of the National Science Foundation USA 2014
• Student’s Choice Faculty of the Year Award, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2013
• McFarlane Career Professorship, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2010-2013
• Feodor-Lynen Award, Humboldt Foundation, 2008-2009
• Carl Ramsauer Award, German Physical Society of Berlin, 2006