Feb 17 2014
Fiorenzo G. Omenetto, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering at Tufts University School of Engineering and adjunct professor of physics in the School of Arts and Sciences, has been elected a fellow to the American Physical Society.
Founded in 1899, the APS represents more than 50,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories and industry in the United States and throughout the world.
Omenetto's research is heavily focused on interdisciplinary themes that span nonlinear optics, nanostructured materials (such as photonic crystals and photonic crystal fibers), optofluidics and biopolymer based photonics. His laboratory has pioneered the use of silk as a material platform for photonics, optoelectronics and high-technology applications and is actively investigating novel applications that rely on this new technology base.
The citation from APS recognizes Omenetto for "outstanding contributions to the development of silk-based optical structures and photonic devices, and important advances in ultrafast nonlinear optics and photonic crystal fibers."
APS fellowships are awarded after extensive review and are considered a distinct honor because the evaluation process, conducted by the fellowship committees of individual divisions, topical groups and forums, relies on nomination and recommendation by one's professional peers. Each year, no more than one-half of one percent of APS membership can be elected as a fellow. Omenetto is one of 249 Fellows elected by APS in its most recent election.
Omenetto earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and applied physics from the Universita' di Pavia, Italy. His work earned him a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Last year, he was named a fellow of the Optical Society of America (OSA). Additional information on his work is available at http://engineering.tufts.edu/bme/research/omenetto/home.html