Arjun Yodh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arjun Yodh
Born
Maryland
Academic background
EducationBSc, 1981, Cornell University
MS, PhD, 1986, Harvard University
ThesisHigh-resolution collision studies of ³P₁-state Zeeman coherences using photon echoes (1986)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Pennsylvania

Arjun Gaurang Yodh is an American physicist. He is the James M. Skinner Professor of Science at the University of Pennsylvania and former Director of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter.

Early life and education[edit]

Yodh was born and raised in Maryland to Indian immigrant parents. Growing up, his father, a physicist, greatly attracted him to the field.[1] While attending Springbrook High School, Yodh was the runner-up for the best scientific paper at the annual Maryland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.[2] Following high school, Yodh earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University and his PhD from Harvard University.[3] As a graduate student at Harvard, Yodh worked with Tom Mossberg and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at AT&T Bell Laboratories.[1]

Career[edit]

Following his fellowship, Yodh joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant professor of physics with a plan to use lasers to study molecules on surfaces.[1] During his early time at UPenn, Yodh focused his research interests on aspects of chemical, condensed-matter, and optical physics.[4] He also received the Office of Naval Research Navy Young Investigator Award and was an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow from 1991 to 1994 and earned an Presidential Young Investigator Award.[5] In 1997, he was appointed the William Smith Term Professor[4] and James M. Skinner Professor of Science in 2000.[5] Prior to his secondary appointment, Yodh was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society for his "work on the use of diffusing light fields and studies of the structural, dynamical, and spectroscopic properties of highly scattering materials."[6] He also pioneered the use of diffuse optics as a tool for medical diagnostics, such as imaging of breast tumors and functional imaging and spectroscopy of the brain. His research also helped to discover what pattern a tumor creates.[7]

As the James M. Skinner Professor of Science, Yodh found that sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS) disperses nanotubes in water with high efficiency. The result of this discovery improved scientists ability to manipulate single nanotubes.[8] He also employed optical techniques, such as laser tweezers and confocal microscopy, for the study of interactions and phase behavior of soft-matter systems. In 2009, Yodh was appointed the director of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) at the University of Pennsylvania.[9] In his first term as director, Yodh oversaw the renewal of the $22 million National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center award, the largest one nationwide. As well, he led the development of numerous educational outreach programs. As such, Yodh was re-appointed the LRSM director in 2014.[10] During his second term as director, Yodh also served as a member at various UPenn institutes, including the Institute of Medicine and Engineering, the Bioengineering Graduate Group, and the Abramson Cancer Center.[11] In 2016, he was the recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Humboldt Research Award[12] and, in 2017, was one of two UPenn professors who were elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).[11]

In 2021, Yodh was elected into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering for "pioneering pre-clinical and clinical contributions to the development of diffuse optics for imaging and monitoring tissue physiology."[13] He was also awarded the 2021 Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award from The Optical Society.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Arjun G. Yodh". Laser Focus World. March 1, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Serlstedt Jr., Albert (March 21, 1977). "Student wins state science honor". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 14, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Arjun Yodh". University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "SAS Endowed Chairs..." University of Pennsylvania Almanac. September 23, 1997. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "SAS Chairs". October 24, 2000. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "HONORS & Other Things". University of Pennsylvania Almanac. October 5, 1999. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Schiff, Nate (February 10, 1999). "U. pioneers cancer-detection technique". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Surfactant Curtails Nanotube Clumping in Water". University of Pennsylvania Almanac. February 11, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Reese, Jordan (May 13, 2009). "Arjun G. Yodh Named Director of Penn's Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter". Penn Today. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Reappointed Director of LRSM, Professor Arjun Yodh". University of Pennsylvania. May 6, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Rajeev Alur and Arjun Yodh: AAAS Fellows". University of Pennsylvania. February 21, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Arjun G. Yodh: Humboldt Research Award". University of Pennsylvania. March 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "Arjun G. Yodh, Ph.D. To be Inducted into Medical and Biological Engineering Elite". American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "Arjun Yodh named 2021 Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award Recipient by The Optical Society". University of Pennsylvania. February 11, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.

External links[edit]

Arjun Yodh publications indexed by Google Scholar