Naomi Halas, a University Professor at Rice University in Houston Texas, has been awarded the 2024 Mildred Dresselhaus Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomaterials from the American Physical Society. The Dresselhaus Prize recognizes an outstanding scientist in the areas of nanoscience or nanomaterials and is named for renowned physicist and former president of the American Physical Society Mildred Dresselhaus.
Dr. Halas’ discoveries have diverse applications in cancer treatment, optoelectronics, photocatalysis, chemical sensing, solar-powered distillation and steam production, and off-grid water treatment. She is director of the Smalley-Curl Institute and founding director of the Laboratory for Nanophotonics. According to Google Scholar, Halas’ publications have been cited more than 122,000 times.
Dr. Halas is the first person at Rice University to be elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering for research done at Rice. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Materials Research Society, the Optical Society, the American Physical Society, the International Society for Optical Engineering, and the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Dr. Halas holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from La Salle University in Philadelphia, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. both in physics from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.