2024 Nick Holonyak Jr. Award Winner

Get Involved

Optica Names Theodore D. Moustakas the 2024 Nick Holonyak Jr Award Recipient

Optica is pleased to announce that Theodore D. Moustakas, Boston University (BU), USA, has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Nick Holonyak Jr Award. Moustakas is honored for pioneering contributions to nitride semiconductor materials and optical devices that helped build the foundation for blue and UV LEDs. His work has revolutionized the solid-state lighting industry and created real technology that is used for the public good.

Moustakas received his PhD from Columbia University, USA. He held research positions at Harvard University and Exxon Research Laboratory prior to joining BU as a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering with a joint appointment in the Physics Department. He is currently the BU inaugural Distinguished Professor of Photonics and Optoelectronics.

His research contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics in optoelectronic materials and devices, including nitride semiconductors, amorphous semiconductors, III-V compounds, and diamond thin films. Intellectual property, that resulted from his work in nitride semiconductors, has been licensed to more than 40 companies, including major manufacturers and users of blue / UV LEDs and lasers.

He is a Fellow of Optica, the American Physical Society, the Electrochemical Society, IEEE, and the Materials Research Society; he was also elected a Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He was granted an honorary doctoral degree from the Aristotle University, Greece (2003). He received the Molecular Beam Epitaxy Innovator Award from the North America MBE Society, the BU College of Engineering Distinguished Scholar Award, and the Boston University Innovator of the Year Award.

Established in 1997, the Holonyak Jr. Award recognizes significant contributions to optics based on semiconductor-based optical devices and materials, including basic science and technological applications. It honors Nick Holonyak Jr.’s distinguished contributions to the field of optics through the development of semiconductor-based light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers. The award is endowed by SDL Ventures, LLC, and Donald and Carol Scifres.

About Optica

Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica’s renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement.