Professor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Alam Group Webpage

Research Interests

I am interested in theory, simulation, characterization, and compact modeling of semiconductor electronic, optoelectronic, and bio-electronic devices. We always look for system-level technological bottlenecks as new research topics and try to identify those problems whose solutions will illuminate the deeper physical principles involved and establish the limits of the technology for the particular system-level applications.

In the past, we have worked on performance limits of resonant tunneling diodes and semiconductor lasers, theory of selective-area MOCVD crystal growth for optoelectronics ICs, mechanics of ALD crystal growth high-k dielectric deposition, and scaling limits of gate oxides and physics of oxide-semiconductor interface for MOSFET applications. For all these problems, we have often developed new theoretical and computation tools to analyze the problems, worked closely with experimentalists to cross-check and verify our model predictions, and eventually encapsulated our understanding in broadly available tools for engineering design.

Currently we are working on four research topics that reflect our vision regarding continued evolution of semiconductor industry over the next 20-30 years. These topics are: (1) Reliability physics of MOSFETs for microelectronic applications, (2) Possibility of novel DRAMs cells as memory elements beyond ITRS roadmap, (3) performance limits Nano-composite thin-films for macroelectronic applications (flexible, perhaps printable, large-area electronics), and (4) functionalized nano-bio sensor arrays for bio-medical and electro-chemical applications.