Applied appoints optoelectronics, solar technology expert Stephen R. Forrest to board

Dr. Forrest’s experience in optoelectronic devices and his deep knowledge of organic compounds for use in solar power and light emitting diode applications will be invaluable to the board as we evaluate strategic directions for Applied, noted James C. Morgan, chairman of Applied.

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 6/13/2008

Adding a broad perspective on developing technologies and their usefulness for commercial applications, Santa Clara, Calif.-based semiconductor manufacturing equipment leader Applied Materials Inc today said it has appointed optoelectronic device expert Stephen R. Forrest to its board of directors and as a member of the strategy committee of the board, effective immediately.

“Dr. Forrest’s experience in optoelectronic devices and his deep knowledge of organic compounds for use in solar power and light emitting diode applications will be invaluable to the board as we evaluate strategic directions for Applied,” noted James C. Morgan, chairman of Applied in a statement.

Dr. Forrest (pictured left) currently serves as VP for research at the University of Michigan, where he also holds faculty appointments as professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the college of engineering, and as professor of physics in the college of literature, science and the arts. He also leads the university’s optoelectronics components and materials group.

From 1992 to 2001, Dr. Forrest served in a number of positions at Princeton University, including chair of the electrical engineering department, director of the center for photonics and optoelectronic materials, and as director of the National Center for Integrated Photonic Technology.

Prior to Princeton, Dr. Forrest was a faculty member of the electrical engineering and materials science departments at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Forrest started his career at Bell Labs and is a fellow of the IEEE and the Optical Society of America and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Physical Society.

Applied noted that he is a nationally-recognized lecturer whose work has garnered numerous awards.

Dr. Forrest has authored some 420 papers and holds 178 patents. He is a founder or founding member of several companies, including Sensors Unlimited, Epitaxx Inc, Global Photonic Energy Corp, Universal Display Corp and Apogee Photonics Inc.

Dr. Forrest holds a B.A. in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Michigan.