November 9, 2004

John Hauser’s Dedication to NC State Spans Four Decades

Dr. John Hauser (Photo: Ross Mehan, Electronic News)

From the time he was a young boy, “understanding the laws of science and how the universe works” has appealed to Dr. John R. Hauser, Distinguished University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University. That curiosity spurred him on to a long, successful career as a researcher, professor, center director and department head, as well as one of the world’s leading experts in semiconductor technology.

Hauser grew up on a farm near Mocksville, North Carolina. In 1960 he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from NC State. After receiving his PhD in electrical engineering from Duke University in 1964, he worked as a research engineer at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI). Hauser joined the NC State faculty in 1966.

In 1978 Hauser and the students on his research team partnered with RTI on a project for the US Air Force. Their research led to the world’s first monolithic cascade solar cell, a more efficient means of converting sunlight into electricity. Dr. Salah Bedair, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State who was working for RTI at the time, also played a key role in the project. This type of high efficiency solar cell is used mainly in space applications today.

John Hauser in his classroom in 1990 (Photo: Martha Brinson)

Hauser believes his most significant research has been in the area of semiconductor technology, for which he received the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) University Researcher Award in 2002. He has made significant contributions to the development of new technologies for nanoscale CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) devices. According to Hauser, within the next 5 to 10 years, much of the new technologies that use new materials for increased speed, packing density and new applications will make their way into the manufacturing of computer chips and communication circuits. From 1998 to 2001 he was the director of the SRC/SEMATECH Center for Front End Processing, a multi-university research program on advanced CMOS technologies. SEMATECH is a global consortium of semiconductor manufacturers.

From 1996 to 2000 Hauser was director of the Engineering Research Center for Advanced Electronic Materials Processing. He has twice served as interim head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The author of more than 150 refereed technical publications and two books, he has developed most of the graduate-level courses in the area of microelectronics, and his course notes are still used in classes.

Hauser’s service to the university does not end with contributions in the laboratory and the classroom. In 1997 he established the John R. and Ann C. Hauser Scholarship Endowment to support students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Hauser’s career has been rich with achievements. In addition to receiving the SIA award, in 2002 the NC State University Board of Trustees awarded him the prestigious Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence.

Recently, Hauser entered into a new phase of his career — partial retirement. He is currently working on a book about nonlinear analysis and plans to write textbooks based on his graduate-level course notes.

Reflecting on his long career, Hauser notes, “I have really enjoyed working here and have especially enjoyed my interactions with students and other faculty.”

And not everyone would be able to say, after four decades of service to the same institution, as Hauser does, “I have always looked forward to coming to work, every day.”

— mcblief —

/ News Index / News Archives Index /