UC engineering professor honored for achievements in electronics, photonics

The Electrochemical Society awarded Andrew Steckl at annual meeting

Andrew Steckl, Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished research professor of engineering at the University of Cincinnati, was awarded the Electronics and Photonics Award from the Electrochemical Society. 

Professor Andrew Steckl poses next to a poster with his picture on it

Andrew Steckl, UC engineering professor, was honored by the Electrochemical Society for his prolific research work in electronics and photonics. Photo/provided.

Steckl pioneered the field of rare-earth electroluminescent materials incorporated in semiconductors, creating bright beautiful colors used in digital flat screens. 

“I’ve worked for decades at the intersection at electronics and photonics, where electrons and photons co-exist and interact,” Steckl said. “I’m pleased and honored to receive this award because it recognizes work over a long period of time.” 

His curiosity and drive to solve big problems led Steckl down many varied — but interwoven — research paths. Steckl is an electrical engineering professor, with additional appointments in biomedical engineering and materials engineering. His interests encompass all of those fields and beyond. 

UC professor Andrew Steckl, PhD shown here is this office and lab at Rhodes Hall. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative

Recently, Steckl has shifted his attention to the biomedical realm, with much of his recent research work focusing on devices for medical applications.

Steckl developed biosensors in point-of-care devices that use sweat or saliva to detect a person’s stress level or a health condition. He utilized electrospinning of complex nanofibers and related membranes for chemical, biological and medical applications — including a novel targeted drug delivery system for the treatment of brain tumors.

Steckl leads the Nanoelectronics Laboratory at UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. Together with his students, he has published more than 450 papers, which have received 16,000 citations. He has 28 patents on various electronic materials and devices and has been awarded more than $21 million in research funding. 

The Electrochemical Society honor was announced in 2020, but due to the pandemic, Steckl didn’t receive his award until 2022 when the society’s annual meeting returned to an in-person event.

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