Joe Tracy, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University has received a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation for his project, “Magnetic Field-Driven Self-Assembly of Magnetic and Multifunctional Nanochains in Bulk Matrices.”
The CAREER Program offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education.
This particular award is supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research.
The research component of this CAREER award is an investigation of how applying magnetic fields causes magnetic nanoparticles to form chains in bulk matrices. An understanding of how material properties and the magnetic field strength determine the structures of the chains will be useful for gaining control over the assembly process and for developing new approaches for fabricating nanostructured composites. Coupling among the nanoparticles and with the matrix is expected to give rise to novel properties that are potentially useful for diverse applications. This award will also foster the development of a Nanotechnology Outreach Program that includes visits to Raleigh-area high schools to give demonstrations and lectures on nanotechnology.
Tracy’s CAREER award is for $550,000 over five years.