Heikenfeld and Steckl Rank in Ohio s Top 25 STEM Professors

The University of Cincinnati is deeply committed to supporting and expanding the quality of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and is a national leader through its distinguished faculty and innovative programs. UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) celebrates the recognition of Jason Heikenfeld, PhD and electrical engineering associate professor, and Andrew J. Steckl, PhD and electrical engineering professor, who now rank in Ohio’s Top 25 STEM professors, according to

Online Schools Ohio

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Most universities have general education requirements that include a body of studies in the STEM fields. STEM subjects form the academic backbone of many liberal arts or applied science programs. Ohio universities and colleges are staffed by faculties who teach in one or more STEM field. Some teach in interdisciplinary programs, while others offer specialized courses to upper division or graduate students who are majoring in a STEM field.

All of the Ohio professors that made the list, however, are celebrated for achievement in the teaching, mentoring students and conducting research into their STEM specialty. Some lead research teams at university labs or mentor graduate students who are preparing for their college careers. Others pioneer their own inquiries into fields like information technology, astronomy, mathematics, biotechnology or nuclear science. They hail from all size colleges and universities across the state. What they all have in common is a commitment to academic excellence.

Both Heikenfeld and Steckl are internationally renowned, not only in academia but also in industry.

Jason Heikenfeld

’s novel research and breakthroughs in the field of electrofluidics have earned him global acclaim.  His discoveries in devices and electrowetting technology are integrated into a number of today’s commercial and research display applications.

Heikenfeld is a founding member of

UC Forward

, a teaching and learning initiative that link students, faculty and external experts to create innovative and transformative answers to problems and uniquely develop tomorrow’s workforce. He then spearheaded the creation of

UC3

, the cross-college and multidisciplinary certificate program designed to help students acquire the skills and dispositions needed to develop innovative ideas. These ideas address market and/or societal needs and are brought to market at/after graduation, through a combination of focused foundational courses and experiential learning activities. The program is active not only at CEAS but also at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business; the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning; the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services; and the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.

Additionally, the UC Novel Devices Laboratory has grown substantially under Heikenfeld’s direction, garnering international media attention for its innovations. Ranked as one of UC’s top five faculty members for recent invention disclosures, patents filed and nondisclosure agreements with industry, he continually seeks to impact his field.

Heikenfeld reflects on his most recent achievement, “I am thrilled to be part of a great university.  We have fantastic leadership from top to bottom at UC and CEAS. I’m beyond excited to contribute to forward momentum that we are all building up.”

Andrew J. Steckl

, Ohio Eminent Scholar and Carl Gieringer Professor of Solid State Electronics, is founder of the Center of Integrated Electronics and the UC Nanoelectronics Laboratory. He has gained more than $16 million in research funding for the university.

Steckl’s novel methodologies within the field of electrical engineering quickly earned international recognition early in his career. His early research focused on the growth and fabrication of high-power and high-frequency silicon carbide electronic devices.

Steckl serves as a passionate educator, researcher, advisor and collaborator, working on projects across several disciplines at UC. He’s a consistent trailblazer in three major areas of research: organic and biopolymeric (DNA) materials for photonic and electronic devices; electrofluidics to produce novel materials and devices (electrospinning of nanofibers, electrowetting transistors, biochips and displays); and rare-earth light-emitting elements that hold potential for use in devices such as flat-panel displays and lasers.

Steckl is the founder of the Center of Integrated Electronics and the UC Nanoelectronics Laboratory. Heikenfeld is Steckl’s former student and together they started the highly successful company Extreme Photonix LLC.

Of the recognition, Steckl says, “It was a most gratifying surprise to be selected for this honor. The credit is to be shared with the many great students I have had in the classroom and the laboratory that have kept me enthusiastic about being a professor for nearly 40 years!”

For more information about STEM, please visit:

http://ceas.uc.edu/news-1314/uc-engineering-stem-education-for-the-21st-century-.html

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For more information about the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing Sciences at CEAS, please visit:

http://secs.ceas.uc.edu/

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