Chasiotis Earns Presidential Early Career Award

AE Associate Prof. Ioannis Chasiotis is among 100 young researchers named as recipients of 2008 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. The recipients will receive their awards in the fall at a White House ceremony.

“These extraordinarily gifted young scientists and engineers represent the best in our country,” President Barack Obama said in announcing the awards. “With their talent, creativity, and dedication, I am confident that they will lead their fields in new breakthroughs and discoveries and help us use science and technology to lift up our nation and our world.”

Chasiotis' research interests include experimental mechanics at the nanoscale; mechanical reliability, fracture, and fatigue of micro-electromechanical systems; deformation and damage mechanics of polymer nanocomposites and soft nanophase materials; and applications of scanning probe microscopy in mechanics and biology.

He joined the AE faculty in 2005, and is affiliated with the Beckman Institute, the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, and the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering. Prior to coming to Illinois, Chasiotis was an assistant professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Virginia from 2001 to 2004.

In his short career Chasiotis has earned a number of honors: the 2007 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award; the 2007 Illinois College of Engineering Xerox Award for Faculty Research; the 2005 Best Research Paper Award from the Society for Experimental Mechanics’ 6th International Symposium on MEMS and Nanotechnology; the 2000 American Academy of Mechanics Founders Prize and Grant; the 1999 Charles Babcock Memorial Award from the California Institute of Technology; and the 1998 American  Vacuum Society’s Outstanding Research Presentation Award.

Chasiotis earned a diploma in chemical engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece in 1996. He earned a master’s degree and PhD in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology in 1998 and 2002, respectively.

Young scientists and engineers honored with PECASE awards receive up to a five-year research grant to further their study in support of critical government missions. The federal agencies involved include the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation.