Dr. David Cahill is a distinguished leader in materials science whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of thermal phenomena at microscopic scales. He currently holds the prestigious Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering while serving as Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with additional courtesy appointments in Mechanical Sciences and Engineering and Physics. After earning his PhD in condensed matter physics from Cornell University, he conducted postdoctoral research at the IBM Watson Research Center before joining the Illinois faculty. His extensive leadership within the university includes eight years as Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from 2010 to 2018, during which he significantly elevated the department's research profile and academic standing. His career trajectory reflects a consistent commitment to advancing both scientific knowledge and institutional excellence in engineering education.
Dr. Cahill's groundbreaking research program has revolutionized the field of thermal transport through the development of time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and related ultrafast laser metrology techniques, for which he received the Materials Research Society's Innovation in Materials Characterization Award in 2018. His transformative measurement methods have enabled unprecedented precision in characterizing thermal properties of materials and interfaces, addressing critical challenges in semiconductor technology, energy conversion, and thermal management of advanced electronics. With over 56,000 total citations and an h-index of 110 according to Google Scholar, his work on thermal transport extremes in both hard and soft materials has established foundational knowledge now widely applied across multiple disciplines. His recent investigations into the thermal science of magnetic materials and coupled heat-mass transport in battery materials continue to address pressing technological challenges in energy storage and quantum information systems.
As co-Director of the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute from 2021 to 2024, Dr. Cahill has fostered significant industry-academic collaborations that accelerate the translation of fundamental thermal science into practical applications. His election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023 and receipt of the Paul G. Klemens Award in 2023 underscore his enduring influence on the scientific community. Through his mentorship of numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, he has cultivated the next generation of thermal scientists who now lead research programs worldwide. Dr. Cahill's current research continues to push boundaries in quantum thermal transport and the development of novel materials with engineered thermal properties, positioning him at the forefront of addressing emerging challenges in sustainable energy systems and next-generation computing technologies.
