Dr. David Smith stands as a preeminent figure in electromagnetic materials research and holds the distinguished position of James B. Duke Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, a prestigious title reserved for the institution's most accomplished scholars. He also serves as Director of the Center for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics at Duke, demonstrating exceptional leadership in advancing this cutting-edge research domain. With academic roots at the University of California, San Diego where he earned both his B.S. in 1988 and Ph.D. in Physics in 1994, Smith established his research trajectory during postdoctoral work in Sheldon Schultz's laboratory. His career has spanned multiple prestigious institutions, with current affiliations including adjunct positions at UCSD and Imperial College London that reflect his international reputation and the cross-disciplinary nature of his pioneering work in engineered electromagnetic materials.
Smith is globally recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to electromagnetic metamaterials, most notably for creating the first negative index metamaterial in 2000, which fundamentally challenged conventional understanding of electromagnetic wave propagation and earned him international acclaim. His subsequent experimental confirmation of the reversal of Snell's law in 2001 provided critical validation for theoretical predictions dating back to Veselago's work, with both landmark papers now exceeding 3,000 citations each and establishing the foundation for the modern metamaterials field. In 2006, Smith further expanded the boundaries of the discipline by demonstrating the first functional metamaterial invisibility cloak for microwave wavelengths, capturing worldwide attention and illustrating the transformative potential of engineered materials. His research has established foundational principles for manipulating electromagnetic waves in unprecedented ways, enabling applications ranging from advanced security imaging systems to revolutionary antenna designs that have practical implications across defense and telecommunications sectors.
As a thought leader, Smith has significantly shaped the global metamaterials research community through his extensive collaborations and mentorship of numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish independent careers worldwide. His leadership extends to directing major research initiatives including the Metamaterials Commercialization Center at Intellectual Ventures, which bridges fundamental research with practical applications, and his group's recent work on the Duke SPACE Initiative demonstrates continued innovation in space-related electromagnetic technologies. Smith's ongoing research continues to push boundaries, with current projects including NASA-funded studies on metasurface technologies and industry partnerships developing advanced radar systems for cloud sensing applications. His sustained excellence has been recognized through prestigious honors including the Descartes Prize and the McGroddy Prize for New Materials, while his status as a Clarivate Analytics Citation Laureate since 2009 underscores his enduring impact on the scientific community. Looking forward, Smith remains at the forefront of metamaterials innovation, guiding the field toward increasingly sophisticated applications that promise to revolutionize multiple industries through unprecedented control of electromagnetic phenomena.
