Fred Wudl is a distinguished materials scientist renowned for his pioneering contributions to the field of organic conductors and superconductors. He currently holds the position of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Materials Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he has maintained a continuous affiliation since 1982 with a brief interlude at UCLA. Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, he emigrated to the United States in 1958 and earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA in 1964 and 1967 respectively, conducting his doctoral research under Professor Donald J. Cram. Following postdoctoral studies with Nobel laureate R.B. Woodward at Harvard University, he began his academic career at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1968 before transitioning to AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1972 where he made several groundbreaking discoveries.
Professor Wudl is most widely recognized for discovering the electronic conductivity of the precursor to the first organic metal and superconductor, a fundamental contribution that launched an entirely new field of research. His innovative work on electronically conducting polymers led to the discovery of the first transparent organic conductor and the first self-doped polymers, both of which have had significant technological implications for optoelectronic devices and flexible electronics. Throughout his prolific career, he has co-authored over 400 scientific papers and secured 13 U.S. patents, demonstrating the breadth and impact of his research across multiple domains of materials science. His investigations into the optical and electrooptical properties of processable conjugated polymers, the organic chemistry of fullerenes, and the design of organic ferromagnets have established him as a thought leader whose work continues to inspire new generations of researchers in the field.
In addition to his individual research contributions, Wudl co-founded the Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids at UCSB with Alan Heeger in 1982, serving as its co-Director until 1997 and establishing it as a world-leading center for polymer research. Later, in collaboration with Fraser Stoddart, he created the Exotic Materials Institute at UCLA, further expanding the frontiers of materials science through interdisciplinary collaboration. His leadership extends to editorial roles as associate editor of Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals and Regional Editor for the Journal of Materials Chemistry, where he has shaped the discourse of the field for decades. Professor Wudl's numerous accolades including the Tolman Medal, Seaborg Medal, and fellowship in the Royal Society of Chemistry attest to his enduring influence, and his legacy continues through the Linda and Fred Wudl Term Chair at UCLA, which supports promising young researchers carrying forward his vision for innovative materials science.
