Dr. Jerry D. Tersoff is a preeminent theoretical physicist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed the understanding of materials at atomic and nanoscale dimensions. As a Principal Research Staff Member at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center since 1984, he has established himself as a visionary in developing elegant theoretical frameworks that elucidate complex material behaviors through simplified yet powerful models. Dr. Tersoff received his BA in Physics from Swarthmore College in 1977 followed by a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982, after which he conducted research at Bell Telephone Laboratories before joining IBM's renowned research division. His distinguished career reflects a consistent commitment to advancing the theoretical foundations of materials science with applications spanning semiconductor technology, nanoelectronics, and quantum computing.
Dr. Tersoff's seminal contributions include the development of the Tersoff potential, a widely adopted bond order potential for modeling covalent materials that has become indispensable in computational materials science simulations worldwide. His theoretical work on strain relaxation in thin films, recognized with the 1996 MRS Medal, provided crucial insights into heteroepitaxial systems that underpin modern semiconductor technology and nanostructure self-assembly. His research on semiconductor nanowire growth mechanisms and nanoscale effects in heteroepitaxy has enabled significant advances in the controlled formation of quantum dots and other nanostructures through stress-driven self-organization. With over 39,000 citations and an h-index of 88, his publications have profoundly influenced the field, including nine highly influential papers each cited more than 1,000 times that continue to shape contemporary research directions in nanoscale materials physics.
Dr. Tersoff's exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors including the Materials Research Society Von Hippel Award, the highest honor from MRS, the Davisson-Germer Prize from the American Physical Society, and election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2018. As a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Vacuum Society, and Materials Research Society, he has served in influential roles including on the MRS Board of Directors from 2003 to 2005 and editorial boards of major journals such as Journal of Applied Physics. His current research focuses on materials issues in quantum computing, extending his theoretical expertise to address critical challenges in this emerging technology domain. Dr. Tersoff continues to advance the understanding of low-dimensional electronic materials through his elegant theoretical models that reveal the essential physics governing growth, structure, and electronic properties, ensuring his enduring impact on both fundamental science and technological innovation.
