Rate My Professor Chenming Hu

Hu's research specializations encompass semiconductor technology, integrated circuit device scaling, modeling, and reliability physics. He led the invention and development of the FinFET, a revolutionary 3D thin-body transistor patented in 1999 (US6413802B1), which IEEE calls him the Father of and Intel describes as the most radical shift in semiconductor technology in over 50 years, enabling modern computers, smartphones, the internet, and AI chips. Since 1995, he has directed the BSIM project, the royalty-free industry-standard MOSFET compact model integral to designing integrated circuits worth trillions of dollars. He has authored six books, including Modern Semiconductor Devices for Integrated Circuits (2010), FinFET Modeling for IC Simulation and Design, and BSIM4 and MOSFET Modeling for IC Simulation; over 1,000 research papers; and holds more than 100 US patents. His profound influence on the field is evidenced by awards such as the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation presented by President Obama in 2016, the IEEE Medal of Honor in 2020, the Taiwan Presidential Science Prize in 2023, the IEEE Nishizawa Medal in 2009, and UC Berkeley's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997. Hu is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering since 1997, Academia Sinica since 2004, Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2007, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Hong Kong in 2021 and National Chiao Tung University in 2012.