Rate My Professor Sumeet Walia

Professor Sumeet Walia is a Professor in the School of Engineering at RMIT University and Director of the Centre for Opto-electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS) since 2023. He also directs the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Intelligent Contaminant-Sensing in Complex Environments (IC-SensE). As an innovator, research leader, and serial inventor, he focuses on engineering new material systems and nanoelectronic/photonic devices to overcome critical technological bottlenecks in healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. His research specializations include electronic and optical devices, low-dimensional materials, materials engineering, nanoelectronics and photonics, flexible devices, neuromorphics, bio-inspired devices, optical memories, artificial brain and vision systems, photodetectors, chromic and thermoelectric coatings, sensors, artificial intelligence hardware, biomaterials, and sensors. With over 160 peer-reviewed journal articles published in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications and Advanced Materials, his work has garnered more than 11,770 citations. He is a named inventor on twelve patents covering innovations across multiple sectors. Key publications include "Elemental analogues of graphene: Silicene, germanene, stanene, and phosphorene" (2015), "Two‐dimensional molybdenum trioxide and dichalcogenides" (2013), "Flexible metasurfaces and metamaterials: A review of materials and fabrication processes at micro- and nano-scales" (2015), "Transition metal oxides–Thermoelectric properties" (2013), and "Enhanced charge carrier mobility in two‐dimensional high dielectric molybdenum oxide" (2013).

Professor Walia has received major awards including the 2022 Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science, 2021 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians Award in Science & Medicine, 2020 Australian Academy of Science EMCR Fellowship, 2018 Royal Society of Victoria Phillip Law Award for Physical Sciences, 2018 Victoria Fellowship, 2018 Australia's Most Innovative Engineers by Engineers Australia, 2017 MIT Technology Review Top 10 Technology Innovators under 35 in Asia Pacific, and 2017 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award. He contributes as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Materials for Electron Devices, member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts, Advisory Board member for the Elevate Program of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (2022-2024), Co-Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Science and Technology Australia (2020-2024), and Founder and Chair of the IEEE Nanotechnology Council's Victoria Chapter (2019-2024). His efforts have built strong industry partnerships, translating research into impactful applications in defence, health, medical, energy, and space industries.