ECE Professor Luke Mawst retires

After a remarkable career of teaching, research, and mentorship, Grainger STAR Professor in Engineering Luke Mawst is retiring from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A leading expert in semiconductor lasers and photonic devices, Mawst’s research has driven significant advancements in the field, earning him recognition among peers and students alike. As a dedicated educator, he inspired and guided students, fostering both technical excellence and innovative thinking. His contributions to the department have strengthened its reputation for excellence, and his impact on students, colleagues, and the broader scientific community will endure for years to come.

Mawst received his PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 1987 before joining the research and development staff at electronics and aerospace company TRW. In 1993, he joined UW-Madison as a staff scientist in ECE, becoming a member of the faculty in 1996.

His research focuses on the synthesis of semiconductor materials using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), including the development of nanostructures like quantum dots and a variety of semiconductor lasers. This work has led to two spin-off companies, Alfalight, which produces high-power diode lasers and Intraband LLC, which is developing quantum cascade lasers.

He is a fellow of IEEE, received the IEEE Photonics Society Aron Kressel Award, and has been recognized by UW-Madison with a Vilas Associates Award and Grainger STAR Professorship. In 1998, he received an NSF CAREER Award, among many other significant grants and honors throughout his academic career.

Emphasizing Mawst’s contributions, ECE Department Chair Susan Hagness states, “Over the past three decades, he and his students have made pioneering research contributions in novel materials growth, design, and fabrication of semiconductor diode lasers, and he has mentored multiple assistant professors in the areas of solid-state electronics/quantum technologies and optics/photonics.  What an impressive legacy he is leaving here.”

During his time in ECE, Mawst taught 12 different courses, two of which he developed. He has advised 22 PhD students, 13 master’s students and mentored 9 postdoctoral fellows and 2 academic staff scientists. He also served on numerous committees both for the university and department, including chairing the ECE graduate recruiting and fellowship committee, ECE curriculum committee, and ECE graduate committee.

Professor Nelson Tansu (BSEE’98, PhDEE’03) first met Mawst while he was an undergraduate studying electrical engineering 29 years ago and went on to join Mawst’s research group and pursue a PhD focusing on photonics, semiconductor devices, and laser diodes. Tansu, now Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Professor in Quantum Electronics at the University of Adelaide in Australia, reflects, “Luke is an exceptionally brilliant and creative faculty member who introduces new device concepts and effectively translates them into real-world applications through careful and complex experimental design. Luke was an exceptional teacher, researcher, mentor, and inventor. Throughout my time working with and knowing him, he has always been remarkably kind, helpful, considerate, caring, sincere, and supportive.”

Professor Emeritus Thomas Kuech from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering looks back on his work with Mawst: “I have enjoyed a decades-long collaboration with Professor Mawst, who brought enthusiasm, creativity, and broad insight to the research while being an involved mentor to his students. I learned a great deal from him as he approached new and difficult problems. It has been great fun!”

Tansu also shares, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have had Luke Mawst as my PhD advisor. Even though I have been away from Madison, Wisconsin, for 23 years, I still frequently seek his advice on research ideas, career plans, and personal matters. Anyone who has worked closely with Luke would agree that we are lucky to have advisors and colleagues like him. He is a fantastic professor, advisor, friend, and human being. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is indeed fortunate to have him on its faculty. We will greatly miss his outstanding contributions upon his retirement. No words can adequately express my deep appreciation for what Luke has done for me, his former PhD students, many of his colleagues, and the Photonics and semiconductor research communities.”