Scientista Spotlight: Meet Dr. Evelyn Hu, Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering at Harvard SEAS
March 16, 2012
By Pin-Wen Wang
Why should having a conversation with Professor Evelyn Hu be on everyone's bucket list, even if you're not in the SEAS department? I'm taking a class with Professor Hu this semester, but I first met her as a guest lecturer for Introduction to Electrical Engineering (ES50), spring semester of my freshman year. Not only was her lecture amazing, it was easy to understand. I had no idea what p-n junctions were, but she somehow made it seem like I knew everything there was to know about it. Her teaching style is classically Socratic, and it makes you think, it keeps you on your toes, and it makes you love her teaching methods that much more. Out of class, she's an excellent mentor and just great to talk to. She honestly cares about what you've been doing and how she can help. She always makes time for you, and she's always there when you need her, even though she's always running from place to place with her full schedule. For me, she seems like the person that holds all the keys to what might be down the road for me, and I wanted to get to know her, her personality, her motivations, to help me find myself and my motivations as well. This Q & A session should by no means substitute a nice sit down talk with Evelyn, but I hope it makes you as fond of her as I am, and helps spark your passion in science.
By Pin-Wen Wang
Why should having a conversation with Professor Evelyn Hu be on everyone's bucket list, even if you're not in the SEAS department? I'm taking a class with Professor Hu this semester, but I first met her as a guest lecturer for Introduction to Electrical Engineering (ES50), spring semester of my freshman year. Not only was her lecture amazing, it was easy to understand. I had no idea what p-n junctions were, but she somehow made it seem like I knew everything there was to know about it. Her teaching style is classically Socratic, and it makes you think, it keeps you on your toes, and it makes you love her teaching methods that much more. Out of class, she's an excellent mentor and just great to talk to. She honestly cares about what you've been doing and how she can help. She always makes time for you, and she's always there when you need her, even though she's always running from place to place with her full schedule. For me, she seems like the person that holds all the keys to what might be down the road for me, and I wanted to get to know her, her personality, her motivations, to help me find myself and my motivations as well. This Q & A session should by no means substitute a nice sit down talk with Evelyn, but I hope it makes you as fond of her as I am, and helps spark your passion in science.
About Professor Hu
Evelyn Hu is a Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering at Harvard SEAS. She received her undergraduate degree in Physics fromBarnard College and continued to get her masters and Ph.D in Physics atColumbia University. Prior to teaching at Harvard, she was a member and supervisor at AT&T Bell Laboratories, and a distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering as well as Director of the Institute for Quantum Engineering and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research group is currently focused on nanophotonics and material science geared toward energy and environmental technologies. For more information on Evelyn Hu, please visit http://www.seas.harvard.edu/directory/ehu/?searchterm=evelyn%20hu . |
Q: Going into college, did you always know you were going to do physic and engineering? If not, what were you also interested in?
A: Yes. My parents intended me to be in physics as I was growing up. The whole time I kind of wanted to be a medical doctor, but as I transitioned in high school, I started liking physics more and more, but it took some time to see if it was my idea, and not my parents’.
Q: What motivated you to study physics ?
A: My family made sure that I participated in science fairs and extracurricular activities. In retrospect it was great!
In high school, in NYC, there was a Columbia S&T program where you came in on Sat. and Sun. and you would take classes taught by PhD students. I took 2 courses - quantum mechanics; plasma physics- topology). At the time, I was too young to understand everything; but I felt so privileged that they were willing to teach high school students anyway. Looking back, I didn’t understand the material the first time around, but it set me up for the next time.
I still remember the day I walked out of classes thinking “Wow, physics is beautiful.” When I learned about electric / magnetic fields, it just changed how I looked at the world, even if it was only for a few minutes, everything in your world changes, and suddenly the world in physics looks beautiful.
Q: Your first career position was at Bell Labs. What made you decide to work there and what did you do?
A: I was so lucky! - clueless.
At the time I was working on accelerator experiments, and I just thought that that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I was so lucky. My advisor asked me, “What do you want to do, and I just said: “Bell Labs would be nice”. I had no clue what it was like or how hard it was be, but I was so lucky to have the chance to work there and have access to the immense resources available.
Q: You research is primarily on solar cells, nanophotonics, and bio-inspired materials. What got you so interested in these subjects?
A: Research interests are always changing. At Bell Labs I worked on superconductors and nanofabrication techniques. At UCSB I worked on compound semiconductors. You really just need to follow your interests and research something that appeals to you. Science and Technology change every day, and your research is helping to shape that. I mean what’s the definition of research? You come up with something, and you don’t know how to approach it. That’s what fun about it. If something works, it’s really your own!
Q: What advice would you give women who are thinking about going into the hard sciences such as physics and engineering but unsure?
A: You have to ask yourself: Why would you think it's not the right thing for you? If you think you can't do it. Is it still interesting? Does it sparkle for you? Is it engaging? If it looks attractive, but you don't want to go any further, you'll never know if you don't give it a try.
A: Yes. My parents intended me to be in physics as I was growing up. The whole time I kind of wanted to be a medical doctor, but as I transitioned in high school, I started liking physics more and more, but it took some time to see if it was my idea, and not my parents’.
Q: What motivated you to study physics ?
A: My family made sure that I participated in science fairs and extracurricular activities. In retrospect it was great!
In high school, in NYC, there was a Columbia S&T program where you came in on Sat. and Sun. and you would take classes taught by PhD students. I took 2 courses - quantum mechanics; plasma physics- topology). At the time, I was too young to understand everything; but I felt so privileged that they were willing to teach high school students anyway. Looking back, I didn’t understand the material the first time around, but it set me up for the next time.
I still remember the day I walked out of classes thinking “Wow, physics is beautiful.” When I learned about electric / magnetic fields, it just changed how I looked at the world, even if it was only for a few minutes, everything in your world changes, and suddenly the world in physics looks beautiful.
Q: Your first career position was at Bell Labs. What made you decide to work there and what did you do?
A: I was so lucky! - clueless.
At the time I was working on accelerator experiments, and I just thought that that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I was so lucky. My advisor asked me, “What do you want to do, and I just said: “Bell Labs would be nice”. I had no clue what it was like or how hard it was be, but I was so lucky to have the chance to work there and have access to the immense resources available.
Q: You research is primarily on solar cells, nanophotonics, and bio-inspired materials. What got you so interested in these subjects?
A: Research interests are always changing. At Bell Labs I worked on superconductors and nanofabrication techniques. At UCSB I worked on compound semiconductors. You really just need to follow your interests and research something that appeals to you. Science and Technology change every day, and your research is helping to shape that. I mean what’s the definition of research? You come up with something, and you don’t know how to approach it. That’s what fun about it. If something works, it’s really your own!
Q: What advice would you give women who are thinking about going into the hard sciences such as physics and engineering but unsure?
A: You have to ask yourself: Why would you think it's not the right thing for you? If you think you can't do it. Is it still interesting? Does it sparkle for you? Is it engaging? If it looks attractive, but you don't want to go any further, you'll never know if you don't give it a try.
About the Author
Pin-Wen Wang is a sophomore at Harvard concentrating electrical engineering. She is also really interested in history of science, as well as energy and the environment. She plays for the Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team and is also an active member of the Food Literacy Project.
Comments?
The Scientista Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved © 2011-2021 | Based in NY | contact@scientistafoundation.org
The Network for Pre-Professional Women in Science and Engineering
The Scientista Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) -- Donate!
The Network for Pre-Professional Women in Science and Engineering
The Scientista Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) -- Donate!