Jonathan E. Spanier, PhD, Hess Family Endowed Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Drexel University, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Spanier joins the 2024 class of 471 scientists, engineers and innovators honored with one of the most prestigious distinctions in the scientific community.
AAAS Fellowship recognizes individuals whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished. Spanier was cited “for outstanding contributions to advancing understanding of light-matter interactions, ferroelectricity and nanoscale phenomena in nanostructures, thin films, and bulk solids, particularly oxides, including Raman scattering, and dedicated academic administrative leadership.”
A faculty member at Drexel since 2003, Spanier is a widely recognized expert in materials science, physics, and electrical and mechanical engineering. His recent research has focused on the nanoscale electromechanical properties of ferroic and polar oxides, particularly in low-dimensional and thin-film systems. Notable recent work includes discoveries in domain wall engineering, polarization-dependent photovoltaic effects, and the quantum behavior of electrons in polar solids.
