CSE Professor Uwe Kortshagen elected to National Academy of Engineering

Two CSE alumni also receive prestigious NAE honors

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (02/12/2025) — University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering Professor Uwe Kortshagen has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Two College of Science and Engineering alumni—Stacey Yuxin Ma and Yu Sun also received NAE honors. Election to NAE is among the highest professional distinctions awarded to an engineer.

Uwe Kortshagen, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Ronald L. and Janet A. Christenson Chair in Renewable Energy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is honored for his contributions to the plasma synthesis of quantum dots and nanocrystals.

A central contribution of Kortshagen’s research is the development of plasma‑based synthesis techniques for a broad range of materials, including semiconductors, ceramics and metals. His work has played a key role in advancing the use of silicon quantum dots in practical applications such as solar cells and photovoltaic technologies, as well as the development of light‑emitting electronic devices.

More recently, Kortshagen’s research is contributing to emerging applications such as higher‑performance lithium‑ion batteries, new approaches to brain imaging in medicine and agricultural technologies that modify the solar light spectrum to support plant growth. His research has resulted in four patents and two start-up companies.

“Being elected to the National Academy of Engineering is a tremendous honor,” Kortshagen said. “My work has always been driven by the opportunity to advance fundamental plasma science while addressing challenges in energy, materials, and sustainability. This recognition reflects the contributions of many students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborators. I am grateful to be part of the University of Minnesota community that values interdisciplinary research and real‑world impact.”

Kortshagen has been a faculty member at the University of Minnesota since 1996. He served as head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering from 2008 to 2018 and Director of Graduate Studies from 2006-2008. In 2021, he and his wife, Dagmar, established a scholarship in mechanical engineering to help undergraduate students with an emphasis on first-generation college students.

Kortshagen has received numerous awards for research and teaching excellence, including the Plasma Prize from the American Vacuum Society, Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the University’s George Taylor Award for Distinguished Teaching. He has published more than 250 publications in refereed scientific journals and has advised 50 Ph.D. students, 36 master’s students, and 21 postdoctoral associates.

Learn more about Kortshagen’s Laboratory and the High Temperature & Plasma Laboratory 

CSE alumni

Stacey Yuxin Ma, executive vice president of Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing at Gilead Sciences Inc., Foster City, Calif., was elected to NAE for leadership in biopharmaceutical development, advancing analytical technologies and commercializing manufacturing platforms for transformative therapies. Ma received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota before going on to receive a Ph.D. from Yale.

Yu Sun, a professor at the University of Toronto, Canada was elected as an NAE international member for contributions to industrial-grade nanomanipulation instrumentation and contributions to the field of robotic cell surgery. Sun received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. 

Individuals elected to the Class of 2026 will be formally inducted during the NAE Annual Meeting in the fall.

See the full list of the newly elected members and international members.