Uwe Kortshagen Elected to the National Academy of Engineering

Uwe Kortshagen, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Ronald L. and Janet A. Christenson Chair in Renewable Energy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Kortshagen’s research group is known for its work in the science and technology of plasma synthesis of quantum dots and nanocrystals—particles as small as one‑twenty‑thousandth the width of a human hair. His work focuses on materials that require high temperatures during synthesis, which are difficult or impossible to produce using traditional wet‑chemical approaches.

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. In this context, plasma refers to a partially ionized gas. Compared with other aerosol‑based methods such as flames or pyrolysis, plasma synthesis enables improved control over particle size and material properties.

Kortshagen’s work has played a key role in advancing the use of silicon quantum dots in practical applications. These include improved solar cells and photovoltaic technologies, as well as the development of light‑emitting electronic devices. More recently, his research has contributed 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.

In addition to experimental advances, Kortshagen has developed theoretical models describing how nanocrystals form, grow, charge, and heat within a plasma environment. His research has also expanded understanding of the physical properties and electrical transport behavior of quantum dot films produced through plasma synthesis.

Quantum dots—recognized with the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry—are increasingly important for displays, photovoltaics, quantum computing, and medical imaging. Kortshagen’s plasma‑based synthesis methods have broadened the range of usable quantum‑dot materials to include high‑temperature compounds that cannot be produced using conventional wet‑chemical methods.

“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, and 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.

Kortshagen joins other University of Minnesota faculty members who are part of the National Academy of Engineering.