Faculty

Gregory L. Timp

Gregory L. Timp

Professor
3041 Beckman Institute, MC-251
405 N. Mathews
Urbana, Illinois 61801
(217) 244-9629
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Research Statement:
My research interests can be categorized succinctly as follows: (1) in nanoelectronics I leverage transistor fabrication to study electron transport in semiconductors; (2) in nanobiotechonlogy I study molecular transport through synthetic nanopores in thin membranes; and (3) in laser-guided assembly of nanosystems I use optical traps to precisely manipulate atoms and cells into useful arrays.

Teaching Statement:
My teaching interests vary widely, but are commensurate with my multi-disciplinary research agenda in nanoelectronics/nanofabrication, biophysics, cell biology and optics. In the past, I have taught the following courses: ECE 487, Introduction to Quantum Electronics; ECE 583, Semiconductor Nanotechnology Laboratory; ECE 450, Lines, Fields and Waves;ECE 398, Elements of Solid State Electronics;ECE 498, Introduction to Systems Biology for Engineers; and ECE 440, Solid State Electronics.

Research Interests:

  • NANOELECTRONICS: Fabrication, development, and characterization of the performance of silicon MOS nano-transistors are used to discover the fundamental limitations of the silicon MOSFET. We have explored the limits of conventional semiconductor processing to produce nanometer-scale wires and transistors, and uncover the physical underpinnings of electronic transport. We have fabricated and tested the high frequency performance of nanotransistors and found fT =465GHz for a 30nm gate, which is the highest cut-off frequency reported for a MOSFET so far, demonstrating the performance that can still be gleaned from miniaturization.
  • NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY: We have used nanometer-scale lithography to probe biological function and study molecular transport through nanopores. In particular, we have produced a synthetic nanopore sensor, i.e. a nanometer-diameter pore in an ultra-thin membrane fabricated from an MOS capacitor that has prospects for rapidly and inexpensively sequencing DNA.
  • LASER-GUIDED ASSEMBLY: Using arrays of optical traps we have assembled nanosystems. This work involves adaptive optics, high intensity lasers and the fabrication and optical manipulation of nanometer-scale objects. We have been using arrays of optical traps to create synthetic tissue-i.e. permanent micorarrays of living cells on a hydrogel scaffold. We have managed to create 3D heterotypic arrays containing thousands of cells without loss of viability and used them to study biochemical signaling. This effort lays the foundation for doing logic with biology, changing the paradigm for computation.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities:
My current research is at the nexus between three disciplines: semiconductor nanoelectronics, optics and life sciences. My activities are highly collaborative, interdisciplinary and wide ranging—spanning nanofabrication, nanoelectronics, atomic and molecular physics to cell biology. My recent contributions can be categorized succinctly as follows: (1) in nanoelectronics I leverage transistor physics and fabrication to study electron transport in semiconductors; (2) in nanobiotechonlogy I study molecular transport through synthetic nanopores in ultra-thin membranes; and (3) in laser-guided assembly of nanosystems I use holographic optical traps to precisely manipulate atoms, molecules and cells into useful arrays.

For more information:
Prof. Timp's Home Page

Professional Registrations

  • American Physical Society, Fellow 2006
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Fellow 2007
  • American Academy of Nanomedicine, Founding Member, Fellow 2006
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow 2007

Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements

  • IEEE, Fellow, 2007
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fellow, 2007
  • American Physical Society, Fellow, 2006
  • American Academy of Nanomedicine, Founding Member, Fellow, 2006

Honors, Recognition, and Outstanding Achievements for Research

  • Patent: August 7, 2007, Subject: Method of Fabricating a Composite Gate Dielectric Layer, Patent # 7, 253,063
  • Cover of Nanotechnology, Vol. 17, Issue 3, 2006, "Simulation of the electric response of DNA translocation through a semiconductor nanopore-capacitor
  • Cover of Biophysical Journal, Vol. 91, Issue 9, 2006, "Laser-Guided Assembly of Heterotypic 3D Living Cell Microarrays"
  • Biophysical Society Meeting, "Detection of a Single Molecule of DNA Using a Synthetic Nanopore", BEST POSTER AWARD, Long Beach, CA, February, 2005.
  • Patent: January 17, 2001, Subject: A Silicon Oxide Based Gate Dielectric Layer, Patent #123239,

Other Publications

  • Patent Granted: August 7, 2007, Subject: Method of Fabricating a Composite Gate Dielectric Layer, Patent # 7, 253,063, G.L. Timp, Lucent Technologies