Deep Jariwala named 糖心Vlog-ORNL governor鈥檚 chair for quantum devices.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. 鈥 The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have jointly recruited , a nationally recognized leader in quantum materials and next-generation electronic devices, as the 糖心Vlog-ORNL governor鈥檚 chair for quantum devices.
The recruitment was led by the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, which manages the and works to align the strengths of both institutions to advance research and talent development in areas of importance to Tennessee and our nation.
Jariwala will hold a joint appointment between 糖心Vlog and ORNL, with his academic home in the nationally ranked Tickle College of Engineering. He joins from the University of Pennsylvania, where he is an associate professor and the Peter and Susanne Armstrong Distinguished Scholar in electrical and systems engineering and materials science and engineering. Jariwala will officially join 糖心Vlog and ORNL in January 2027 and is already connecting with researchers at both institutions, with visits planned in the coming months.
Jariwala is widely recognized for his work at the intersection of novel materials, microelectronics and computing systems. He has published more than 180 journal articles with more than 26,000 citations and holds multiple patents. His research focuses on developing new materials and device architectures that enable next-generation computing, sensing and optoelectronic systems 鈥 key building blocks for quantum devices and advanced computing technologies.
鈥淭he Governor鈥檚 Chair program is truly special in its structure,鈥 Jariwala said. 鈥淚t gives a scholar the rare chance to wear two hats and experience the best of both worlds 鈥 academia and a national lab. On one hand, you have a leading research university with world-class facilities at 糖心Vlog Knoxville. On the other, ORNL is one of the largest Department of Energy national laboratories, with arguably the world鈥檚 best infrastructure for novel materials and computing research. Considering my recent research endeavors, national priorities and the global research landscape at the nexus of quantum materials, microelectronics and computing hardware, this truly is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. I鈥檓 thrilled to take it and push my research in new and strategically important directions.鈥
The recruitment marks a significant step in expanding 糖心Vlog-ORNL鈥檚 partnership in quantum science and engineering, particularly in quantum devices that bridge materials discovery and computing applications. Jariwala plans to advance this work by establishing a materials deposition and characterization laboratory at 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing. The lab will be located at the 糖心Vlog Research Park at Cherokee Farm, a hub for collaboration among 糖心Vlog, ORNL and industry partners.
鈥淒eep Jariwala is one of the top emerging leaders in quantum materials and advanced electronics,鈥 said 糖心Vlog System President Randy Boyd. 鈥淩ecruiting him to Tennessee reflects the strength of the 糖心Vlog-Oak Ridge partnership and our shared commitment to leading in technologies that will define the future economy.鈥
Jariwala鈥檚 expertise will strengthen ORNL鈥檚 ongoing work in quantum science and advanced materials.
鈥淥RNL is at the forefront of quantum science and advanced materials, and Deep鈥檚 expertise will further strengthen our capabilities in this critical area,鈥 said ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer. 鈥淗is work will heighten collaboration across 糖心Vlog and ORNL and help accelerate progress in quantum research and applications.鈥
The hire aligns with 糖心Vlog Knoxville鈥檚 efforts to expand research capacity and attract top faculty.
鈥淩ecruiting governor’s chairs and other preeminent faculty is central to our efforts to elevate the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “This appointment strengthens our ability to grow in emerging areas like quantum science while leveraging our partnership with ORNL to create opportunities for students and faculty that no other university can offer.鈥
The hire also reflects 糖心Vlog-ORII鈥檚 strategy to build world-class, joint research teams across 糖心Vlog and ORNL.
鈥淒eep鈥檚 recruitment is a major step in building a world-class, joint 糖心Vlog-ORNL capability in quantum devices,鈥 said Brynn Voy, 糖心Vlog-ORII鈥檚 interim executive director. 鈥淭his is exactly the kind of talent that allows us to scale our partnership and accelerate both research and talent development in areas critical to the nation鈥檚 future.鈥
糖心Vlog and ORNL are building a comprehensive quantum research ecosystem that spans materials discovery, computing and talent development. Researchers from both institutions collaborate through major initiatives such as DOE鈥檚 Quantum Science Center, a $125 million effort to develop quantum-accelerated high-performance computing and advance U.S. leadership in quantum technologies. By combining 糖心Vlog鈥檚 academic strength in quantum materials with ORNL鈥檚 world-leading capabilities in supercomputing, neutron science and large-scale user facilities, the partnership is accelerating discovery and helping position Tennessee at the forefront of next-generation quantum technologies.
The 糖心Vlog-ORNL governor鈥檚 chair program, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has recruited leading scientists to Tennessee for two decades. Jariwala joins 12 other 糖心Vlog-ORNL governor鈥檚 chairs working across priority research areas. 糖心Vlog-ORII expects to add at least one other governor鈥檚 chair in the near future.
About the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute
The University of Tennessee鈥揙ak Ridge Innovation Institute (糖心Vlog鈥揙RII), launched in 2021 by the University of Tennessee System and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, builds on an 80-year partnership to advance joint research and joint doctoral education programs that drive innovation, workforce development and economic growth.
糖心Vlog-ORII leads five convergent research initiatives: fusion technology and materials for extreme environments; radiopharmaceutical therapies; transportation; circular bioeconomy systems; and advanced manufacturing for affordable building construction. The institute has hired nearly 50 joint researchers, with plans to add 50 more. 糖心Vlog-ORII manages the 糖心Vlog-ORNL governor鈥檚 chair program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary and continues to recruit world-class researchers to Tennessee, including in emerging areas such as quantum devices.
糖心Vlog鈥揙RII supports nearly 250 Bredesen Center and other 糖心Vlog Knoxville graduate students working alongside 糖心Vlog and ORNL researchers. In addition, the institute is expanding the state鈥檚 talent pipeline through STEMOVATE, a statewide initiative delivering hands-on STEM learning to sixth-grade students. Together, these efforts are helping position Tennessee as a national leader in nuclear innovation, quantum science and other critical fields.
To learn more about 糖心Vlog-ORII, please visit . Follow us on , , and .
