Katayun Barmak

Katayun Barmak

Philips Electronics Professor of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

Katayun Barmak is the Philips Electronics Professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics.

Her research, often conducted in collaboration with industry, addresses the synthesis, processing, properties, crystal structure, grain structure, and crystallographic texture of metallic films for electronic and magnetic applications. Thermodynamics and kinetics of solid state reactions and phase transformations in nanostructured films are also extensively addressed in her work as are grain boundaries, grain growth, and microstructural evolution. Synthesis characterization and defect computations of transition metal dichalcogenides for electronic, photonic, and optoelectronic applications is a new area in her broad and diverse materials research portfolio. Her studies have also addressed degradation mechanisms of pigments and paper in paintings and manuscripts in collaboration with the Columbia University Libraries Conservation Program. Characterization techniques of interest include differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray and electron diffraction (XRD, ED), X-ray reflectivity, electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, S/TEM including in situ studies), crystal orientation mapping, and machine learning for image analysis. In addition to co-authoring a number of book chapters, she has co-edited and has authored three chapters in the book, "Metallic Films for Electronic, Magnetic, Optical and Thermal Applications: Structure, Processing, and Properties."

Barmak obtained her BA (1983) and MA (1985) degrees from the University of Cambridge, England. She completed her MS (1987) and PhD (1989) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was the recipient of an AT&T Foundation Fellowship during her doctoral studies. Prior to joining the Faculty at Lehigh University in 1992, she spent three years at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center and IBM East Fishkill Development Laboratory working on materials, structures, and processes for field effect and bipolar junction transistors. She joined Carnegie Mellon University in 1999 and moved to Columbia University in 2011. She received the National Young Investigator (NYI) award in 1994 and the Creativity Award in 2001, both from the US National Science Foundation.  She was the recipient of an IBM Materials Research Community Visiting Scientist Award, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, 2004 (one of only two faculty awards made worldwide), and a Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Fellowship in 1994. She is a Fellow of ASM International.

Research Areas

  • Materials Characterization
  • Materials Design and Engineering
  • Materials Modeling and Simulation
  • Materials Synthesis and Processing
  • Nanomaterials
  • 2D Materials
  • Materials Microstructures
  • Machine Learning for Microstructure Analysis
  • Phase Transformations in Materials
  • Structure of Materials

Additional Information

  • Professional Affiliations
    • ASM International (ASM)
    • Materials Research Society (MRS)
    • The Minerals, Metals, Materials Society (TMS)
    • Microscopy Society of America (MSA)
    • Microbeam Analysis Society (MAS)
    • IEEE
    • American Vacuum Society (AVS)
    • American Physical Society (APS)
    • Electrochemical Society (ECS)
    • Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
    • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • Honors & Awards
    • Fellow, ASM International, 2023
    • Senior Member, IEEE 2019
    • Edward and Carole Kim Faculty Involvement Award, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 2017
    • Philbrook Prize in Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 2009
    • IBM Materials Research Community Visiting Scientist, T. J. Watson Research Center, 2004
    • Visiting Scientist, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, 1998-2003
    • NSF Creativity Award, 2001
    • IBM Faculty Fellowship Award, 1999
    • Alfred Noble Robinson Award, Lehigh University, 1995
    • National Young Investigator (NYI) Award, National Science Foundation, 1994
    • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Fellowship Award, 1994
    • Chambers Junior Professorship Award, Lehigh University, 1992
    • AT&T Foundation Fellowship Award, 1986-1989
  • Professional Experience
    • Academic Program Coordinator, Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, 2013-2019
    • Philips Electronics Professor, Department Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, 2011-
    • Full Professor with indefinite tenure, Carnegie Mellon University, 2002-2011
    • Associate Professor with indefinite tenure, Carnegie Mellon University, 1992-2002
    • Associate Professor with indefinite tenure, Lehigh University, 1997-1998
    • Co-director, Thin Film Laboratory, Materials Research Center, Lehigh, 1995-1998
    • Harold Chambers Junior Faculty Chair of Materials Sci. and Eng., Lehigh University, 1992-1993
    • Assistant Professor, Lehigh University, 1992-1997
    • Staff Engineer, Advanced Device Development, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center and IBM East Fishkill, 1989-1992A
  • Education
    • PhD, Materials Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • MA, University of Cambridge, England
    • SM, Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • BA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, England