Dr. Santosh K. Kurinec is a highly accomplished professor and Fellow of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). She currently holds the position of Professor of Electrical & Microelectronic Engineering at the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
Dr. Kurinec has made significant contributions to the field of microelectronic engineering and has an impressive academic career. She served as the Department Head of Microelectronic Engineering at RIT from 2001 to 2009. During her tenure, she played a vital role in shaping the department and fostering academic excellence.
With a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Delhi, India, her doctoral research focused on high permeability Mn-Zn ferrites. Throughout her educational journey, she demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, earning recognition as a National Science Talent Scholar. She had the opportunity to intern at esteemed institutions such as IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
After completing her doctorate, Dr. Kurinec worked as a Scientist at the National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi, where she contributed to the development of a polysilicon photovoltaics program. Her passion for research and exploration led her to the United States, where she participated in the Training in Alternative Energy Program at the University of Florida.
She continued her research journey as a postdoctoral research associate at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida, focusing on thin metal film composites and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Subsequently, she joined the joint college of engineering between Florida State University and Florida A&M University as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, where she explored areas such as light emission from silicon-based devices and high-temperature superconducting thin films.
In 1988, Dr. Kurinec joined Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) as an Associate Professor and has since made valuable contributions to the institution. Her expertise and dedication have earned her numerous accolades and affiliations, including being a Fellow of IEEE, a Member of the American Physical Society, and a member of the NY State Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Kurinec is renowned for her exceptional teaching skills and has been recognized with the 2012 IEEE Technical Field Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching. She is an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Education and serves as an IEEE Electron Device Society Distinguished Lecturer.
Alongside her teaching and academic responsibilities, Dr. Kurinec actively engages in research. Her current research activities encompass nonvolatile memory, photovoltaics, and advanced integrated circuit materials and processes. She has made notable contributions in the area of nonvolatile memory, particularly focusing on magnetic tunneling and phase-change memory devices. In the field of photovoltaics, she is a member researcher of the NSF-funded Silicon Solar Consortium (SiSoC), collaborating with esteemed institutions such as NCSU and Georgia Tech.
Dr. Santosh K. Kurinec’s dedication to advancing knowledge, fostering academic excellence, and promoting engineering education is evident through her extensive collaborations with industry and academia. Her expertise and research contributions continue to shape the field of microelectronic engineering, and her keynote speeches and presentations inspire and educate students and professionals alike.