2017 ORCA: Yongfeng Lu

Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award (ORCA.) Yongfeng Lu, Ph.D., Lott Distinguished University Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lu came to UNL in 2002 after earning his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Osaka University in Japan and spending 11 years as a lecturer and professor at the National University of Singapore. Lu is a leading researcher in laser-based material processing, characterization and imaging. Lu currently has 13 projects funded, totaling more than $6.4 million. Since 2003, Lu has received more than $25 million in research funding from sources like the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. Lu established the Laser Assisted Nanoengineering Laboratory, a state-of-the-art research laboratory, at UNL in 2002. In 2016, the Laser Institute of America awarded the Schawlow Award to Lu, recognizing his career-long contributions to laser science research. He also earned the outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award from UNL in 2016. He was the advisor to 27 graduated Ph.D. students, and currently advises 12 Ph.D. students, 31 master’s students and more than 50 undergraduate students. He also serves as the mentor to dozens of post-doctoral researchers and visiting professors in the international science community.