In his own words…

01 What was your favorite class?
It is hard to single out a single favorite class from the many classes that I took during my education at Wisconsin. Several of my most memorable classes are the graduate-level physics courses on theoretical physics and quantum mechanics taught by Prof. Loyal Durand and Prof. Chun C. Lin, respectively, and the semiconductor lasers device physics and integrated photonics courses taught by Prof. Luke J. Mawst (my PhD adviser). In addition to these courses, I think my experience in classroom and outside of classroom with Prof. Dan Botez, Prof. Franz Himpsel, Prof. Dan McCammon, Prof. Leon McCaughan, Prof. John Booske, Prof. Franco Cerrina, and many others prepared me well for research and academic works in applied physics and electrical engineering areas.
02 What is your proudest UW achievement?
My proudest moment at UW-Madison is to be able to work on some of the state-of-the-art research during my PhD studies in ECE department (with Prof. Luke J. Mawst). The research led to publication in a significant number of highly-cited journals. Performing research in applied physics areas is truly exciting and very rewarding.
03 Who is your hero? Who or what inspires you?
When I was young, my parents inspired me. My father was one of the hardest-working individuals I knew, and he taught me the importance of having the highest dedication, focus, commitment, hard-working attitude and persistence in order to accomplish my career goals. My mother was one of the most kind-hearted individuals who taught me the important values of honesty, family, morality and patience in guiding our principles in life. Unfortunately, both of them passed away two years ago, but their values will always remain in their children’s life.
I’ve been inspired by the great professors that I have had the opportunity to learn from and interact with. These professors include the great physicists that I read about in books, and the excellent professors that I have learned and interacted with at Wisconsin.
04 What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The most important ingredients be successful in science are intelligence, hard work and persistence. I think this advice is very important for young people who are pursuing career in science and engineering.
05 What are you reading now?
Currently, I am reading biography book about some famous physicists from Fermi’s era. I am also reading several physics books, which I consider my fun books. I love physics!
06 What do you read online?
I read primarily research journal papers and other work-related papers. However, I am an addict for news. Thus, I have to mention that my free time online reading includes news, news and news.
07 What occupies your free time?
I rarely have free time. I apply my free time to work, which includes: working on research proposals for funding, advising graduate students, working on research papers for journal and conference publications, and preparing lectures for classes. I love my work and I do my work for enjoyment as well. Of course, I also spend my free time with my wife.
08 Do you prefer Mac or PC?
I use a PC all the time. I’ve used a PC since I was young, and I guess I got comfortable with it and have been using a PC ever since then.
09 What was your first job?
My first job in college was as a server in Pop’s Club in Ogg Hall, for which I received my first ever paycheck as a freshman. My first official real job was tenure-tracked assistant professor in Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Lehigh in July 2003.
10 What’s your guilty pleasure?
Spending time with my wife, watching DVD at home with my wife, enjoying good food and buying books.

As a young boy growing up in Indonesia, Nelson Tansu knew that someday he wanted to be a professor of science and engineering in the United States. At age seventeen, he enrolled at UW-Madison, and recently he became the youngest tenured professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

Tansu praises the UW physics and electrical and computer engineering (ECE) faculty for propelling him to the top of a profession he loves. As an undergraduate, he had the opportunity to work with several research groups, and the experience steered him in the direction of applied physics for his doctoral studies working with his PhD adviser, Professor Luke J. Mawst. “I truly feel that UW-Madison was one of my best decisions in life,” Tansu says.

With several job offers in the United States and abroad after graduating from Wisconsin, Tansu became the youngest tenure-tracked professor at Lehigh University at age 25. He was tenured in May 2009 at age 31.

Tansu is committed to working with undergraduate and graduate students, “the next generation of high quality researchers and academics in the fields of nanotechnology and energy applications.”

His research group at Lehigh focuses on nanotechnology-based approaches to improving energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, which Tansu believes has great potential for achieving energy independence for the United States and the world.

“We apply fundamental knowledge derived from physics to solve some of the important challenges in engineering with technology impact. The commitment to achieve excellence in applied physics research requires rigorous academic and research trainings in multidisciplinary topics in physics and engineering,” Tansu says. “Our group members at Lehigh are truly committed to contribute for the advancement in many exciting research topics in applied physics and nanotechnology areas for energy applications.”

Tansu also believes strongly in the ethics of social responsibility. He works with the Indonesian government and educational leaders to develop new models for research universities, which he believes will boost its technology-based economy and have “tremendous impact for improving the quality of life in Indonesia.”

He credits his wife, Adela Gozali Yose ’03, whom he met at Wisconsin, for her continuous support, and his late parents, Iskandar Tansu and Auw Lie Min, for his values and inspiration.