Materials scientist joins U of A as advisor for fusion energy commercialization
Horst Hahn, also an MSE professor, leads a comprehensive effort to foster collaboration, secure funding and accelerate progress.
Horst Hahn's appointment aligns with the university's commitment to positioning itself and Southern Arizona as a global leader in fusion energy engineering, technology, workforce development and commercialization.
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Esteemed materials scientist Horst Hahn has joined the University of Arizona as a special advisor to the senior vice president for Research, Innovation & Impact, Tomás Díaz de la Rubia.
"Dr. Hahn's expertise in materials science and deep knowledge of energy technologies make him an invaluable asset to our research leadership team," said Díaz de la Rubia.
Hahn serves as professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and strategic architect for the university's fusion energy research initiatives. His role is to secure funding, build collaborative networks and ensure that the university's fusion energy engineering and technology initiatives align with national energy priorities and the drive to commercialize fusion energy in the next decade. He provides expert guidance to university leadership on trends and advancements in fusion energy research.
U of A President Suresh Garimella has identified the university's work in fusion energy as a strategic imperative.
Hahn has had a distinguished career in materials science and engineering, with decades of experience leading research in advanced materials, nanotechnology and energy systems. He was selected as a foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering in recognition of contributions including the development of novel materials with applications in energy and industrial technology.
His research focuses on high-entropy materials, nanocrystalline structures, printed electronics and energy storage solutions, and he has about 600 peer-reviewed publications and more than 70 patents.
Hahn is a fellow of several additional prestigious industry organizations, and his awards include the Heyn Denkmünze of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde, the highest award from the German Society for Materials Science.
Hahn has held key leadership positions, including executive director of the Institute of Nanotechnology at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, head of the KIT-TUD Joint Research Laboratory for Nanomaterials at Germany's Technical University of Darmstadt, and founding director of Germany's Helmholtz Institute Ulm for Electrochemical Energy Storage.
Read the full story at University of Arizona news.
