 |
|
August 29, 2005 Vol.
77, no. 1F
 |
| MSE professor Eugene E. Haller is
also head of the Electronic Materials Program at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in nuclear
and applied physics from the University of Basel, Switzerland,
for surface studies of large volume p-i-n germanium diodes used
as gamma-ray detectors. His research interests cover a wide spectrum
of semiconductor topics. In recent years he has pioneered numerous
scientific studies and applications of isotopically controlled
semiconductors. (Photo credit: Peg Skorpinski Photo)
|
Professor
Minute with MSE Professor Eugene E. Haller
What first inspired
you to go into engineering?
While attending a math/science-oriented high school in Switzerland,
I built a crystal receiver and was able to clearly hear local stations
in Switzerland, France and Germany without a power supply. This put
me on the applied science track.
To date, what has been the most memorable moment in your career
and why?
It was the first time I ate lunch at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
(then called the Rad Lab!) cafeteria. A colleague introduced me to the
scientists already sitting at the table: Emilio Segre, Edwin McMillan,
Clyde Wiegand. I knew these names and suspected that one or possibly
two of them were Nobel prize winners. Quietly I checked with my colleague
and he verified my suspicion. It took great courage on my part to address
these famous gentlemen, and, to my surprise, they were very cordial
and friendly and offered me assistance in case I needed something special.
I concluded that I had made the right choice in coming to Berkeley!
Whom do you most admire and why?
Albert Einstein. This past spring 100 years ago, he published three
theoretical papers which changed the world of science very fundamentally.
Every student should read these papers (best in German, next best in
English).
What is your favorite place to eat in/around campus?
I think Kirala is perhaps the best Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area.
I love to watch my food being prepared in real time by a competent chef.
If you would like us to
feature your favorite professor, please e-mail his or her name to engnews@coe.berkeley.edu.
|
|
