Javey earned his B.S. in chemistry from Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia) in 2001 and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford in 2005. In 2006, he joined the Berkeley faculty. His research focuses on high-performance nanoelectronics, flexible electronics, novel biological and chemical sensors, electron transport in nanoscale, hierarchical assembly of nanostructures and nanofabrication.

Call him: Ali

Teaching this fall: EE 143, Microfabrication Technology

Office hours: Monday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Earliest science experiment: “I had Legos as a kid and I liked to hook them to light bulbs. In trying to get them to work, I accidentally electrocuted myself. Multiple times.”

When people find out he teaches at Berkeley: “They say, ‘Wow, really? But you look like a student.’ I look young, I know. But since coming to Berkeley, I think I’ve aged some.”

Biggest problem facing his field: “Electrical engineering is evolving so fast, and we at Berkeley need to be in front of the field. We’re always asking ourselves, what will it look like 50 years from now? We know silicon electronics will still play a major role 10 years hence, but our job is to be thinking: What’s after that? What’s the next big thing? I don’t know for sure, but I think new materials will play a major role in further enhancing the functionality of devices that are based on silicon.”

Has a weakness for: Dark chocolate.

How students today differ from his student days: “Well, it wasn’t that long ago that I was a student, so I think we’re pretty similar actually. I feel like I can relate. Right before exams, I know what students are going through; and for graduate students, I know what it’s like when research isn’t going well.”

Ringtone on his iPhone: “I got this iPhone because of peer pressure from other EE faculty. They kept showing me what it could do. So I had to get it. Normally my phone is on mute, but during the summer the ringtone is ‘Marimba.’”

If he could teach any course: “Chemistry for electrical engineers. I think chemistry will play a larger and larger role for electrical engineers. My background is in chemistry; I actually don’t have any degrees in electrical engineering. The class would link my past and present.”

In his spare time: “I like to hike and explore the Bay Area since I’m not from here originally. I’m Persian.”

Best thing about his job: “Academic freedom! If I have an interesting idea, or if a student has an idea, we can explore it without getting approval from higher-ups. I also like interacting with students, especially because Berkeley students are of such good quality. Undergraduate students always challenge me with their questions, and graduate students often come up with new ideas. It’s exciting.”