ÄûÃʵ¼º½

News

Professor Pekka Kuivalainen retires after 40 years of research in Electron Physics

Pekka Kuivalainen, Professor in Microelectronics, is retiring from Aalto University after 40 years of active research in Electron Physics.
Pekka Kuivalainen, Professor of Microelectronics, holding copper-contacted silicon solar cells fabricated in the university clean room in the 1990's.

Pekka Kuivalainen has had a distinguished career since he joined TKK Electron Physics Laboratory in 1975 as research assistant 40 years ago. In addition to being tenured university professor, he has also worked as research professor in VTT. As head of TKK Microelectronics Centre in the early 1990's, he initiated the clean room research at university and established the university's first IC fabrication line at Otakaari 7. Pekka's own research focused on different aspects of semiconductors including magnetic semiconductors, polymer microelectronic devices, silicon solar cells, integrated power electronic circuits,  and most recently modeling of nanoelectronic devices such as single electron graphene transistors - just to name a few.

If you want to learn more about Pekka's life and his thoughts on development of theoretical physics in explaining the origin of the universe including quantum physics, string theories, multiverse... all the way to the philosophical questions about consciousness, we recommend to read his autobiography "Elämä pitkä, Kuivalainen lyhyt - Erään mikroprofessorin eräänlaiset muistelmat" - infused with his well-known sense of humor (Finnish only). The book includes a review of the history of the Finnish Microelectronics.

We wish Pekka every happiness and success in his well-deserved retirement!

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Students
Awards and Recognition Published:

Prestigious THE university ranking places Aalto University again among the top 200 in the world

Aalto advanced particularly in teaching and partnerships with industry
Iiris Hörhammer standing outdoors wearing a white shirt with tall grasses and trees in the background.
Awards and Recognition Published:

Iiris Hörhammer appointed as docent in eHealth cost-effectiveness at University of Eastern Finland

Engaging users in design is crucial for developing economically sustainable eHealth services.
A woman stands before a painting of various flowers on a beige background, with her arms crossed.
Awards and Recognition, Cooperation, University Published:

Student artwork symbolises the Unite! Alliance

Master of Arts student, Suthasinee Naktnasukanjn (Sine), has won the Unite! artefact competition with her artwork ‘Blooming Beyond Borders’. The piece now hangs permanently in the Undergraduate Centre.
A collage of people at an event, some looking at a display, one speaking, and others listening seated.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Science Day at the Department of Applied Physics showcased young talent

The day included talks, posters and alumni presentations.