Current Affiliation: Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin; Director of UT Austin Energy Institute & IUCRC for a Solar Powered Future (SPF2050)
Brian A Korgel is an elite American chemical engineer, nanomaterials chemist and National Academy of Engineering member, who bridges fundamental nanocrystal synthesis, optoelectronic device manufacturing and cross-disciplinary art research exploring human-technology interaction.

He earned his B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed postdoctoral training at University College Dublin, Ireland (1997–1998). He joined UT Austin’s chemical engineering faculty and was appointed Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor. He directs two core research platforms: the university-wide Energy Institute and the NSF-funded Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for next-generation solar technology. He holds a courtesy appointment in Art & Art History, creating artworks themed on language and human-AI coexistence parallel to his scientific work.

He co-founded two nanotechnology enterprises: Innovalight and Piñon Technologies, translating lab nanocrystal discoveries into commercial photovoltaic materials. His honors include the 2012 AIChE Professional Progress Award, election as AAAS Fellow, and induction into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2018 for pioneering synthesis and assembly of nanocrystals and nanowires. He has delivered more than 260 invited international lectures and published over 280 peer-reviewed papers covering quantum dots, perovskite semiconductors, plasmonic materials and nanoscale self-assembly for energy harvesting, microelectronics and biomedicine.

Brian A Korgel’s academic research concentrates on novel synthetic routes for nanostructured materials, nanodevice fabrication, and the optoelectronic, magnetic and chemical property investigation of nanocrystals and nanowire assemblies.