{"681109":{"#nid":"681109","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech to Grenoble: Amira Bencherif Awarded MSCA Fellowship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrom developing more sustainable computer chips to advancing quantum and high-performance computing,\u0026nbsp;the new frontier of nanoelectronics could lie with graphene, a material related to ordinary pencil graphite that\u2019s made from a single sheet of carbon atoms.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne physicist helping lead this charge is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/postdocs.gatech.edu\/news\/one-postdoctoral-scholars-journey-france-cutting-edge-electronics-georgia-tech\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmira Bencherif\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a postdoctoral researcher in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.graphene.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEpigraphene Lab\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, which aims to advance electronics past the limitations of silicon using graphene\u2019s extraordinary electrical properties.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBencherif has just been awarded a prestigious European Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Action (MSCA) global post-doctoral fellowship; This year, it is expected that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu\/news\/msca-postdoctoral-fellowships-2024-receives-10360-proposals\u0022\u003Efewer than 20% of applicants will be selected from a record pool of over 10,000 submissions\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe highly selective fellowship will support two additional years of research at Georgia Tech with The Epigraphene Lab,\u0026nbsp;followed by\u0026nbsp;Bencherif working for\u0026nbsp;one year at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pheliqs.fr\/\u0022\u003ECEA-PHELIQS Lab\u003C\/a\u003E in Grenoble, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe\u0026nbsp;research in Grenoble is a critical component,\u201d Bencherif explains. \u201cOur Georgia Tech team brings the graphene expertise, and the\u0026nbsp;CEA-PHELIQS Lab brings expertise in extreme low-temperature research. Combining these two areas will let me\u0026nbsp;investigate graphene properties at extreme low temperatures, for the first time.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe group hopes the research will lead to breakthroughs in sustainable electronics and manufacturing. \u201cWe already know that epigraphene can be used as either as a conductor or as an ultra-high mobility semiconductor,\u201d Bencherif says. \u201cWe\u0027re still in the fundamental research phase with this new project, but combining both properties of this material on a single chip could result in very fast electronics, very small devices, and more sustainable computing.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGrowing graphene\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe fellowship builds on a longstanding partnership.\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u201cWe\u0027ve collaborated with our French partners on previous papers, and we have a great line of communication and trust,\u201d shares \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/claire-berger\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClaire Berger\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who works in the Epigraphene Lab directed by Regents\u0027 Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/walter-de-heer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWalter de Heer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u201cThis prestigious fellowship is a recognition not only of Amira\u2019s skills, talent and dedication as a researcher, but also of the quality of the epigraphene scientific program and the strength of the French-American collaboration.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBerger, who serves as a professor of the practice at Georgia Tech, recently received \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/claire-berger-receives-one-frances-highest-civilian-honors-science-scientific-diplomacy\u0022\u003Eone of France\u2019s highest civilian honors\u003C\/a\u003E in science and scientific diplomacy, the Chevalier dans L\u0027ordre des Palmes Acad\u00e9miques. She is also the Director of Research at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnrs.fr\/en\/cnrs\u0022\u003EFrench National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) International Research Lab\u003C\/a\u003E, which has a main presence at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/europe.gatech.edu\/en\/campuses\/metz\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech-Europe\u003C\/a\u003E in Metz, France, as well as a mirror site at Georgia Tech\u2019s Atlanta campus.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cTo advance this field, collaboration is crucial,\u201d Berger says. \u201cWe cannot do it alone \u2014 the MSCA support for Amira\u2019s work is both a testament to her hard work and the important partnership with our French counterparts.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe future of graphene\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne key aspect of the Epigraphene Lab\u2019s research involves \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2022\/12\/21\/edge-graphene-based-electronics\u0022\u003Edeveloping a graphene semiconductor ten times more conductive than silicon\u003C\/a\u003E that has the potential to create a new kind of electronics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cComplementing its semiconducting property, some form of epigraphene has special pathways which make electronic mobility extremely high,\u201d Bencherif explains. \u201cThis has benefits like less energy dissipation, which is important for addressing global warming and energy challenges. We use epigraphene \u2014 which is graphene grown on a silicon carbide substrate \u2014 to make electrical devices and study their electrical properties.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe also suspect we can use another mode of communication with current, based on the wave quantum nature of the electron, leading to coherent electronics,\u201d which Berger shares is a long-term research project the group is pursuing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis type of work is very prospective and ambitious, which is why Amira was granted this prestigious fellowship,\u201d Berger adds. \u201cThis type of research is a lot of hard work. To drive this work forward, Amira has put in an astonishing number of hours and a lot of thoughtful effort. She\u0027s incredibly creative, and it\u0027s an honor to work with her.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe international fellowship will support two years of research at Georgia Tech, and one year of research at the French CEA-PHELIQS Lab, where Bencherif will explore graphene\u2019s unique electrical properties.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The international fellowship will support two years of research at Georgia Tech, and one year of research at the French CEA-PHELIQS Lab, where Bencherif will explore graphene\u2019s unique electrical properties. "}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2025-03-11 19:58:05","changed_gmt":"2025-03-20 16:38:20","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676522":{"id":"676522","type":"image","title":"Claire Berger holds a graphene device grown on a silicon carbide substrate chip. Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston","body":"\u003Cp\u003EClaire Berger holds a graphene device grown on a silicon carbide substrate chip. Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1741723539","gmt_created":"2025-03-11 20:05:39","changed":"1741723585","gmt_changed":"2025-03-11 20:06:25","alt":"Claire Berger holds a graphene device grown on a silicon carbide substrate chip. Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston","file":{"fid":"251365","name":"Claire holds chip eedit.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Claire%20holds%20chip%20eedit.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Claire%20holds%20chip%20eedit.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":785389,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Claire%20holds%20chip%20eedit.jpg?itok=TVWtbAn0"}}},"media_ids":["676522"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Selena Langner\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}