Saif Islam

About Saif Islam

As Chair of the ECE Department at UC Davis, my mission over the past 22 years has been to bridge the gap between fundamental semiconductor nanotechnology and scalable, real-world impact. My research focuses on a critical frontier: integrating low-dimensional materials with traditional IC systems to power the next generation of ultra-fast optoelectronics, quantum sensing, and AI-augmented imaging.Beyond the lab, I am committed to building the \"Silicon Foundation\" for our future. From directing the Northern California Nanotechnology Center to leading workforce ecosystems funded by the NSF and the California-Pacific-Northwest AI Hardware Hub, I focus on ensuring our talent pipeline scales as quickly as our technology.Innovation is a collaborative journey. With 43 patents and two startups, I remain dedicated to translating academic insights into entrepreneurial solutions that address global challenges and mentor the engineers of tomorrow.

Experience

1. Lead, Workforce Development at Northwest Ai Hardware Hub at Uc Davis

   California-Pacific-Northwest Ai Hardware Hub

   Sep 2023 — Present

   California-Pacific-Northwest AI Hardware Hub at UC Davis has established an impactful workforce training ecosystem across Northern California, with a strategic focus on the rapidly growing fields of semiconductor technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These initiatives are built on successful partnerships, including programs funded by CITRIS and the National Science Foundation (NSF) ExLENT program.

Education

• Rajshahi Cadet College

  SSC and HSC, Science

  1982 — 1988

• UCLA

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Electrical Engineering

• Bilkent University

  Master of Science (M.Sc.), Physics

  1996

• UCLA

  M.Sc., Electrical Engineering

  1999

• Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University

  B.Sc., Physics

  1994