Submitted by Pooja Pandey on Fri, 25/10/2024 - 11:23
Members of the department will be greatly saddened to learn of the peaceful passing of Emeritus Professor Haroon Ahmed on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the age of 88, surrounded by family.
Professor Ahmed’s academic career was marked by his contributions to the fields of nanotechnology and the physics of nanoscale electronic devices. He was a pioneer in electron beam lithography and single-electron devices, publishing hundreds of scientific papers and making significant advances toward future applications in semiconductor technology. His scholarly contributions continued well into retirement, culminating in his recent publication, Apples, Apes and Atoms: Famous Cambridge Scientists (2023), which reflects his enduring passion for the history of science.
Professor Ahmed joined the Laboratory in 1984 on his promotion to a Readership in the Engineering Department which he transferred to the Cavendish. In 1989, he raised the funds to build the Microelectronics Research Centre on the Cavendish site. The new building included the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory which worked in collaboration with Microelectronics group. Numerous important developments were made in the area of Microelectronics, including the first single electron memory chip. Towards the end of his role as Director of the Laboratory, he facilitated the foundation of the Hitachi Chair of Electron Device Physics which ushered in new collaborations with the Hitachi Company.
In addition to his contributions to the research and teaching in the Laboratory, he was Master of Corpus Christi College from 2000 to 2006. He remained actively involved as a Life Fellow and later an Honorary Fellow.
Professor Ahmed will be deeply missed. All members of the Department extend their deepest condolences to his wife, Anne, and his family during this time of loss.
The funeral is expected to be held at the Corpus Christi College.