A/Prof. Umana-Membreno was awarded his PhD degree in Electronic Engineering in 2007. He is currently a Principal Research Fellow with the Microelectronics Research Group (MRG) at The University of Western Australia (UWA), and a Senior Industry Support Engineer at the WA-node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF). He has published more than 100 articles on his research activities, and co-supervised three 3 PhD student completions. His main areas of expertise and experience are in infrared sensor and imaging technology, electronic transport characterisation and modelling in infrared materials and devices, characterisation and modelling of defects-related and radiation-induced effects in microelectronic and optoelectronic materials and devices, as well as in device design, optimisation, processing and fabrication. He has significant familiarity with HgCdTe crystal growth technology (MBE & MOCVD), which has enabled him to provide insights and understanding as feedback for material optimisation.  

He currently leads the advanced device design and material/device characterisation/optimisation efforts at the MRG, which includes infrared materials and devices (HgCdTe and group III-V superlattices), including infrared sensor and imaging technology. In addition to activities in HgCdTe-based sensor technology, his current areas of research interest also encompass the development and optimisation of devices in the following semiconductor material technologies:

* InAs/GaSb type-II superlattices and InAsSb (infrared photodetectors)

* Electronic transport in nanostructures and novel/emerging semiconductor materials

* SiC and GaN-based materials and devices.