Dr. Chris Santana has been awarded the Department of Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award.

Santana graduated with multiple degrees from the University of Florida, entering the Department of Materials Science & Engineering in 1987 and continued with the program until 1996 after completing his Ph.D. Santana studied the nucleation and growth of Aluminum Gallium Phosphide on Silicon substrates using Molecular Beam Epitaxy for his dissertation.

After graduation, he entered into industry where he has been involved with semiconductor manufacturing using molecular beam epitaxy for 20 years. He is currently the General Manager of the North Carolina-based manufacturing division of IQE, and his team is responsible for supplying epi wafers primarily to the mobile wireless market.