A Ph.D. candidate at UIUC, Leah works under Dr. Dallesasse on the heterogeneous integration of III-V materials onto silicon. Leah additionally fabricates VCSELs (vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers) into this integrated material. She also has a passion for engineering education, and is pursuing a Graduate Minor in College Teaching.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. She also earned a minor in Nano-Science and Technology and worked as both a teaching assistant and in the cleanroom as an undergraduate staff member during this time.