Ishwar D. Aggarwal

Ishwar D. Aggarwal is an American materials scientist and physicist known for his work on infrared optical materials and optical fibers. He is a Professor of Research in Physics and Optical Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He previously worked at the United States Naval Research Laboratory, where he led research on optical materials. He is a Fellow of Optica and of the National Academy of Inventors.

Career

Aggarwal began his career at Corning Glass Works, where he worked on glass and optical-fiber research and development.[1] He later held research and management positions in the optical-technology industry, including serving as vice president for development and engineering at Lasertron, Inc.[1]

In 1986, Aggarwal joined the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Optical Sciences Division as a research physicist. He later became head of its Optical Materials and Devices Branch and retired from the laboratory in 2011 after 25 years of service.[2]

At NRL, Aggarwal led research on infrared optical materials, optical fibers, high-strength transparent materials and fiber-optic chemical and biological sensors.[3] His research group pioneered the development, application and commercialization of low-loss infrared-transmitting glass fibers and transparent spinel ceramics.[4] The group also developed specialty purification and fiber-manufacturing processes for producing low-loss, high-strength infrared fibers.[2]

In 2011, Aggarwal joined the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a research professor in physics and optical science.[5] He is also affiliated with the university's Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications.[6] At UNC Charlotte, he established the Ultra High Energy Laser Optics program, which supports research on laser components and directed-energy technologies.[7] By 2026, he had been issued 104 United States patents and had authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications.[8]

In April 2026, Aggarwal and his wife, Shail, committed $2 million to UNC Charlotte to establish an endowed scholarship fund for graduate students in physics and optical science, with priority given to doctoral students.[7] In recognition of his service and the gift, the university renamed the Department of Physics and Optical Science the Ishwar Aggarwal Department of Physics and Optical Science.[8][9]

Awards and honors

In 2011, he received the David Richardson Medal from the Optical Society.[10] In 2012, he received the Arthur E. Bisson Prize for Naval Technology Achievement Award from the Office of Naval Research[11] and was elected a fellow of Optica.[12] In 2024, he was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors[13] and was named to the inaugural Million Dollar Research Circle at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ishwar Aggarwal". University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Parry, Daniel. "Drs. Ishwar Aggarwal and Jas Sanghera Receive Arthur E. Bisson Prize for Naval Technology Achievement Award". U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. United States Department of the Navy. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Harper, Arianna; Lash, Barbara (10 December 2024). "UNC Charlotte professor named NAI Fellow – the first such award for the University". Division of Research. University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Panciarelli, Dom. "Drs. Ishwar Aggarwal and Jas Sanghera Awarded Prestigious OSA Richardson Medal". U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. United States Department of the Navy. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Ishwar Aggarwal". University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  6. ↑ "People". Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Trust and Share: A Life Philosophy Becomes a Gift for UNC Charlotte". University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "UNC Charlotte renames Department of Physics and Optical Science for Ishwar Aggarwal". University of North Carolina at Charlotte. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Welcome to the Ishwar Aggarwal Department of Physics and Optical Science". University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "David Richardson Medal". Optica.
  11. ↑ "Drs. Ishwar Aggarwal and Jas Sanghera Receive Arthur E. Bisson Prize for Naval Technology Achievement Award". Naval Research Laboratory.
  12. ↑ "2012 Fellows". Optica.
  13. ↑ "To be inducted as NAI Fellows at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting on June 26th, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia" (PDF). National Academy of Inventors.
  14. ↑ Cox, Tyler (7 September 2024). "Inaugural Million Dollar Research Circle celebrates research success". University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
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