70th Annual Research Lectureship Honoree: UNM Distinguished Professor Edl Schamiloglu

Distinguished Professor Edl Schamiloglu has been an exemplar of research excellence at The University of New Mexico for nearly four decades, serving not only as a dedicated faculty member and researcher but also as a mentor to countless students, postdocs, and research faculty. Therefore, it is only fitting that the UNM community honor his contributions as we celebrate 70 years of the prestigious Annual Research Lectureship (ARL), an award that symbolizes the spirit of innovation and scholarly achievement.

"I am certainly honored to have been selected as the 70^th annual ARL honoree," Schamiloglu said, "Honors like this are important when they come from those you work with, so I thank the Faculty Senate Research Policy Committee and the Office of the Vice President for Research for continuing this prestigious tradition for faculty."

Professor Schamiloglu received his B.S and M.S. degrees in engineering from Columbia University and received his doctorate from Cornell University in 1988. That same year, he joined UNM as an assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. After decades of commitment to excellence, truly exemplifying the spirit of UNM research, Schamiloglu was promoted to distinguished professor in 2014.

"When my wife and I decided to come to UNM in 1988 we did not know what the future would hold," he said, "We said let's give it a try and if we do not like it, we will go elsewhere. We came and we stayed. It has been a very joyous ride, and my legacy will be all my students."

Schamiloglu's contributions to his field include co-authoring more than 210 refereed journal papers, 4 books, and serving as a principal investigator on more than $50M in contracts and grants at UNM. He also leads the Directed Energy Center at UNM. But other than his career achievements, his colleagues and friends say, what's most impressive is Schamiloglu's commitment to mentoring students.

"Edl Schamiloglu is undeniably one of the most prominent figures in the history of applied electromagnetics, particularly in the field of high-power microwaves," UNM Distinguished Professor Christos Christodoulou said. "However, another outstanding dimension of Dr. Schamiloglu's impact in the field of high-power microwaves is his ability to attract, educate, and mentor graduate students who will carry the "torch" into the future and will make their own impact in the field."

Schamiloglu has chaired the committees of more than 80 Ph.D., and M.S. students. In 2025, Ph.D. candidate Stacie Hernandez, was named the recipient of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society's Robert J Barker Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Pulsed Power Applications. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she worked in Schamiloglu's lab studying high-power beams and pulsed power.

"Dr. Schamiloglu is who I aspire to be one day," Hernandez said. "Whenever I was experiencing a low or I felt all was lost, I would always remember that if Dr. Schamiloglu believes in me, why shouldn't I? My best memories at UNM are working as an undergrad in his research lab. Not only did he give me the tools I needed to be successful, but he taught that when mistakes happen, you learn from them and move on. Dr. Schamiloglu is the best part of UNM and truly deserves every accolade, award, and recognition."

Like faculty across the nation, in 2020 Schamiloglu shifted gears and adjusted to research life during the pandemic. That year, he also celebrated three decades as a faculty member at UNM and even recounted his journey in academia in a graduate seminar at the beginning of the semester titled "66 Semesters of High Power Microwave Research on Route 66."

Schamiloglu's dedication to advancing knowledge within the field of engineering sets a standard that inspires both his peers and students alike. In 2023, Schamiloglu and Christodoulou, both distinguished professors in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, were asked to take part in one of the eight Microelectronics Commons innovation hubs announced by the Department of Defense as part of President Biden's CHIPS and Science Act. He said the greatest reward of his career are the times when he has been recognized by his peers, such as when he has been elected as Fellow of the IEEE and most recently as a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

This most recent achievement celebrated by both his peers and students mark a momentous occasion not only for Schamiloglu, but also for the broader University community, as it coincides with the prestigious milestone of it being the 70th Annual Research Lecture.

"UNM honored its first faculty member with the ARL in 1954, and the breadth and diversity of researchers and scholarly areas represented among subsequent honorees is truly remarkable," Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher said. "What sets UNM's ARL award apart is that it recognizes not only traditional research excellence, but also creative activity. That inclusive vision reflects who we are as an institution: we truly value and support research, scholarship, and creative work in all their forms and this year is no exception as we honor Professor Schamiloglu for all his work and dedication throughout the years."

This long-standing honor serves as a testament to the university's commitment to academic excellence and research innovation, as recipients are nominated by their fellow faculty members in various fields of study. The collaborative spirit and shared enthusiasm surrounding the ARL highlight the importance of research in fostering knowledge and driving progress within the academic community and beyond.

"I am honored to join the long list of previous distinguished ARL honorees."