University of Michigan Professor Honored by World’s Oldest Scientific Society
Stephen Forrest, an esteemed engineering professor at the University of Michigan, has been named a fellow by Britain’s Royal Society, the oldest scientific institution in continuous existence since its establishment in 1690. The 2026 cohort includes over 90 distinguished researchers from around the globe, following in the footsteps of legendary figures like Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein.
Forrest’s pioneering contributions began at Bell Labs with his essential role in advancing fiber optic communications. He devised the first enduring light detector for extensive communications, a blueprint that remains in use today. His academic pursuits in organic electronics span foundational physics and photonics, and he has applied his research to lighting, displays, and solar cells.
Reflecting on his career, Forrest, who holds the title of Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor and serves as a professor in multiple departments including electrical and computer engineering, materials science, and physics at U-M, stated, “I have been very fortunate to have worked on problems that turned out to have impact in such a diverse collection of fields. For this, I credit so many excellent students and professional colleagues with whom I have collaborated over the years. And I never have underestimated the importance of good luck.”
Many of Forrest’s discoveries have been integrated into the marketplace through Universal Display Corporation, a company he co-established in 1994. Notably, his innovations laid the groundwork for Samsung’s OLED displays, starting with their flagship Galaxy phones in 2009.
In the realm of photovoltaics, Forrest’s work on transparency has facilitated the development of electricity-generating windows and tackled challenges related to efficiency and device longevity. His recent focus on thermal photovoltaics seeks to address the intermittency issues of renewable energy by converting heat into electricity. Heat2Power, another company he co-founded, aims to commercialize this technology.
Michigan President Domenico Grasso acknowledged Forrest’s achievements, saying, “Professor Stephen Forrest is recognized globally for his limitless ingenuity and deep impact on communications. He is more than worthy of election to the Royal Society. We are proud to call him an alumnus and longtime member of our community.”
Forrest joins over 1,800 Royal Society fellows worldwide, including U-M’s Mark Newman, the Anatol Rapoport Distinguished University Professor of Physics, and Margaret Kivelson, a research professor of climate and space sciences and engineering.
His academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of California, followed by a master’s and doctorate from U-M. Forrest’s teaching career started at the University of Southern California in 1985, and he moved to Princeton in 1992 as the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering. He chaired the department there from 1997 to 2001 before returning to U-M in 2006 as vice president for research until 2014.
In addition to his roles at Universal Display Corporation and Heat2Power, Forrest has been instrumental in founding other technology ventures like Epitaxx Inc., Sensors Unlimited, NanoFlex Power, and Apogee Photonics. His board memberships include Applied Materials and The Technion, where he holds an honorary doctorate.
Forrest’s professional affiliations extend to the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Inventors, American Physical Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Optica.
