Dr. Eli Yablonovitch is an esteemed professor at UC Berkeley and the former director of NSF's Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work in strained semiconductor lasers, photonic bandgap, and photovoltaics, with significant contributions to the field of solar cell efficiency. His accolades include membership in prestigious academies and numerous awards such as the IEEE Edison Medal and the Benjamin Franklin Medal.