James S. Speck, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor and Seoul Viosys Chair in Materials Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), USA. He is also a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Materials Research Society, and American Physical Society. His research group extensively focuses on epitaxial growth of oxide and nitride semiconductors and transitioning them in optoelectronic and power electronic devices. Professor Speck is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors Quantum Device Award, the University of Michigan Alumni Society Merit Award, and the IEEE Photonics Society Aron Kressel Award.

Esmat Farzana, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Materials Department at UCSB and earned her Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on realizing next-generation energy-efficient power electronics from emerging wide-bandgap semiconductors by integrating their material characterization, device development, and application challenges in high-voltage and extreme radiation environment. Her lead-author publications have been featured as Editor's Picks in several top journals on semiconductors and devices, including APL Materials (AIPP), Applied Physics Letters (AIPP), and IEEE Electron Device Letters. She was selected to be a Rising Star in EECS in 2020.