Liang-Chy (L.C.) Chien, Ph.D., professor of chemical
physics at the Liquid Crystal Institute® of Kent State, was
presented with this year’s Outstanding Research and
Scholarship Award for his research contributions in the
area of liquid crystals and the positive impact his research
has had on society.

From refrigerator door displays to smartphones to e-book readers, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are prevalent in our everyday lives. These displays are not only rigid but also curved, flexible and even rollable; with such versatile properties, liquid crystals can serve numerous purposes. One Kent State University professor was honored for his extensive research and creative application of such materials.

Liang-Chy (L.C.) Chien, Ph.D., professor of chemical physics at the Liquid Crystal Institute® of Kent State, was presented with this year’s Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award for his research contributions in the area of liquid crystals and the positive impact his research has had on society.

“My research specifically focuses on promoting the technologies, enhancing user performance, and creating new applications and displays,” Chien says.

Chien joined the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State in 1988 after earning his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. Since then, Chien has published 150 articles and more than 150 scientific proceedings and digest papers, as well as three books and seven book chapters. He is a co-inventor of bistable reflective cholesteric display, polymer-stabilized liquid crystal display devices and technologies, and holds 25 issued patents. Now, in 2015, Chien collaborates on flexible electronic devices with scientists at the College of Engineering of Stanford University.

Chien also regularly chairs international conferences on liquid crystals optics, photonics and displays to share his research findings and learn about other areas of research in his field. He believes attending such conferences is the best way to impact the world. Chien attended his most recent conference, “Photoalignment and Photopatterning in Soft Materials,” last semester in Hong Kong, where he and other researchers met to discuss the basic understanding and applications of these materials.

Chien says he appreciates the university’s acknowledgement of his achievements and sees such awards as a great way to encourage others in their research.

“This award is another milestone in my professional career,” Chien says. “Although I’ve been here for 27 years, I will continue to do this research, not just because I won an award but because I enjoy the work.”

To learn more about Chien and his research, visit http://www2.kent.edu/cas/cpip/~lchien/ or www.paramiproductions.com/lc/.

For more information about Kent State’s Liquid Crystal Institute, visit www.lcinet.kent.edu.