The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is proud to announce that Professor Jon Heffernan has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The announcement was revealed on 23 September 2025 at the academy's AGM, where it elected a total of 74 leading figures in the field of engineering and technology to its fellowship.
Jon Heffernan, is a Professor of Semiconductor Materials and Devices here at Sheffield and Director of the EPSRC National Epitaxy Facility. Before joining the University of Sheffield, he spent eighteen years in industrial R&D as Director of Advanced Optoelectronics at Sharp Laboratories of Europe, a division of Sharp Corporation. There, he worked with teams in Japan, Europe, and the USA on the development of semiconductor lasers, LEDs, nanomaterials, and solar cell technologies, taking low-TRL research through to mass manufacturing.
Since joining the University of Sheffield, Professor Heffernan's research has focused on new semiconductor materials discovery, including the use of AI-assisted processes, semiconductor manufacturing technologies, and quantum technologies based on semiconductor nanomaterials.
He is a co-founder of two University of Sheffield spin-out companies and has served on a number of advisory boards for semiconductor technologies. His research is technology-focused, bringing together the disciplines of engineering, physics, and materials science to solve real-world problems and to bring innovative new technologies to fruition and to the market.
On being elected as a fellow, Professor Heffernan said: "It is a great honour to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Over the past 50 years, the academy's work has been instrumental in promoting the role and values of engineering across various fields. It also has a vital role in inspiring the next generation of engineers. My own research has benefited from the work of the academy, particularly through its longstanding activities in providing insightful reports and expert analysis. I am thus excited to play my part in the future of the academy and in advancing engineering as a discipline through the promotion of excellence and innovation."
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on 18 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book. In joining the Fellowship, they will lend their unique capabilities to achieving the Academy's overarching strategic goal to engineer better lives.
Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
"As we approach our 50th anniversary next year it's a good time to reflect on how much we have achieved. The Academy is built on the foundation of our Fellowship, and that remains as true today as half a century ago. Our story began as a 'Fellowship of Engineering' of 130 Fellows, including such pioneers as Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, Lord Hinton of Bankside, and Sir Ove Arup, driven by the support of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh."
"Today's cohort join a community of around 1,700 of some of the most talented engineers and innovators in the UK and around the globe. Their knowledge and experience make them uniquely well placed to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world, and our determination to advance and promote excellence in engineering remains undimmed."
