Randy Heflin

Randy Heflin, Professor of Physics, is Associate Dean for Research in the College of Science at Virginia Tech. His primary responsibilities include support and promotion of the research activities of College faculty, postdoctoral associates, and students, fostering of interdisciplinary research teams, assistance of junior faculty in the development of research proposals, and administration of all aspects of graduate studies within the College.

Heflin, a native of Centreville, Virginia, received a B.S. in Physics with High Honors from College of William and Mary in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Physics from University of Pennsylvania in 1990. He continued at Penn as a postdoctoral fellow until coming to Virginia Tech in 1992. His research has been focused on self-assembled organic nanoscale optoelectronic materials and devices. He has published more than 140 articles, delivered 90 invited presentations, holds three patents, and has co-edited two books, including the textbook "Introduction to Nanoscale Science and Technology." He has been PI or co-PI on more than 50 grants with a total value of more than $12 million with sponsors including National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Defense Advanced Project Agency, Department of Energy, and United States Dairy Association. He has published and/or received funding with forty different senior researchers, including twenty Virginia Tech faculty from six departments and researchers from sixteen other institutions. Fourteen students completed their Ph.D. dissertations under his supervision with an additional eight current graduate students.

Heflin was leader in the development of the B.S. in Nanoscience degree program at Virginia Tech and has taught four courses within that program. He co-founded the company Virginia nanoTech and has served on the technical advisory boards of two other corporations. He has been an editorial board member of the International Journal of Nanoscience since 2001. He is an Affiliate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, American Physical Society, Materials Research Society, and Optical Society of America.