The world’s oldest continuously operating scientific society has named University of Michigan engineering professor Stephen Forrest as a fellow. Established in 1690, the Royal Society of Britain has notable members like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. The 2026 class features over 90 leading researchers globally.
Forrest’s career began at Bell Labs, where he made significant contributions to fiber optic communications. Notably, he developed the first stable light detector for long-haul communications, which remains in use today. As a university researcher, his work in organic electronics spans fundamental physics, photonics, lighting, displays, and solar cells.
“I have been very fortunate to have worked on problems that turned out to have impact in such a diverse collection of fields. For this, I credit so many excellent students and professional colleagues with whom I have collaborated over the years. And I never have underestimated the importance of good luck,” said Forrest, the Peter A. Franken Distinguished University Professor and professor of electrical and computer engineering, and of materials science and engineering in the College of Engineering; and professor of physics in LSA.
His innovations have been commercialized through Universal Display Corporation, co-founded in 1994. His technologies have been crucial to Samsung’s OLED displays, first used in Galaxy phones in 2009. His work in photovoltaics introduced transparency, enabling electricity-harvesting windows and improved device efficiencies. His recent thermal photovoltaic research addresses renewable energy intermittency by converting heat to electricity, with Heat2Power working to market this technology.
“Professor Stephen Forrest is recognized globally for his limitless ingenuity and deep impact on communications. He is more than worthy of election to the Royal Society. We are proud to call him an alumnus and longtime member of our community,” said Michigan President Domenico Grasso.
Forrest joins over 1,800 Royal Society fellows, including U-M’s Mark Newman and Margaret Kivelson. He started his academic journey with a bachelor’s in physics from the University of California and earned a master’s and doctorate in physics from U-M. He became a professor at the University of Southern California in 1985, moved to Princeton in 1992, and joined U-M in 2006 as vice president for research.
Beyond Universal Display Corporation and Heat2Power, Forrest co-founded Epitaxx Inc., Sensors Unlimited, NanoFlex Power, and Apogee Photonics. He has served on the board of Applied Materials and currently sits on the board of governors of The Technion, holding an honorary doctorate. His fellowships include the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, and other prestigious organizations.
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