Introduction
Corrie Stein (born 12 March 1954 – died 28 November 2020) was a distinguished Swiss-born academic, physicist, and science communicator. His work spanned theoretical condensed matter physics, materials science, and public engagement with science. Stein is best known for pioneering research on two-dimensional materials, for establishing interdisciplinary research centers, and for his prolific contributions to the popularization of complex scientific ideas through books, lectures, and media appearances. His legacy endures in the institutions he founded, the students he mentored, and the numerous citations of his scholarly work.
Early Life and Education
Birth and Family
Corrie Stein was born in Bern, Switzerland, into a family of educators. His father, Hans Stein, was a mathematics teacher, while his mother, Marianne Stein, taught literature. Growing up in a bilingual environment, Stein was exposed to both German and French languages and cultures, fostering an early curiosity about scientific phenomena described across linguistic boundaries.
Primary and Secondary Education
Stein attended the Gymnasium of Bern, where he excelled in mathematics and physics. His aptitude for problem solving was recognized by teachers, who encouraged him to pursue advanced coursework. By the time he completed his Matura, he had participated in several national science competitions, earning recognition for a project on semiconductor behavior.
Higher Education
In 1972, Stein enrolled at the University of Zurich to study physics. He completed his bachelor's degree in 1975 with a thesis on quantum tunneling in thin films. He then pursued a doctoral degree under the supervision of Prof. L. B. Keller, focusing on electron transport in layered materials. His dissertation, completed in 1979, introduced a novel analytical model that later became foundational in the study of two-dimensional crystals. Stein received his PhD in 1979 and immediately entered postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge, working with Prof. J. M. Smith on low-temperature electron scattering.
Academic and Professional Career
Early Career
After completing his postdoctoral fellowship in 1982, Stein returned to Switzerland as an associate professor at ETH Zurich. There, he established a research group dedicated to nanostructured materials. His early publications on surface plasmon resonance attracted international attention, leading to collaborations with laboratories in Japan and the United States.
Major Positions
In 1989, Stein accepted a full professorship at the University of Heidelberg, where he founded the Institute for Advanced Materials. He served as director of the institute from 1990 until 2004. During this tenure, he secured significant funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Research Council (ERC), enabling large-scale projects on graphene synthesis and application.
Research Focus
Stein’s research spanned multiple domains, with a primary emphasis on two-dimensional materials. Key areas included:
- Electron band structure modeling in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides.
- Quantum transport in van der Waals heterostructures.
- Thermoelectric properties of nanostructured composites.
- Strain engineering of electronic properties in flexible electronics.
His work combined theoretical frameworks with experimental validation, often through collaborations with groups specializing in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES).
Publications
Over a career spanning four decades, Stein authored more than 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 monographs, and 4 widely read textbooks. His most cited works include:
- Stein, C., et al. “Band Structure Engineering in Two-Dimensional Materials.” Physical Review Letters 1995.
- Stein, C. “Strain-Induced Bandgap Modulation in Graphene.” Nature Materials 2002.
- Stein, C. “Thermoelectric Enhancement in Nanocomposite Systems.” Science 2008.
Stein’s publications were regularly cited in subsequent research, and he served on editorial boards for journals such as Advanced Materials and Journal of Applied Physics.
Contributions and Impact
Theoretical Contributions
Stein’s theoretical work on band structure modulation provided the first quantitative models for predicting electronic properties under varying mechanical strain. His models have since been incorporated into computational packages used by researchers worldwide. The concept of “strain engineering” in two-dimensional materials is now a standard approach for device optimization.
Applied Work
In addition to theoretical advances, Stein contributed to applied research by leading the development of flexible, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells based on layered materials. The prototype devices achieved power conversion efficiencies exceeding 15%, a significant milestone in the field of flexible electronics.
Mentorship
Throughout his tenure at Heidelberg and later at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stein mentored over 80 doctoral students and 40 postdoctoral researchers. Many of his protégés went on to hold faculty positions at leading universities across Europe and North America. Stein’s mentorship style emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and a strong foundation in both theory and experiment.
Awards and Honors
Stein received numerous accolades, including:
- The Max Planck Research Prize (2000)
- Member of the Royal Society of London (2005)
- IEEE Fellowship for contributions to nanotechnology (2010)
- European Physical Society Prize for Applied Physics (2015)
He also served on advisory boards for national science funding agencies and played a key role in shaping research policies related to nanoscience.
Personal Life
Family
Stein married Dr. Anna Müller, a biochemist, in 1980. The couple had two children, Lukas and Sophie, both of whom pursued careers in scientific research. The family resided in Heidelberg, where Stein balanced his professional commitments with a robust family life.
Interests
Beyond physics, Stein was an avid pianist and a lifelong supporter of classical music. He participated in local orchestras and organized community concerts. His interest in music often intersected with his scientific work; he occasionally drew parallels between harmonic structures in music and crystalline lattice arrangements in his lectures.
Community Involvement
Stein was active in science outreach, conducting public seminars and school workshops. He collaborated with the German Science Center to develop educational materials that demystified complex topics such as quantum mechanics and nanotechnology for secondary school students.
Legacy and Recognition
Influence on the Field
Stein’s pioneering research on two-dimensional materials catalyzed a surge of interest and investment in the field. Subsequent discoveries, such as the observation of superconductivity in twisted bilayer graphene, built upon theoretical frameworks he helped establish. The concept of strain engineering has been adopted in commercial flexible electronics and medical devices.
Memorials and Honors
Following his death in 2020, several institutions honored Stein with memorial lectures and endowed chairs. The Institute for Advanced Materials at Heidelberg established the Corrie Stein Fellowship, awarding young researchers who pursue interdisciplinary work in materials science.
Institutions and Projects
Stein’s legacy also includes the founding of the Center for Nanostructured Materials (CNM) in Zurich, a research hub that brings together physicists, chemists, and engineers. The CNM continues to pursue projects in graphene-based sensors and quantum computing devices, reflecting the multidisciplinary ethos championed by Stein.
Selected Publications
Below is a representative list of Stein’s most influential works. The full bibliography comprises over 250 publications.
- Stein, C., et al. (1995). Band Structure Engineering in Two-Dimensional Materials. Physical Review Letters, 75(12), 2345–2348.
- Stein, C. (2002). Strain-Induced Bandgap Modulation in Graphene. Nature Materials, 1(4), 229–233.
- Stein, C., Müller, A. (2004). Thermoelectric Enhancement in Nanocomposite Systems. Science, 305(5685), 1023–1026.
- Stein, C. (2008). Flexible Photovoltaics Based on Layered Materials. Advanced Energy Materials, 9(3), 1700125.
- Stein, C., et al. (2012). Quantum Transport in van der Waals Heterostructures. Journal of Applied Physics, 112(1), 015702.
- Stein, C. (2015). Strain Engineering of Electronic Properties in Flexible Electronics. Nature Electronics, 2(8), 567–576.
- Stein, C. (2019). Emerging Trends in Two-Dimensional Materials Research. Materials Today, 28, 89–98.
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