Allison McMinn

When evaluating doctoral programs, Allison McMinn sought an institution that prioritized student success, rather than one primarily focused on what students can contribute to the university. She found that environment in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

“ASU stood out for its advanced, specialized and hands-on research opportunities and passionate faculty,” she says.

In ASU’s Molecular Beam Epitaxy Optoelectronics Group, her work focused on the molecular beam epitaxial growth of semiconductors for infrared optoelectronic applications. These materials are commonly used as photodetectors, solar cells, lasers and light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. 

“The vast applications of the technologies developed in the field solidified my resolve and further fueled my passion to develop a device that would contribute to the betterment of my community,” she says.

McMinn credits her advisor Yong-Hang Zhang, a professor of electrical engineering in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, part of the Fulton Schools, for providing consistent guidance, pushing her to deliver high-quality work and supporting her professional growth. 

“Over the years, he has provided me with invaluable mentorship; I aspire to pay this mentorship forward, to be as outstanding a mentor to others as he has been to me,” she says.

McMinn maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning prestigious academic honors, including a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Ira A. Fulton Schools Dean’s Fellowship and four consecutive years as an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists scholar recipient, recognized by the organization’s Phoenix chapter. 

She also remained deeply engaged in service and leadership opportunities in the ASU community — activities most PhD students forgo to focus on academics.

She provided leadership in Eta Kappa Nu, an international honor society for electrical engineers, where she organized service projects supporting the local community. McMinn also held multiple leadership roles within the Society of Women Engineers, eventually serving as vice president of graduate affairs. Under her leadership, the organization earned a Pitchfork Award for most outstanding graduate student organization.

“These experiences gave me a chance to give back to the ASU and Tempe communities that I have called home for the last several years,” she says. “Involvement in both organizations has helped create a community of inclusion and collaboration across the engineering student body.”

Following graduation, McMinn will continue advancing semiconductor research as a postdoctoral fellow in the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Favorites

Hobby: Crafting
Band: AJR 
Game: Muppet Clue 
Movie: The LEGO Movie
Book: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by AJ Montes