Facutly News
Remembering Professor Emeritus, Thomas Hsiang 1948-2026
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has lost another beloved former faculty member. Professor Emeritus Thomas Hsiang died peacefully on February 12 at age 77. Tom joined the University of Rochester faculty in 1981 and served until his retirement in 2017.
A pioneer in superconducting electronics, silicon and III-V compound devices, and terahertz transmission lines, he authored more than 150 journal articles and several book chapters and delivered over 30 invited international talks. His innovations in picovolt and sub-picosecond measurement techniques advanced experimental physics, and he was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society—one of the youngest recipients of that honor.
Tom’s colleagues and former students have many fond memories of him. Professor Ming-Lun Lee calls him “a respected and dedicated colleague” and Professor Roman Sobolewski says he will forever remember Tom as “a vibrant teacher and researcher, who was actively pursuing his academic career.” In addition to being a wonderful professor, I remember being astounded to learn he was a globally respected player and advocate for the game Go. Thomas Y. Hsiang Awarded Okura Prize and Named IGF Honorary Vice-President Posthumously