Mike Dillender

Mike Dillender is a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science investigating the fundamental physics governing quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) for next-generation displays. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms controlling charge injection and emission remain poorly understood because of the inherent disorder of these devices. To address this challenge, Mike has analyzed temperature-dependent electrical characteristics from dozens of devices with different layer thicknesses and developed one of the first quantitative physical models of QD-LED operation. He has created hundreds of MATLAB scripts to analyze data and compare physical models and has used Simulink to model coupled thermal and electrical dynamics. Beyond QD-LEDs, his work spans machine learning, including using MATLAB to distinguish natural from cultured pearls in X-ray micrographs with over 97% accuracy. As a MathWorks Fellow, Mike will transform his modeling tools into publicly available software for modeling steady-state and transient charge dynamics in QD-LEDs. This research aims to deepen understanding of disordered optoelectronic devices and guide the rational design of next-generation displays.