Anderson Sunda-Meya is a Congolese–American physicist and the Norwood Endowed Professor of Physics at

Xavier University Xavier University ( ) is a private Jesuit university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is the sixth-oldest Catholic and fourth-oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Xavier had an enrollment of approximately 5,600 undergraduate an ...

in New Orleans. He also holds the position of Associate Dean. Sunda-Meya was awarded the 2021

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of ...

Excellence in Physics Education Award.

Early life and education

Sunda-Meya was born in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...

. He studied at Le Collège Bonsomi, where he majored in maths and physics. He earned a

laurea In Italy, the ''laurea'' is the main post-secondary academic degree. The name originally referred literally to the laurel wreath, since ancient times a sign of honor and now worn by Italian students right after their official graduation ceremo ...

in theology at the

Pontifical Gregorian University Pontifical Gregorian University (; also known as the Gregorian or Gregoriana), is a private university, private pontifical university in Rome, Italy. The Gregorian originated as a part of the Roman College, founded in 1551 by Ignatius of Loyo ...

. Sunda-Meya eventually moved to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, where he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in science. He first studied physics at

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...

, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 2001 and a doctorate in 2007. His doctoral research considers the shape and stability of nanostructures during their growth and post-deposition processing. After spending twelve years in

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, Sunda-Meya moved to

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, where he was offered a tenure-track position at

Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black Roman Catholic, Catholic university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only Catholic Historically black c ...

Career

Alongside his research on nanomaterials and their application in electronic devices, Sunda-Meya looks to inspire and mentor physics students. He has been honoured with numerous awards for teaching, including the Norman C. Francis Faculty Excellence Awards for Service and Teaching. Beyond his roles at

, Sunda-Meya directs the Dual Degree Engineering Program and of the Louisiana Engineering Advancement Program. In 2020 Sunda-Meya was elected Associate Dean at

. He was awarded the 2021

Excellence in Physics Education Award. Together with his wife, Doryne Sunda-Meya, Sunda-Meya looks to support communities in Luila Village in the Congo.

Select publications

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunda-Meya, Anderson American people of Democratic Republic of the Congo descent Xavier University of Louisiana faculty North Carolina State University alumni 21st-century African-American scientists Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century African-American academics 21st-century American academics African-American physicists