His research focuses on nano-scale electronic and photonic devices and their associated fabrication technologies. Prior to his current appointment he received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While a member of MIT's NanoStructures Laboratory he developed nanometer-precision electron-beam lithography techniques and silicon-on-insulator photonic devices. He received the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University where he investigated high-speed, high-efficiency infrared light-emitting diodes for short-range optical communications. Dr. Hastings received the B.S. degree in physics from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.