John F. Muth is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University where he has served on the faculty since 1998. He received a BS in Applied Engineering Physics from Cornell University in 1988. Upon graduating he served as a submarine officer on fast attack nuclear submarines from 1988 to 1993. He received a PhD in condensed matter physics at North Carolina State University in 1998. His thesis specialized wide bandgap semiconductors and photonic devices. He also has made contributions to sensors, wearable electronics and underwater optical communications. In 2008-2009 he was called back to active duty to serve in Iraq. His primary responsibility in Iraq was leading a team of military and civilian police officers. Embedded in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, he worked with the senior Iraqi leadership on issues related to security and the rule of law. Since then, he cofounded the NSF Engineering Research Center ASSIST. The ASSIST Center focuses on ultralow power wearable devices that monitor physiological and environmental parameters. In 2014 he became Principle Investigator and CTO/Deputy Director for PowerAmerica. The PowerAmerica Institute is a private-public partnership funded by the Department of Energy, Industry and Universities, and is part of the National Network of Manufacturing Institutes now called Manufacturing USA. The mission of PowerAmerica is to increase US manufacturing capacity, to create jobs and to accelerate the adoption of wide bandgap semiconductors into power electronics. These technology innovations will make power electronic systems significantly smaller, lighter and more energy efficient. In the classroom Professor Muth has taught a variety of nanoelectronics, photonics and product innovation courses. He has over 130 publications, 9 patents and has received a variety of awards including a Bronze Star for meritorious service in Iraq.

USAID Profile

Global Development Laboratory
Operations Innovation Team 

John Muth is a member of the Operations Innovation Team within the Global Development Laboratory. The Operational Innovation Division pilots innovations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Agency and Lab internal business processes, practices and procedures. Dr. Muth is assisting in issues connected to Countering Violent Extremism, using technology to improve the safety and security of USAID personnel, and improving the effectiveness of how USAID operates in challenging, non-permissive environments. He is also interested in measuring stability and fragility of countries at subnational scales and improving development capacity through the Higher Education Solutions Network.