A trailblazing researcher and world-renowned physicist, UC Irvine Professor Toshiki Tajima is this year's Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award winner. 

Arriving from Japan to study at UC Irvine under Professor Norman Rostoker, Tajima recalls being greeted at the airport by a man in a "Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sunglasses." Tajima was struck by Rostoker's casual nature, warmth, kindness and humor. These qualities would shape his own philosophy toward work and life.

Rostoker's guidance and mentorship inspired Tajima's pioneering work on laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA). Tajima's 1979 article on this original research continues to be one of the most cited publications in plasma physics. After distinguishing himself as a preeminent scientist and professor, Tajima returned to UC Irvine in 2013 to teach physics.

He now holds the Norman Rostoker Endowed Chair in Applied Physics and considers this position a great honor, as he was greatly influenced by his professor, mentor and lifelong friend.

A giant in the field of modern physics, Tajima has authored 12 books and more than 600 papers, including publications in Physical Review Letters and The Astrophysical Journal. His groundbreaking work has fueled UC Irvine's efforts to bridge academia and industry.

Tajima's numerous awards include the Enrico Fermi Prize of the Italian Physical Society and the Einstein Professorship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Tajima has also been elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences. Tajima is committed to training the next generation of researchers. During his tenure at UC Irvine, he has mentored more than 40 doctoral and masters students. He recalls a former professor asking him what he believed a professor's job should be. The answer inspired him: "A professor is someone who learns from their students."