Graduate Student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Area
Graduate Student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Area
• 10+ years experience in research including thin-film growth of compound semiconductors, characterization of photovoltaic heterojunctions, and materials optimization of device structures.
• Skilled in the design and construction of high-vacuum growth chambers for single- and poly-crystalline thin film processing with an emphasis on photovoltaic materials.
• Extensive background in novel synthetic methods for polymer (thermosetting) resins, analysis of polymer chemical and physical properties, and composite development of polymer-based structural materials.
• Strong laboratory management abilities including user training/oversight, equipment setup/maintenance, and safety-policy implementation for a national DOE-supported materials research and analysis facility.
Researched the influence of a single grain-boundary on film growth and electrical properties in copper indium diselenide (CIS/CIGS) for photovoltaics applications.
(Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Higher Education industry)
August 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)
Continuing my Doctoral Studies
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
January 2008 — August 2008 (8 months)
Part-time position for Technician/Scientist for Micro- and Nano- Fabrication user-facility at the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory (FS-MRL), partially DOE funded. Responsibilities include device maintenance and operation, training of new users and clean-room operation and chemical safety. Equipment operated includes: Clean-Room facilities, Level 100 and 1000, Mask Aligners (UV/Deep UV), Spinners, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), E-Beam Evaporation Deposition (2 machines), AJA Sputter Deposition (4 source system), Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), Wedge and Ball Bonder, Probe Station with Cryogenic Chamber, and an Air and Water Sensitive Glove-box (6 user system).
(Semiconductors industry)
October 2004 — October 2004 (1 month)
Independent Consultant for Hogan and Hartson, LLP, 2 weeks.
Doctor of Philosophy (in progress) , Materials Science and Engineering: Polymer Science and Engineering, Semiconductors for Photovoltaics , 1996 — 2009
Graduate research work was split into two major fields. First half of the PhD was focused on Chemical Synthesis of Thermosetting Polyester Resins and Interchain Transesterification Reactions for solid-state consolidation. Developed interfacial reaction process using ultrasonic emulsification for nanometer sized thermoset particles. Second half of the PhD is focused on epitaxial thin film growth of single crystal CuIn(1-x)Ga(x)Se2 (CIS/CIGS) in a high-vacuum chamber for photovoltaics (solar cells). Thesis focus is on the influence of a single grain-boundary (bicrystal) on materials properties of CIS.
Bachelors of Science , Polymer Science and Engineering , 1992 — 1996
Licensed Emergency Medical Technician Class A, 2years
Active member of Explorer Post 911, 2 years
• The application of advanced compound semiconductors and polymers. • Focus on new materials research and application of novel processing and synthetic routes for advanced applications (higher risk). • Promotion of the research fields of semiconductors and polymers with increased collaboration amongst industry partners and the university research community, and educational/professional societies.
• AVS (formerly American Vacuum Society)
• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Two-time Grant Recipient - International Microelectronics and Packaging Society (IMAPS)
• Second place prize for "Art-Zone" submission: Atomic Force Microscope image of a single grain-boundary in Copper Indium Diselenide Bicrystal