Research Experience:
COVEGA Corporation – Columbia, MD. (10/2001 to present)
Research Scientist. Investigated temperature-change and long-term-aging induced instability and reliability mechanisms in x- and z-cut LiNbO3 external electro-optic modulators. Implimented measurement techniques for electrical properties of insulating materials. Developed reactive RF sputtering process for advanced oxide/oxynitride buffer layers. Modeled connection of bias stability to fundamental electrical and mechanical properties of materials. This work led to effective elimination of thermally induced bias voltage drift and substantial reduction of run-away bias drift in z-cut devices. Developed automated motion and vision system for electrical and optical testing of unpackaged devices. Transitioned processes and controls to manufacturing team. (extended description)
Agere Systems – Breinigsville, PA. (02/2001 to 09/2001)
Process Development Engineer. Examined instabilities in lithium niobate modulators. Implemented novel electrical and dielectric reliability measurements of devices and materials. (extended description)
Northwestern University – Evanston, IL. (09/1996 to 02/2001)
Graduate Research Assistant. Fabrication of thin film ferroelectric BaTiO3 / K(Ta,Nb)O3 and semiconductor devices for materials properties analysis. Measurement of dielectric and electro-optic properties of oxide thin films. Design and modeling of transverse electro-optic measurement technique for thin films. Theoretical modeling of electrical - optical - microstructural relationships in epitaxial, ferroelectric films with multiple domain variants. Installation, operation, and maintenance of metal-organic MBE system for deposition of epitaxial SiC and MgO on Si. (extended description)
Lucent Technologies – Murray Hill, NJ. (06/1996 to 09/1996)
Student Collaborator. Reliability analysis of failure mechanisms in plastic, liquid-crystal displays. Performed water and gas permeability measurements and analysis. Computer modeling of LCD optical properties using anisotropic, polymer substrates.
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, WI. (09/1993 to 05/1996)
Undergraduate Research Assistant. Investigated the electrical transition temperatures of fast ionic conductors using XRD and electrical impedance spectroscopy.
Brookhaven National Laboratory – Upton, NY (06/1995 to 09/1995)
Student Collaborator. Examine the effects of elemental substitution on the transition temperature of Nd2Fe14B permanent magnetic materials. Involved collection, analysis, and synthesis of XRD, DTA/TGA, and SQUID data.