Material Matters
WINTER/SPRING 2010
PAGE 5
FACULTY NEWS
During Commencement exercises
for the School of Engineering and
Applied Science, the Mac Wade Award
for 2009 was presented to Professor
Dana Elzey. As director of both
the Office of International Studies
and the Rodman Scholars Program,
Prof. Elzey does indeed render the
kind of outstanding service to SEAS
students that the Mac Wade award is
intended to recognize and honor.
Prof. John Dorning was elected to the
National Academy of Engineering.
The International Committee on
Atomic Collisions in Solids awarded
Prof. Raul Baragiola their Lifetime
Achievement award for his research
into ion-solid interactions. He
delivered the Lindhard Lecture at
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
In April, 3rd Year Engineering Science
major Will Jacobs was awarded a
Goldwater
Scholarship of
$7500 a year
for up to two
years. He was
one of 278
winners from
a pool of 1097
nominees
nationwide.
William Jacobs Photo: D. Addison
At the
Department of Defense Corrosion
Conference, held in August, 2009,
CESE graduate students once again
distinguished themselves in poster
competition. Courtney Crane
took 1st place in the “Corrosion
Engineering” division, and Swati Jain
took 1st in “Modeling in Corrosion,”
with Wasiu Adedeji taking 2nd
place. Andrew King placed 2nd in
the “Corrosion Science”division.
In April, graduate student James
Wollmershauser was selected to
receive a Seaborg Institute summer
newsletter2.indd 4-6
Professor Jiwei Lu’s award from
the Fund for Excellence in Science
and Technology was given by the
University’s Vice-President for Research
for “highly innovative research
projects.” Professor Lu’s proposal
is to develop a phase-change switch
that is based on electronic-driven
transitions in vanadium dioxide (VO2).
Professor John Scully was
awarded the H.H. Uhlig Award
by the Electrochemical society in
recognition of his contributions
to the field of corrosion.
The criteria for this award are specified
as follows: “Nominees should be Ph.D.
students who are sufficiently advanced
in their program to have demonstrated
excellence in original research and
scholarship. The purpose is to reward
students that are bringing recognition to
graduate programs at the University of
Virginia as a result of their innovation,
intellect, dedication, creativity,
and passion. Students also should
have strong academic credentials,
For his work in surface science and
as evidenced by performance in
coursework and on comprehensive
the resulting article published in the
examinations. This
journal Science, graduate
award is intended to
student Santhana
Eswaramoorthy, advised
recognize demonstrated
achievement, not future
by Prof. James Howe,
potential, in original
was presented with
scholarship.” Among
the 2008 Gwathmey
Memorial Award.
her many achievements,
Jen won the Best in
Class award for her
In the spring, Jen
poster at the 7th
Warner was given the
International Conference
Award for Excellence
in Scholarship in the
on Fatigue Damage
in Materials held in
Sciences and Engineering,
Hyannis, Massachusetts,
which carries with it a
Jen Warner Photo: T. Cogill
in September of 2008.
fellowship of $5,000.
fellowship to conduct independent
research at the Los Alamos Laboratory.
The fellowship, awarded to fewer
than ten graduate students each year,
is sponsored by the Department of
Energy, the Department of Homeland
Security, and the G. T. Seaborg Institute
of Transactinium Science. James’s
advisor in MSE is Prof. Sean Agnew,
and his research concerns abnormal
behavior in B2 intermetallics.
Dr. Charles P. (Chip) Blankenship,
a 1992 Ph.D. recipient in Materials
Science, has been named VicePresident and General Manager of
the Commercial Engines division
of GE. Chip was a student of Ed
Starke who retired this past year.
Dr. Linda Horton was named Director
of the Division of Materials Science
and Engineering at the U.S. Department
of Energy in April of this year. Horton,
who previously was the director of the
Center for Nanophase Materials Science
at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a
1982 Ph.D. graduate of our department,
advised by Professors Bentley and
Jesser. Linda is the mother of current
MSE graduate student Derek Horton.
Thomas Marshburn, who earned a
Master’s in Engineering Physics here
in 1984, was aboard the space shuttle
Endeavor for its August mission,
STS-127. Marshburn carried with
him into space a medallion struck in
1986 to commemorate the history
Engineering Education at the
University of Virginia, 1836 to 1986.”
Leland Melvin, who received
a Master’s in Materials Science
Engineering here in 1991, made his
second space shuttle flight, this time
aboard Atlantis for Mission STS-129
to the International Space Station. The
mission launched November 16th.
Department of
Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 1
From the Chair’s Chair
Dear Alumni and Friends,
of engineering
at UVA. The
medallion is
stamped with
the words,
“150 Years of
Left: Leland Melvin
Right: Tom Marshburn conducting EVA operations
Photo: N.A.S.A.
Welcome to our inaugural MSE
newsletter focusing on the activities,
research, and experiences of the
alumni, friends, students, staff
and faculty of the Department of
Materials Science and Engineering.
We believe this letter to be the first
MSE newsletter in the history of
the department, and we hope it will
provide us a mechanism to reinforce
current relationships with our alumni
and friends as well as to reestablish
relationships with those of you with
whom we may have lost contact over
the years.
We launch the MSE newsletter at
a time of much excitement and
significant change in the department.
Although multiple rounds of budget
cuts the past two years have placed
some real and significant constraints
on departmental activities, our
students and faculty continue to excel
in all areas.
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage
PAID
Charlottesville, VA
Permit No. 164
their December 08 conference.
University of Virginia
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
P.O.Box 400745
Charlottesville, 22904-4745
Assoc. Professor Sean Agnew.
434-924-7237
www.virginia.edu/ms
[email protected]
The first Magnesium Research award
presented by GKSS Laboratory in
Geestacht, Germany was given to
ALUMNI NEWS
Please contact us. Find out more about our new activites and let us know if there are events or stories of your own that
we can help publicize.
Professor Rob Kelly was recognized
for his important contribution in
helping to select the steel used in
the memorial for the 9/11 attack on
the Pentagon. Since 184 benches,
each one representing a victim of
the attack, would be sculpted for the
outdoor memorial, selecting a metal
that would be long-lasting, beautiful,
and corrosion-resistant was essential.
“It has been a true honor to work on
this project,” Kelly said. “It is my hope
that the families of the victims, as well
as all visitors to the memorial, will
find it as a place for remembrance and
solace for a very long time to come.”
PAGE 6
In this and coming issues of the MSE
newsletter, we will bring you up to date
with the department by introducing
you to recent faculty and staff
additions, by acquainting you with new
educational and research initiatives in
the department, and by highlighting
some of the accomplishments of our
undergraduate and graduate students.
On November 6th we celebrated
the long and distinguished career
of Professor William Jesser with
a dinner in his honor at the Omni
Hotel in Charlottesville. Bill has been
associated with UVa for half a century:
eight years as an undergraduate and
graduate student and 41 years as a
faculty member, including 11 years as
chair of the department. As you will
note in the accompanying article, his
tenure boasts many accomplishments
which include ushering in Wilsdorf
Hall and hiring ten members of our
current faculty (myself included as the
first of those hires).
MSE Chair Bill Johson
Photo: E. Newsome
This fall we also congratulate two
Jiwei received a University FEST Award
of Bill Jesser’s final hires: Prof. Petra to pursue novel research on using a
Reinke on her promotion to tenured recently discovered metal-insulator phase
associate professor and Prof. Giovanni transition in vanadium dioxide as the
Zangari on his promotion to full
basis of a new switching device.
professor. We also applaud Prof. John
Scully on being named the Charles
At commencement exercises in May and
Henderson Professor of Materials
August this past year, the department
Science and Engineering in recognition honored 27 graduating students; 17
of his multi-faceted contributions to students received a Ph.D. degree and 10
MSE education and research.
students received a Master’s degree in
We welcome Dr. Jiwei Lu, who joined
the department in November 2008 as
a Research Assistant Professor, the
first hire of a research faculty member
since former Prof. Ray Taylor. Jiwei
began his career at U.Va as a postdoctoral research associate working for
Prof. Stu Wolf. Within a few months
of his most recent appointment,
Contents
From the Chair’s Chair
CESE Wins NACE Award
Retirement of Bill Jesser
Faculty News
Student Highlights Alumni Notes
1
3
3
4
4
5
1/8/2010 10:47:29 AM
PAGE 2
Continued From Page 1
MSE or Engineering Physics. These recent alumni have
assumed a variety of positions in academia, government
research labs, and industry. In May we also had 10 graduates
in Engineering Science, up from two graduates in 2005.
The past couple
of years have
seen a complete
restructuring of
the undergraduate
Engineering Science
Program, which MSE
now administers.
Under the leadership
MSE Ph.D Graduates in May 2009
of the ES director,
Photo: E. Newsome
Prof. Sean Agnew,
two new tracks within ES have been developed and
formally approved by the MSE and SEAS faculty. The first
track is in Materials Science and Engineering and allows
students to pursue undergraduate studies in MSE with 11
required MSE courses. After almost one year, there are 10
students on the ES/MSE track. The second track in ES is
Nanomedicine which was developed in partnership with
Biomedical Engineering. This program has proved very
popular and already enrolls 24 students. In total there are
now 84 second- through fourth-year students enrolled in
ES.
I hope you will find our Newsletter informative and
enjoyable. If you have suggestions for future articles, please
contact us.
The PRODUCED [PROviDing Undergraduate Connections to Engineering eDucation] in Virginia program is a
partnership initiative between SEAS and Virginia’s community colleges and is funded by a business consortium,
including industry leader AREVA. Students enrolled in the
program meet the first two years of the SEAS engineering requirements at their local community colleges, and,
having achieved a GPA of 3.4, are automatically accepted
as students at the University of Virginia, under the conditions of the program. They then complete the remaining
coursework within the Engineering Science curriculum in
pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Of the six students presently enrolled, four have chosen the path to a concentration in Materials Science. The program serves to meet the
growing demand for engineers in the Commonwealth and
is well suited to non-traditional students who are balancing
newsletter2.indd 1-3
Rob Kelly and John Scully
Photo: T. Cogill
CESE Receives NACE International Award
William C. Johnson
MSE Chair
PRODUCED in Virginia sees first students
This fall, the inaugural cohort of students participating in
the Engineers PRODUCED in Virginia program transferred
from central Virginia Community College to the University.
MSE Professor James Groves, Assistant Dean for Outreach
and Research, directs the program.
William Jesser’s
Retirement
The department is at the center of several SEAS-wide
initiatives which will bring a host of challenges and
opportunities in the next few years. A collaborative effort
among the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rolls-Royce,
Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia will bring
multi-million dollar research opportunities and 11 new
faculty members to SEAS; many of those positions will be
associated with MSE. Presently, Professors Rob Kelly and
Haydn Wadley are beginning new research programs funded
through this initiative and the department is in the process
of interviewing for two new faculty positions, including a
new chaired professorship.
We thank you, our alumni and friends, for your support and
hope that you will stay in touch.
education with family and career demands.
Financial support is needed to create lab resources that
would allow distance learners direct and real time access to
equipment using remote technology. The integration of
direct lab access into distance education would make U.Va
the first school to overcome that significant hurdle.
Although these first PRODUCED in Virginia students are
all from the Lynchburg community college, more than one
hundred students are in the initial stages of the program
at eighteen community colleges around the state. In the
February 13, 2009, issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education,
an article entitled “Sharing Ideas: Tough Times Encourage
Colleges to Collaborate” cites the PRODUCED program as a
useful response to the economic woes of small communities. “New, narrowly targeted programs in Virginia could
further smooth the path from community college to university with significant benefits to the state as well, officials say.
‘The economic developments in this country are going to
push us all in that direction,’ says James F. Groves... ‘How
can we not be responsive?’”
PAGE 4
PAGE 3
The University of Virginia’s Center
for Electrochemical Science and
Engineering (CESE) has been chosen
for the 2009 National Association
of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
Distinguished Organization Award
for over 40 years of leadership
and contributions to the corrosion
community in education, research,
technical service and advising,
and professional development.
This award honors organizations that
have made outstanding contributions
to the field of corrosion science and
engineering over a sustained period
of time. The award typically goes to
companies. In fact, this is only the
second time in its 60 year history that
the award has gone to a university
(the first time was to The Ohio State
University’s Fontana Corrosion Center).
Built on the foundation of the Applied
Electrochemistry Laboratories, a
highly successful organized research
unit originally established by materials
science and engineering professor
Glenn Stoner, the CESE is a multidisciplinary research effort which
includes activities in the departments
of materials science and engineering
and chemical engineering as well as
interactions with electrical engineering,
computer science, and physics.
Materials science and engineering
professors John Scully and Rob Kelly
serve as directors of the CESE.
Researchers in this field aim to
understand corrosion and prevent the
degradation of material properties
by chemical or electrochemical
processes. Their work enhances the
durability of bridges, airplanes, cars,
and more. Although laypeople may
be largely unfamiliar with the field of
corrosion science and engineering,
as the Minneapolis bridge collapse
tragically demonstrated last summer,
it is an area that has considerable
impact on our daily lives.
Bill Jesser joined the nascent department of Materials Science in 1968.
Along with John Matthews, Heinz Wilsdorf, and Doris Kuhlmann–Wilsdorf,
he contributed not only to development
of research endeavors within the fields
of epitaxial growth and thin films, but
also to the establishment of U.Va as an
important part of the then-developing
field of nanoscience. Serving as chair
of the department of Materials Science from 1992 to 2003, Dr. Jesser was
highly instrumental in transforming the
need for a new research space into the
reality of Wilsdorf Hall. Greg Olsen,
his first doctoral student, initiated
construction of the research facility
by donating the lead gift of 15 million
dollars – the largest in the history of the
engineering school.
In many ways, Dr. Jesser’s career spans
the story of two buildings. For the
department, moving from the basement of Thornton Hall to a building
of its own was a major accomplishment. When he took over as chair, one
of the first challenges Jesser faced was
quashing the idea that the interdisciplinary department should be merged
into another existing department. His
successful argument was that a merger
would not be a cost-savings act and that
the action would diffuse student loyalty
to MSE. When construction began on
what would eventually become the first
Materials Science building, the intention
was that it would house the research
activities of three departments: Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and
Materials Science. Jesser secured a grant
from the Virginia Center for Innovative
Technology which allowed the building
to be completed as the new home of
the MSE department.
Much as Wilsdorf Hall does now, the
original building created room to house more advanced
equipment, increased the department’s research capacity, and
provided more space for MSE to grow.
As Secretary of the U.Va. Faculty Senate, Jesser gained
insights into the inner workings of the University as well as
learned valuable administrative lessons that would aid him
throughout his career. “The hottest potato,” Jesser recalled,
“I had to deal with in the faculty senate was student-faculty
relations.” Before the Senate was the issue of amorous relations, a topic which at the time was generating considerable
public attention and strong opinions on all sides.
On another occasion, he recalls being asked to sit in on a faculty senate meeting in case questions arose. Yet as he walked
into the room and glanced at the agenda, to his surprise he
saw that he had been scheduled to speak. Sitting in the Rotunda, he collected his thoughts and addressed the Board of
Visitors, the public, and the media cameras. “You can’t find
manuals that address all these things,” he explains.
When asked if he has any advice to put forward to younger
colleagues, he offers that while “it may not be politically correct to say it, I have found that your own instincts on how to
proceed are more valuable than what the books and manuals
can teach you. Personal relationships matter… you have to
put people first.”
As a visiting professor, Dr. Jesser has lectured in South Africa, Japan, Israel, and China. While his teaching career spans
the globe, he is a true product of the University of Virginia
holding his undergraduate degree, master’s & doctoral degrees in physics from the University.
In acknowledgment of his contributions and efforts on
behalf of the University, Jesser received the 1999 Mac Wade
Award and the 2004 U.Va Distinguished Service Award. He
has served on the board of directors at Oak Ridge Associated
Universities and in numerous capacities including chair of the
Materials Science section of the Virginia Academy of Science. He is a member of American Association for Crystal
Growth, the Electron Microscope Society of America, a
fellow of ASM, the Materials Research Society, and a member
of the Metallurgical Society of AIME as well as life member
of American Society of Metals.
Many roles require many hats. Over the years, when Jesser
was approached by students, faculty, and colleagues in his various roles as advisor, department chair, and mentor, he would
often respond with two answers: one would be the “official”
William Jesser
Photo: J. Fitz-Gerald
answer, the other answer would proceed from “but if I were
you...” And the advice that would follow sometimes would
be orthodox, sometimes not, but it was always genuine.
When describing what he values most from his career, he
explains that the highest reward was the interaction with students and faculty. The gathering in honor of his retrirement
proved to be an excellent occasion in which to enjoy those
longterm relationships forged in community, collaboration,
and mentorship. This November, when a host of those same
colleagues, friends, and former students gathered to celebrate
his career, many warmly returned their appreciation for his
candor and sincerity – much of it shared when the “official”
hat was off.
William Jesser with his first doctoral student, Greg Olson (left),
and his last, Tom Schamp (right)
Photo: D. Horton
1/8/2010 10:47:24 AM
PAGE 2
Continued From Page 1
MSE or Engineering Physics. These recent alumni have
assumed a variety of positions in academia, government
research labs, and industry. In May we also had 10 graduates
in Engineering Science, up from two graduates in 2005.
The past couple
of years have
seen a complete
restructuring of
the undergraduate
Engineering Science
Program, which MSE
now administers.
Under the leadership
MSE Ph.D Graduates in May 2009
of the ES director,
Photo: E. Newsome
Prof. Sean Agnew,
two new tracks within ES have been developed and
formally approved by the MSE and SEAS faculty. The first
track is in Materials Science and Engineering and allows
students to pursue undergraduate studies in MSE with 11
required MSE courses. After almost one year, there are 10
students on the ES/MSE track. The second track in ES is
Nanomedicine which was developed in partnership with
Biomedical Engineering. This program has proved very
popular and already enrolls 24 students. In total there are
now 84 second- through fourth-year students enrolled in
ES.
I hope you will find our Newsletter informative and
enjoyable. If you have suggestions for future articles, please
contact us.
The PRODUCED [PROviDing Undergraduate Connections to Engineering eDucation] in Virginia program is a
partnership initiative between SEAS and Virginia’s community colleges and is funded by a business consortium,
including industry leader AREVA. Students enrolled in the
program meet the first two years of the SEAS engineering requirements at their local community colleges, and,
having achieved a GPA of 3.4, are automatically accepted
as students at the University of Virginia, under the conditions of the program. They then complete the remaining
coursework within the Engineering Science curriculum in
pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Of the six students presently enrolled, four have chosen the path to a concentration in Materials Science. The program serves to meet the
growing demand for engineers in the Commonwealth and
is well suited to non-traditional students who are balancing
newsletter2.indd 1-3
Rob Kelly and John Scully
Photo: T. Cogill
CESE Receives NACE International Award
William C. Johnson
MSE Chair
PRODUCED in Virginia sees first students
This fall, the inaugural cohort of students participating in
the Engineers PRODUCED in Virginia program transferred
from central Virginia Community College to the University.
MSE Professor James Groves, Assistant Dean for Outreach
and Research, directs the program.
William Jesser’s
Retirement
The department is at the center of several SEAS-wide
initiatives which will bring a host of challenges and
opportunities in the next few years. A collaborative effort
among the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rolls-Royce,
Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia will bring
multi-million dollar research opportunities and 11 new
faculty members to SEAS; many of those positions will be
associated with MSE. Presently, Professors Rob Kelly and
Haydn Wadley are beginning new research programs funded
through this initiative and the department is in the process
of interviewing for two new faculty positions, including a
new chaired professorship.
We thank you, our alumni and friends, for your support and
hope that you will stay in touch.
education with family and career demands.
Financial support is needed to create lab resources that
would allow distance learners direct and real time access to
equipment using remote technology. The integration of
direct lab access into distance education would make U.Va
the first school to overcome that significant hurdle.
Although these first PRODUCED in Virginia students are
all from the Lynchburg community college, more than one
hundred students are in the initial stages of the program
at eighteen community colleges around the state. In the
February 13, 2009, issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education,
an article entitled “Sharing Ideas: Tough Times Encourage
Colleges to Collaborate” cites the PRODUCED program as a
useful response to the economic woes of small communities. “New, narrowly targeted programs in Virginia could
further smooth the path from community college to university with significant benefits to the state as well, officials say.
‘The economic developments in this country are going to
push us all in that direction,’ says James F. Groves... ‘How
can we not be responsive?’”
PAGE 4
PAGE 3
The University of Virginia’s Center
for Electrochemical Science and
Engineering (CESE) has been chosen
for the 2009 National Association
of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
Distinguished Organization Award
for over 40 years of leadership
and contributions to the corrosion
community in education, research,
technical service and advising,
and professional development.
This award honors organizations that
have made outstanding contributions
to the field of corrosion science and
engineering over a sustained period
of time. The award typically goes to
companies. In fact, this is only the
second time in its 60 year history that
the award has gone to a university
(the first time was to The Ohio State
University’s Fontana Corrosion Center).
Built on the foundation of the Applied
Electrochemistry Laboratories, a
highly successful organized research
unit originally established by materials
science and engineering professor
Glenn Stoner, the CESE is a multidisciplinary research effort which
includes activities in the departments
of materials science and engineering
and chemical engineering as well as
interactions with electrical engineering,
computer science, and physics.
Materials science and engineering
professors John Scully and Rob Kelly
serve as directors of the CESE.
Researchers in this field aim to
understand corrosion and prevent the
degradation of material properties
by chemical or electrochemical
processes. Their work enhances the
durability of bridges, airplanes, cars,
and more. Although laypeople may
be largely unfamiliar with the field of
corrosion science and engineering,
as the Minneapolis bridge collapse
tragically demonstrated last summer,
it is an area that has considerable
impact on our daily lives.
Bill Jesser joined the nascent department of Materials Science in 1968.
Along with John Matthews, Heinz Wilsdorf, and Doris Kuhlmann–Wilsdorf,
he contributed not only to development
of research endeavors within the fields
of epitaxial growth and thin films, but
also to the establishment of U.Va as an
important part of the then-developing
field of nanoscience. Serving as chair
of the department of Materials Science from 1992 to 2003, Dr. Jesser was
highly instrumental in transforming the
need for a new research space into the
reality of Wilsdorf Hall. Greg Olsen,
his first doctoral student, initiated
construction of the research facility
by donating the lead gift of 15 million
dollars – the largest in the history of the
engineering school.
In many ways, Dr. Jesser’s career spans
the story of two buildings. For the
department, moving from the basement of Thornton Hall to a building
of its own was a major accomplishment. When he took over as chair, one
of the first challenges Jesser faced was
quashing the idea that the interdisciplinary department should be merged
into another existing department. His
successful argument was that a merger
would not be a cost-savings act and that
the action would diffuse student loyalty
to MSE. When construction began on
what would eventually become the first
Materials Science building, the intention
was that it would house the research
activities of three departments: Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and
Materials Science. Jesser secured a grant
from the Virginia Center for Innovative
Technology which allowed the building
to be completed as the new home of
the MSE department.
Much as Wilsdorf Hall does now, the
original building created room to house more advanced
equipment, increased the department’s research capacity, and
provided more space for MSE to grow.
As Secretary of the U.Va. Faculty Senate, Jesser gained
insights into the inner workings of the University as well as
learned valuable administrative lessons that would aid him
throughout his career. “The hottest potato,” Jesser recalled,
“I had to deal with in the faculty senate was student-faculty
relations.” Before the Senate was the issue of amorous relations, a topic which at the time was generating considerable
public attention and strong opinions on all sides.
On another occasion, he recalls being asked to sit in on a faculty senate meeting in case questions arose. Yet as he walked
into the room and glanced at the agenda, to his surprise he
saw that he had been scheduled to speak. Sitting in the Rotunda, he collected his thoughts and addressed the Board of
Visitors, the public, and the media cameras. “You can’t find
manuals that address all these things,” he explains.
When asked if he has any advice to put forward to younger
colleagues, he offers that while “it may not be politically correct to say it, I have found that your own instincts on how to
proceed are more valuable than what the books and manuals
can teach you. Personal relationships matter… you have to
put people first.”
As a visiting professor, Dr. Jesser has lectured in South Africa, Japan, Israel, and China. While his teaching career spans
the globe, he is a true product of the University of Virginia
holding his undergraduate degree, master’s & doctoral degrees in physics from the University.
In acknowledgment of his contributions and efforts on
behalf of the University, Jesser received the 1999 Mac Wade
Award and the 2004 U.Va Distinguished Service Award. He
has served on the board of directors at Oak Ridge Associated
Universities and in numerous capacities including chair of the
Materials Science section of the Virginia Academy of Science. He is a member of American Association for Crystal
Growth, the Electron Microscope Society of America, a
fellow of ASM, the Materials Research Society, and a member
of the Metallurgical Society of AIME as well as life member
of American Society of Metals.
Many roles require many hats. Over the years, when Jesser
was approached by students, faculty, and colleagues in his various roles as advisor, department chair, and mentor, he would
often respond with two answers: one would be the “official”
William Jesser
Photo: J. Fitz-Gerald
answer, the other answer would proceed from “but if I were
you...” And the advice that would follow sometimes would
be orthodox, sometimes not, but it was always genuine.
When describing what he values most from his career, he
explains that the highest reward was the interaction with students and faculty. The gathering in honor of his retrirement
proved to be an excellent occasion in which to enjoy those
longterm relationships forged in community, collaboration,
and mentorship. This November, when a host of those same
colleagues, friends, and former students gathered to celebrate
his career, many warmly returned their appreciation for his
candor and sincerity – much of it shared when the “official”
hat was off.
William Jesser with his first doctoral student, Greg Olson (left),
and his last, Tom Schamp (right)
Photo: D. Horton
1/8/2010 10:47:24 AM
PAGE 2
Continued From Page 1
MSE or Engineering Physics. These recent alumni have
assumed a variety of positions in academia, government
research labs, and industry. In May we also had 10 graduates
in Engineering Science, up from two graduates in 2005.
The past couple
of years have
seen a complete
restructuring of
the undergraduate
Engineering Science
Program, which MSE
now administers.
Under the leadership
MSE Ph.D Graduates in May 2009
of the ES director,
Photo: E. Newsome
Prof. Sean Agnew,
two new tracks within ES have been developed and
formally approved by the MSE and SEAS faculty. The first
track is in Materials Science and Engineering and allows
students to pursue undergraduate studies in MSE with 11
required MSE courses. After almost one year, there are 10
students on the ES/MSE track. The second track in ES is
Nanomedicine which was developed in partnership with
Biomedical Engineering. This program has proved very
popular and already enrolls 24 students. In total there are
now 84 second- through fourth-year students enrolled in
ES.
I hope you will find our Newsletter informative and
enjoyable. If you have suggestions for future articles, please
contact us.
The PRODUCED [PROviDing Undergraduate Connections to Engineering eDucation] in Virginia program is a
partnership initiative between SEAS and Virginia’s community colleges and is funded by a business consortium,
including industry leader AREVA. Students enrolled in the
program meet the first two years of the SEAS engineering requirements at their local community colleges, and,
having achieved a GPA of 3.4, are automatically accepted
as students at the University of Virginia, under the conditions of the program. They then complete the remaining
coursework within the Engineering Science curriculum in
pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Of the six students presently enrolled, four have chosen the path to a concentration in Materials Science. The program serves to meet the
growing demand for engineers in the Commonwealth and
is well suited to non-traditional students who are balancing
newsletter2.indd 1-3
Rob Kelly and John Scully
Photo: T. Cogill
CESE Receives NACE International Award
William C. Johnson
MSE Chair
PRODUCED in Virginia sees first students
This fall, the inaugural cohort of students participating in
the Engineers PRODUCED in Virginia program transferred
from central Virginia Community College to the University.
MSE Professor James Groves, Assistant Dean for Outreach
and Research, directs the program.
William Jesser’s
Retirement
The department is at the center of several SEAS-wide
initiatives which will bring a host of challenges and
opportunities in the next few years. A collaborative effort
among the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rolls-Royce,
Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia will bring
multi-million dollar research opportunities and 11 new
faculty members to SEAS; many of those positions will be
associated with MSE. Presently, Professors Rob Kelly and
Haydn Wadley are beginning new research programs funded
through this initiative and the department is in the process
of interviewing for two new faculty positions, including a
new chaired professorship.
We thank you, our alumni and friends, for your support and
hope that you will stay in touch.
education with family and career demands.
Financial support is needed to create lab resources that
would allow distance learners direct and real time access to
equipment using remote technology. The integration of
direct lab access into distance education would make U.Va
the first school to overcome that significant hurdle.
Although these first PRODUCED in Virginia students are
all from the Lynchburg community college, more than one
hundred students are in the initial stages of the program
at eighteen community colleges around the state. In the
February 13, 2009, issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education,
an article entitled “Sharing Ideas: Tough Times Encourage
Colleges to Collaborate” cites the PRODUCED program as a
useful response to the economic woes of small communities. “New, narrowly targeted programs in Virginia could
further smooth the path from community college to university with significant benefits to the state as well, officials say.
‘The economic developments in this country are going to
push us all in that direction,’ says James F. Groves... ‘How
can we not be responsive?’”
PAGE 4
PAGE 3
The University of Virginia’s Center
for Electrochemical Science and
Engineering (CESE) has been chosen
for the 2009 National Association
of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
Distinguished Organization Award
for over 40 years of leadership
and contributions to the corrosion
community in education, research,
technical service and advising,
and professional development.
This award honors organizations that
have made outstanding contributions
to the field of corrosion science and
engineering over a sustained period
of time. The award typically goes to
companies. In fact, this is only the
second time in its 60 year history that
the award has gone to a university
(the first time was to The Ohio State
University’s Fontana Corrosion Center).
Built on the foundation of the Applied
Electrochemistry Laboratories, a
highly successful organized research
unit originally established by materials
science and engineering professor
Glenn Stoner, the CESE is a multidisciplinary research effort which
includes activities in the departments
of materials science and engineering
and chemical engineering as well as
interactions with electrical engineering,
computer science, and physics.
Materials science and engineering
professors John Scully and Rob Kelly
serve as directors of the CESE.
Researchers in this field aim to
understand corrosion and prevent the
degradation of material properties
by chemical or electrochemical
processes. Their work enhances the
durability of bridges, airplanes, cars,
and more. Although laypeople may
be largely unfamiliar with the field of
corrosion science and engineering,
as the Minneapolis bridge collapse
tragically demonstrated last summer,
it is an area that has considerable
impact on our daily lives.
Bill Jesser joined the nascent department of Materials Science in 1968.
Along with John Matthews, Heinz Wilsdorf, and Doris Kuhlmann–Wilsdorf,
he contributed not only to development
of research endeavors within the fields
of epitaxial growth and thin films, but
also to the establishment of U.Va as an
important part of the then-developing
field of nanoscience. Serving as chair
of the department of Materials Science from 1992 to 2003, Dr. Jesser was
highly instrumental in transforming the
need for a new research space into the
reality of Wilsdorf Hall. Greg Olsen,
his first doctoral student, initiated
construction of the research facility
by donating the lead gift of 15 million
dollars – the largest in the history of the
engineering school.
In many ways, Dr. Jesser’s career spans
the story of two buildings. For the
department, moving from the basement of Thornton Hall to a building
of its own was a major accomplishment. When he took over as chair, one
of the first challenges Jesser faced was
quashing the idea that the interdisciplinary department should be merged
into another existing department. His
successful argument was that a merger
would not be a cost-savings act and that
the action would diffuse student loyalty
to MSE. When construction began on
what would eventually become the first
Materials Science building, the intention
was that it would house the research
activities of three departments: Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and
Materials Science. Jesser secured a grant
from the Virginia Center for Innovative
Technology which allowed the building
to be completed as the new home of
the MSE department.
Much as Wilsdorf Hall does now, the
original building created room to house more advanced
equipment, increased the department’s research capacity, and
provided more space for MSE to grow.
As Secretary of the U.Va. Faculty Senate, Jesser gained
insights into the inner workings of the University as well as
learned valuable administrative lessons that would aid him
throughout his career. “The hottest potato,” Jesser recalled,
“I had to deal with in the faculty senate was student-faculty
relations.” Before the Senate was the issue of amorous relations, a topic which at the time was generating considerable
public attention and strong opinions on all sides.
On another occasion, he recalls being asked to sit in on a faculty senate meeting in case questions arose. Yet as he walked
into the room and glanced at the agenda, to his surprise he
saw that he had been scheduled to speak. Sitting in the Rotunda, he collected his thoughts and addressed the Board of
Visitors, the public, and the media cameras. “You can’t find
manuals that address all these things,” he explains.
When asked if he has any advice to put forward to younger
colleagues, he offers that while “it may not be politically correct to say it, I have found that your own instincts on how to
proceed are more valuable than what the books and manuals
can teach you. Personal relationships matter… you have to
put people first.”
As a visiting professor, Dr. Jesser has lectured in South Africa, Japan, Israel, and China. While his teaching career spans
the globe, he is a true product of the University of Virginia
holding his undergraduate degree, master’s & doctoral degrees in physics from the University.
In acknowledgment of his contributions and efforts on
behalf of the University, Jesser received the 1999 Mac Wade
Award and the 2004 U.Va Distinguished Service Award. He
has served on the board of directors at Oak Ridge Associated
Universities and in numerous capacities including chair of the
Materials Science section of the Virginia Academy of Science. He is a member of American Association for Crystal
Growth, the Electron Microscope Society of America, a
fellow of ASM, the Materials Research Society, and a member
of the Metallurgical Society of AIME as well as life member
of American Society of Metals.
Many roles require many hats. Over the years, when Jesser
was approached by students, faculty, and colleagues in his various roles as advisor, department chair, and mentor, he would
often respond with two answers: one would be the “official”
William Jesser
Photo: J. Fitz-Gerald
answer, the other answer would proceed from “but if I were
you...” And the advice that would follow sometimes would
be orthodox, sometimes not, but it was always genuine.
When describing what he values most from his career, he
explains that the highest reward was the interaction with students and faculty. The gathering in honor of his retrirement
proved to be an excellent occasion in which to enjoy those
longterm relationships forged in community, collaboration,
and mentorship. This November, when a host of those same
colleagues, friends, and former students gathered to celebrate
his career, many warmly returned their appreciation for his
candor and sincerity – much of it shared when the “official”
hat was off.
William Jesser with his first doctoral student, Greg Olson (left),
and his last, Tom Schamp (right)
Photo: D. Horton
1/8/2010 10:47:24 AM
Material Matters
WINTER/SPRING 2010
PAGE 5
FACULTY NEWS
During Commencement exercises
for the School of Engineering and
Applied Science, the Mac Wade Award
for 2009 was presented to Professor
Dana Elzey. As director of both
the Office of International Studies
and the Rodman Scholars Program,
Prof. Elzey does indeed render the
kind of outstanding service to SEAS
students that the Mac Wade award is
intended to recognize and honor.
Prof. John Dorning was elected to the
National Academy of Engineering.
The International Committee on
Atomic Collisions in Solids awarded
Prof. Raul Baragiola their Lifetime
Achievement award for his research
into ion-solid interactions. He
delivered the Lindhard Lecture at
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
In April, 3rd Year Engineering Science
major Will Jacobs was awarded a
Goldwater
Scholarship of
$7500 a year
for up to two
years. He was
one of 278
winners from
a pool of 1097
nominees
nationwide.
William Jacobs Photo: D. Addison
At the
Department of Defense Corrosion
Conference, held in August, 2009,
CESE graduate students once again
distinguished themselves in poster
competition. Courtney Crane
took 1st place in the “Corrosion
Engineering” division, and Swati Jain
took 1st in “Modeling in Corrosion,”
with Wasiu Adedeji taking 2nd
place. Andrew King placed 2nd in
the “Corrosion Science”division.
In April, graduate student James
Wollmershauser was selected to
receive a Seaborg Institute summer
newsletter2.indd 4-6
Professor Jiwei Lu’s award from
the Fund for Excellence in Science
and Technology was given by the
University’s Vice-President for Research
for “highly innovative research
projects.” Professor Lu’s proposal
is to develop a phase-change switch
that is based on electronic-driven
transitions in vanadium dioxide (VO2).
Professor John Scully was
awarded the H.H. Uhlig Award
by the Electrochemical society in
recognition of his contributions
to the field of corrosion.
The criteria for this award are specified
as follows: “Nominees should be Ph.D.
students who are sufficiently advanced
in their program to have demonstrated
excellence in original research and
scholarship. The purpose is to reward
students that are bringing recognition to
graduate programs at the University of
Virginia as a result of their innovation,
intellect, dedication, creativity,
and passion. Students also should
have strong academic credentials,
For his work in surface science and
as evidenced by performance in
coursework and on comprehensive
the resulting article published in the
examinations. This
journal Science, graduate
award is intended to
student Santhana
Eswaramoorthy, advised
recognize demonstrated
achievement, not future
by Prof. James Howe,
potential, in original
was presented with
scholarship.” Among
the 2008 Gwathmey
Memorial Award.
her many achievements,
Jen won the Best in
Class award for her
In the spring, Jen
poster at the 7th
Warner was given the
International Conference
Award for Excellence
in Scholarship in the
on Fatigue Damage
in Materials held in
Sciences and Engineering,
Hyannis, Massachusetts,
which carries with it a
Jen Warner Photo: T. Cogill
in September of 2008.
fellowship of $5,000.
fellowship to conduct independent
research at the Los Alamos Laboratory.
The fellowship, awarded to fewer
than ten graduate students each year,
is sponsored by the Department of
Energy, the Department of Homeland
Security, and the G. T. Seaborg Institute
of Transactinium Science. James’s
advisor in MSE is Prof. Sean Agnew,
and his research concerns abnormal
behavior in B2 intermetallics.
Dr. Charles P. (Chip) Blankenship,
a 1992 Ph.D. recipient in Materials
Science, has been named VicePresident and General Manager of
the Commercial Engines division
of GE. Chip was a student of Ed
Starke who retired this past year.
Dr. Linda Horton was named Director
of the Division of Materials Science
and Engineering at the U.S. Department
of Energy in April of this year. Horton,
who previously was the director of the
Center for Nanophase Materials Science
at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a
1982 Ph.D. graduate of our department,
advised by Professors Bentley and
Jesser. Linda is the mother of current
MSE graduate student Derek Horton.
Thomas Marshburn, who earned a
Master’s in Engineering Physics here
in 1984, was aboard the space shuttle
Endeavor for its August mission,
STS-127. Marshburn carried with
him into space a medallion struck in
1986 to commemorate the history
Engineering Education at the
University of Virginia, 1836 to 1986.”
Leland Melvin, who received
a Master’s in Materials Science
Engineering here in 1991, made his
second space shuttle flight, this time
aboard Atlantis for Mission STS-129
to the International Space Station. The
mission launched November 16th.
Department of
Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 1
From the Chair’s Chair
Dear Alumni and Friends,
of engineering
at UVA. The
medallion is
stamped with
the words,
“150 Years of
Left: Leland Melvin
Right: Tom Marshburn conducting EVA operations
Photo: N.A.S.A.
Welcome to our inaugural MSE
newsletter focusing on the activities,
research, and experiences of the
alumni, friends, students, staff
and faculty of the Department of
Materials Science and Engineering.
We believe this letter to be the first
MSE newsletter in the history of
the department, and we hope it will
provide us a mechanism to reinforce
current relationships with our alumni
and friends as well as to reestablish
relationships with those of you with
whom we may have lost contact over
the years.
We launch the MSE newsletter at
a time of much excitement and
significant change in the department.
Although multiple rounds of budget
cuts the past two years have placed
some real and significant constraints
on departmental activities, our
students and faculty continue to excel
in all areas.
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage
PAID
Charlottesville, VA
Permit No. 164
their December 08 conference.
University of Virginia
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
P.O.Box 400745
Charlottesville, 22904-4745
Assoc. Professor Sean Agnew.
434-924-7237
www.virginia.edu/ms
[email protected]
The first Magnesium Research award
presented by GKSS Laboratory in
Geestacht, Germany was given to
ALUMNI NEWS
Please contact us. Find out more about our new activites and let us know if there are events or stories of your own that
we can help publicize.
Professor Rob Kelly was recognized
for his important contribution in
helping to select the steel used in
the memorial for the 9/11 attack on
the Pentagon. Since 184 benches,
each one representing a victim of
the attack, would be sculpted for the
outdoor memorial, selecting a metal
that would be long-lasting, beautiful,
and corrosion-resistant was essential.
“It has been a true honor to work on
this project,” Kelly said. “It is my hope
that the families of the victims, as well
as all visitors to the memorial, will
find it as a place for remembrance and
solace for a very long time to come.”
PAGE 6
In this and coming issues of the MSE
newsletter, we will bring you up to date
with the department by introducing
you to recent faculty and staff
additions, by acquainting you with new
educational and research initiatives in
the department, and by highlighting
some of the accomplishments of our
undergraduate and graduate students.
On November 6th we celebrated
the long and distinguished career
of Professor William Jesser with
a dinner in his honor at the Omni
Hotel in Charlottesville. Bill has been
associated with UVa for half a century:
eight years as an undergraduate and
graduate student and 41 years as a
faculty member, including 11 years as
chair of the department. As you will
note in the accompanying article, his
tenure boasts many accomplishments
which include ushering in Wilsdorf
Hall and hiring ten members of our
current faculty (myself included as the
first of those hires).
MSE Chair Bill Johson
Photo: E. Newsome
This fall we also congratulate two
Jiwei received a University FEST Award
of Bill Jesser’s final hires: Prof. Petra to pursue novel research on using a
Reinke on her promotion to tenured recently discovered metal-insulator phase
associate professor and Prof. Giovanni transition in vanadium dioxide as the
Zangari on his promotion to full
basis of a new switching device.
professor. We also applaud Prof. John
Scully on being named the Charles
At commencement exercises in May and
Henderson Professor of Materials
August this past year, the department
Science and Engineering in recognition honored 27 graduating students; 17
of his multi-faceted contributions to students received a Ph.D. degree and 10
MSE education and research.
students received a Master’s degree in
We welcome Dr. Jiwei Lu, who joined
the department in November 2008 as
a Research Assistant Professor, the
first hire of a research faculty member
since former Prof. Ray Taylor. Jiwei
began his career at U.Va as a postdoctoral research associate working for
Prof. Stu Wolf. Within a few months
of his most recent appointment,
Contents
From the Chair’s Chair
CESE Wins NACE Award
Retirement of Bill Jesser
Faculty News
Student Highlights Alumni Notes
1
3
3
4
4
5
1/8/2010 10:47:29 AM
Material Matters
WINTER/SPRING 2010
PAGE 5
FACULTY NEWS
During Commencement exercises
for the School of Engineering and
Applied Science, the Mac Wade Award
for 2009 was presented to Professor
Dana Elzey. As director of both
the Office of International Studies
and the Rodman Scholars Program,
Prof. Elzey does indeed render the
kind of outstanding service to SEAS
students that the Mac Wade award is
intended to recognize and honor.
Prof. John Dorning was elected to the
National Academy of Engineering.
The International Committee on
Atomic Collisions in Solids awarded
Prof. Raul Baragiola their Lifetime
Achievement award for his research
into ion-solid interactions. He
delivered the Lindhard Lecture at
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
In April, 3rd Year Engineering Science
major Will Jacobs was awarded a
Goldwater
Scholarship of
$7500 a year
for up to two
years. He was
one of 278
winners from
a pool of 1097
nominees
nationwide.
William Jacobs Photo: D. Addison
At the
Department of Defense Corrosion
Conference, held in August, 2009,
CESE graduate students once again
distinguished themselves in poster
competition. Courtney Crane
took 1st place in the “Corrosion
Engineering” division, and Swati Jain
took 1st in “Modeling in Corrosion,”
with Wasiu Adedeji taking 2nd
place. Andrew King placed 2nd in
the “Corrosion Science”division.
In April, graduate student James
Wollmershauser was selected to
receive a Seaborg Institute summer
newsletter2.indd 4-6
Professor Jiwei Lu’s award from
the Fund for Excellence in Science
and Technology was given by the
University’s Vice-President for Research
for “highly innovative research
projects.” Professor Lu’s proposal
is to develop a phase-change switch
that is based on electronic-driven
transitions in vanadium dioxide (VO2).
Professor John Scully was
awarded the H.H. Uhlig Award
by the Electrochemical society in
recognition of his contributions
to the field of corrosion.
The criteria for this award are specified
as follows: “Nominees should be Ph.D.
students who are sufficiently advanced
in their program to have demonstrated
excellence in original research and
scholarship. The purpose is to reward
students that are bringing recognition to
graduate programs at the University of
Virginia as a result of their innovation,
intellect, dedication, creativity,
and passion. Students also should
have strong academic credentials,
For his work in surface science and
as evidenced by performance in
coursework and on comprehensive
the resulting article published in the
examinations. This
journal Science, graduate
award is intended to
student Santhana
Eswaramoorthy, advised
recognize demonstrated
achievement, not future
by Prof. James Howe,
potential, in original
was presented with
scholarship.” Among
the 2008 Gwathmey
Memorial Award.
her many achievements,
Jen won the Best in
Class award for her
In the spring, Jen
poster at the 7th
Warner was given the
International Conference
Award for Excellence
in Scholarship in the
on Fatigue Damage
in Materials held in
Sciences and Engineering,
Hyannis, Massachusetts,
which carries with it a
Jen Warner Photo: T. Cogill
in September of 2008.
fellowship of $5,000.
fellowship to conduct independent
research at the Los Alamos Laboratory.
The fellowship, awarded to fewer
than ten graduate students each year,
is sponsored by the Department of
Energy, the Department of Homeland
Security, and the G. T. Seaborg Institute
of Transactinium Science. James’s
advisor in MSE is Prof. Sean Agnew,
and his research concerns abnormal
behavior in B2 intermetallics.
Dr. Charles P. (Chip) Blankenship,
a 1992 Ph.D. recipient in Materials
Science, has been named VicePresident and General Manager of
the Commercial Engines division
of GE. Chip was a student of Ed
Starke who retired this past year.
Dr. Linda Horton was named Director
of the Division of Materials Science
and Engineering at the U.S. Department
of Energy in April of this year. Horton,
who previously was the director of the
Center for Nanophase Materials Science
at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is a
1982 Ph.D. graduate of our department,
advised by Professors Bentley and
Jesser. Linda is the mother of current
MSE graduate student Derek Horton.
Thomas Marshburn, who earned a
Master’s in Engineering Physics here
in 1984, was aboard the space shuttle
Endeavor for its August mission,
STS-127. Marshburn carried with
him into space a medallion struck in
1986 to commemorate the history
Engineering Education at the
University of Virginia, 1836 to 1986.”
Leland Melvin, who received
a Master’s in Materials Science
Engineering here in 1991, made his
second space shuttle flight, this time
aboard Atlantis for Mission STS-129
to the International Space Station. The
mission launched November 16th.
Department of
Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 1
From the Chair’s Chair
Dear Alumni and Friends,
of engineering
at UVA. The
medallion is
stamped with
the words,
“150 Years of
Left: Leland Melvin
Right: Tom Marshburn conducting EVA operations
Photo: N.A.S.A.
Welcome to our inaugural MSE
newsletter focusing on the activities,
research, and experiences of the
alumni, friends, students, staff
and faculty of the Department of
Materials Science and Engineering.
We believe this letter to be the first
MSE newsletter in the history of
the department, and we hope it will
provide us a mechanism to reinforce
current relationships with our alumni
and friends as well as to reestablish
relationships with those of you with
whom we may have lost contact over
the years.
We launch the MSE newsletter at
a time of much excitement and
significant change in the department.
Although multiple rounds of budget
cuts the past two years have placed
some real and significant constraints
on departmental activities, our
students and faculty continue to excel
in all areas.
Non-Profit Organization
US Postage
PAID
Charlottesville, VA
Permit No. 164
their December 08 conference.
University of Virginia
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
P.O.Box 400745
Charlottesville, 22904-4745
Assoc. Professor Sean Agnew.
434-924-7237
www.virginia.edu/ms
[email protected]
The first Magnesium Research award
presented by GKSS Laboratory in
Geestacht, Germany was given to
ALUMNI NEWS
Please contact us. Find out more about our new activites and let us know if there are events or stories of your own that
we can help publicize.
Professor Rob Kelly was recognized
for his important contribution in
helping to select the steel used in
the memorial for the 9/11 attack on
the Pentagon. Since 184 benches,
each one representing a victim of
the attack, would be sculpted for the
outdoor memorial, selecting a metal
that would be long-lasting, beautiful,
and corrosion-resistant was essential.
“It has been a true honor to work on
this project,” Kelly said. “It is my hope
that the families of the victims, as well
as all visitors to the memorial, will
find it as a place for remembrance and
solace for a very long time to come.”
PAGE 6
In this and coming issues of the MSE
newsletter, we will bring you up to date
with the department by introducing
you to recent faculty and staff
additions, by acquainting you with new
educational and research initiatives in
the department, and by highlighting
some of the accomplishments of our
undergraduate and graduate students.
On November 6th we celebrated
the long and distinguished career
of Professor William Jesser with
a dinner in his honor at the Omni
Hotel in Charlottesville. Bill has been
associated with UVa for half a century:
eight years as an undergraduate and
graduate student and 41 years as a
faculty member, including 11 years as
chair of the department. As you will
note in the accompanying article, his
tenure boasts many accomplishments
which include ushering in Wilsdorf
Hall and hiring ten members of our
current faculty (myself included as the
first of those hires).
MSE Chair Bill Johson
Photo: E. Newsome
This fall we also congratulate two
Jiwei received a University FEST Award
of Bill Jesser’s final hires: Prof. Petra to pursue novel research on using a
Reinke on her promotion to tenured recently discovered metal-insulator phase
associate professor and Prof. Giovanni transition in vanadium dioxide as the
Zangari on his promotion to full
basis of a new switching device.
professor. We also applaud Prof. John
Scully on being named the Charles
At commencement exercises in May and
Henderson Professor of Materials
August this past year, the department
Science and Engineering in recognition honored 27 graduating students; 17
of his multi-faceted contributions to students received a Ph.D. degree and 10
MSE education and research.
students received a Master’s degree in
We welcome Dr. Jiwei Lu, who joined
the department in November 2008 as
a Research Assistant Professor, the
first hire of a research faculty member
since former Prof. Ray Taylor. Jiwei
began his career at U.Va as a postdoctoral research associate working for
Prof. Stu Wolf. Within a few months
of his most recent appointment,
Contents
From the Chair’s Chair
CESE Wins NACE Award
Retirement of Bill Jesser
Faculty News
Student Highlights Alumni Notes
1
3
3
4
4
5
1/8/2010 10:47:29 AM