Craig Nies, Ph.D.
1983, 1986g, 1989g
Director of the Technical Staff, Kyocera-AVX Components Corporation
Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Craig Nies attended Penn State where he received B.S. (1983), M.S. (1986) and Ph.D. (1989) degrees in Ceramic Science. His focus has been on materials for electronic devices. During his professional career, including 35 years at AVX Corporation (now Kyocera AVX Components Corporation), he has engaged in or managed programs in capacitor, varistor, substrate, piezoelectric and thermoelectric materials, and participated in most aspects of device design, construction, and testing. More recently, he manages materials development at Kyocera AVX’s Advanced Products and Technology Center, with programs in ceramic, electrolytic, thin film, supercapacitor, and sensor device technology. Additionally, he has managed sponsored university research programs in these areas. Nies also acts as a technical scout for Kyocera AVX, to identify new technological thrusts which might complement and extend Kyocera AVX’s manufacturing techniques and product lines. Since 1996, he has served as Kyocera AVX’s representative in the NSF Center for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics, and has served multiple terms as the Industrial Advisory Board Chairman. He also serves on the Educational Advisory Board for the University of South Carolina Biomedical Engineering Program, and on the South Carolina Science and Technology Plan Task Force.