2015 McFarland Award
"Multilayer Ceramics: Paving the way to Distributed Energy Generation"
Yeshwanth Narendar
Vice President, Technology, Roofing
CertainTeed Corporation
Administrator
2014 McFarland Award
"High Tech Start-ups Based on Materials Science "
Vladimir Ban
CEO
PD-LD, Inc.
Vladimir Ban received his undergraduate degree from the University of Zagreb, Croatia in Chemical Engineering, and his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in Materials Science. He started his scientific career at RCA Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey. He specialized in the science and technology of semiconductor materials, such as silicon and gallium arsenide, which became the foundation of today’s computer and communication industries. Vladimir has authored over 80 scientific articles and has over 30 US Patents granted or pending.
In 1984 Vladimir and his colleague Dr. Gregory Olsen founded Epitaxx Inc., a company dedicated to manufacturing of indium gallium arsenide detectors for fiber optic communication networks. In 1991 Epitaxx Inc. was sold to Nippon Sheet Glass Company and then, in 1999, resold to the JDS Uniphase. Epitaxx Inc. grew to more than 1000 employees, before falling a victim of outsourcing to Asia.
In 1994 Vladimir started PD-LD Inc., a company specializing in packaging of photonic components, such as photo-diodes and laser-diodes. This is still the main business of the company.
In the course of the last few years, PD-LD developed a proprietary Volume Bragg Grating technology based on photorefractive silica glasses. This technology is finding increasing applications in security, medical uses, industrial process monitoring, law enforcement and other areas. A successful introduction of products based on this new technology is creating a significant new business for the company.
Vladimir and his family reside in Princeton, New Jersey.
2013 McFarland Award
"Growth of a Specialty Metals Company "
Russell E. Reber, Jr.
Vice President, Quality, Technical and Customer Service
Carpenter Technology Corporation
Russell E. Reber, Jr., was appointed Vice President – Quality, Technical and Customer Service of Carpenter Technology Corporation in August 2011.
He most recently served as Vice President – Forged Bar & Billet where he was responsible for the process methods, quality, costs and sales and marketing for ingot products and the products that are forged using Carpenter’s open die forging press and rotary forge. These products are generally sold into the aerospace and energy markets.
Russ Reber, a 31-year veteran of Carpenter Technology, has held numerous positions in Manufacturing and Technical Services, including Vice President – Manufacturing, General Manager – Melting & Large Bar Manufacturing, General Manager – Bar Products, Manager of Premium Melting Operations, Manager of Primary Technical Services and Manager of Bar Metallurgy. He started full-time employment as an Assistant Metallurgist in Bar Product Metallurgy in 1981 and held several metallurgist positions up to Sr. Metallurgist in 1991. He began his career at Carpenter in 1980 as a lab technician in the Summer Co-op Program.
In addition to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgy at Penn State University, Russ holds a Master’s Degree from St. Joseph’s University. He also attended a strategy program at Wharton College and completed several management development programs at Penn State University. He also attended the Center for Advanced Emotional Intelligence.
Russ Reber is a member of the American Society for Materials and the Association for Iron & Steel Engineers. He is a member of the Materials Science and Engineering External Advisory Board at Penn State, University Park. Russ is also a member of the non-profit Children’s Home of Reading Board of Directors.
2013 McFarland Award
"Growth of a Specialty Metals Company "
Russell E. Reber, Jr.
Vice President, Quality, Technical and Customer Service
Carpenter Technology Corporation
Russell E. Reber, Jr., was appointed Vice President – Quality, Technical and Customer Service of Carpenter Technology Corporation in August 2011.
He most recently served as Vice President – Forged Bar & Billet where he was responsible for the process methods, quality, costs and sales and marketing for ingot products and the products that are forged using Carpenter’s open die forging press and rotary forge. These products are generally sold into the aerospace and energy markets.
Russ Reber, a 31-year veteran of Carpenter Technology, has held numerous positions in Manufacturing and Technical Services, including Vice President – Manufacturing, General Manager – Melting & Large Bar Manufacturing, General Manager – Bar Products, Manager of Premium Melting Operations, Manager of Primary Technical Services and Manager of Bar Metallurgy. He started full-time employment as an Assistant Metallurgist in Bar Product Metallurgy in 1981 and held several metallurgist positions up to Sr. Metallurgist in 1991. He began his career at Carpenter in 1980 as a lab technician in the Summer Co-op Program.
In addition to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgy at Penn State University, Russ holds a Master’s Degree from St. Joseph’s University. He also attended a strategy program at Wharton College and completed several management development programs at Penn State University. He also attended the Center for Advanced Emotional Intelligence.
Russ Reber is a member of the American Society for Materials and the Association for Iron & Steel Engineers. He is a member of the Materials Science and Engineering External Advisory Board at Penn State, University Park. Russ is also a member of the non-profit Children’s Home of Reading Board of Directors.
2012 McFarland Award
"Manufacturing Matters: What Are You Doing About It?"
Theresa Kotanchek
Vice President, Sustainable Technologies and Innovation Sourcing
The Dow Chemical Company, Ltd.
Theresa Kotanchek is the Vice President for Sustainable Technologies and Innovation Sourcing at Dow Chemical. In this role, Theresa leads the strategic integration of sustainability into Dow’s business portfolio and R&D function, including establishment of corporate wide metrics and delivery of three breakthroughs to world challenges. In addition, she also leads innovation sourcing, serving as Dow's global leader for external technology, with the responsibility to coordinate Dow’s corporate wide interactions with external bodies, including universities, national laboratories, government agencies and
development partners, to accelerate commercial delivery of Dow’s innovation pipeline.
Prior to assuming her current role, Theresa was the Chief Technology Officer of Dow Chemical China Company Limited where she led Asia Pacific R&D, including the development and staffing of Dow’s new state-of-the-art R&D center in Shanghai, China. In addition to establishing world-class R&D capabilities in our emerging geographies, she was responsible for achieving the company’s Asia Pacific growth strategy through market-driven scientific and technological innovations, enhancing current products as well as creating new business and technology platforms. Kotanchek joined Dow in 1990 with extensive experience in engineering and materials science. She served as research leader in Corporate Research from 1990 to 1995, and Product Manager in Advanced Electronic Materials from 1996 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000, Kotanchek was the Materials Science Technology Leader in Corporate R&D, where she led a diverse group of materials scientists, chemists, engineers and biologists to invent and develop new materials solutions for Dow.
In 2000, Kotanchek was appointed senior R&D director for INSITE™ Technology and New Business Development for Dow Plastics. There she led the global Polyolefins & Elastomers R&D organization responsible for new technology, including Catalysis, Functional Chemistry, Advanced Process Research and Materials Science laboratories, and new application development, including Dow Fiber Solutions, Hygiene & Medical and New Business Growth. In 2003, she was named Senior Director of Technology for Dow’s Growth Center.
In 2004, Kotanchek became Global R&D Director for Dow Ventures. In addition to providing global technical leadership for Dowpharma and Advanced Electronic Materials businesses, she was accountable for the identification, evaluation and implementation of strategic technologies, capabilities and business options enabling rapid commercialization of new business platforms. Theresa also served as a member of the Biotechnology Portfolio Team and the Biotechnology R&D Leadership Team.
Kotanchek holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science, a Masters of Science in Ceramic Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Science & Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. She is an active member of the American Chemical Society, Society of Women Engineers, Council of Industrial Research and has served on the Shanghai American Chamber of Congress—Science & Technology Subcommittee. She also serves on the External Advisory Board of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering for Penn State and was awarded the 2006 Penn State Earth & Mineral Sciences Alumni Achievement Award for exemplifying the ideals of the College. She was recently honored as a 2009 Penn State Alumni Fellow.
2011 McFarland Award
"Beyond Oil – Alternative Energy Businesses at BP"
Mike Petrucci
President and CEO
BP Solar
Mike is the President & CEO for BP Solar. He has served as VP, Global Operations for BP Solar since joining the business from the semiconductor industry in 2007. As President & CEO, Mike will maintain the emphasis on delivering high quality products and projects to global markets and to continue to grow BP Solar’s market position as a leading energy provider.
Mike brings more than 25 years experience in high volume manufacturing in the semiconductor and consumer electronic products sector. Prior to BP, Mike was President of Amkor Technology, Philippines, Inc. for 6 years. Amkor, Philippines is a high volume operation providing complex semiconductor packaging and turn key solutions through focused operational performance delivering a revenue stream greater than $800M. Amkor Technology, Inc is a $2.5B company. Mike oversaw four manufacturing locations which employed over 10,000 employees.
Prior to joining Amkor, Mike was employed for 13 years at Compaq Computer Corporation in Houston, Texas where he held a number of Senior Director positions.
Over the past 3 years, Mike has been instrumental in leading the transformation of BP Solar’s manufacturing and supply chain strategy to provide quality, cost competitive solutions.
Mike holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Material Science from
The Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
2010 McFarland Award
"Making a Difference: Engineering and Materials Science in the Service of Reducing Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants"
Sid Nelson, Jr.
Global Business Director, Mercury Controls
Albemarle Corporation
Sid Nelson was awarded his B.S. degree from Penn State University under the mineral processing option of the mining engineering program with highest honors in 1980. He also earned a M.S. degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he was a Kennedy Fellow, as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona’s College of Law.
Early in his career he served short stints at the U.S. Steel Corp., the Burr-Brown Corp., a semiconductor company, and Booz, Allen & Hamilton, a major management consulting firm. Later, taking over at Sorbent Technologies with only a handful of employees and a $2 million valuation, over time he was able to build the venture into a $22 million acquisition by NYSE specialty-chemicals producer Albemarle Corporation.
The brominated carbons that Mr. Nelson invented and commercialized are now the leading technology used by coal-fired power plants to reduce their mercury emissions. He is currently Albemarle’s Global Business Director for Mercury Controls.
The David J. Green Materials Faculty Service Award was established to enrich the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences by recognizing a faculty member who has performed outstanding service work. This award is intended to provide support to faculty to further their contributions in teaching, research, and public service in MatSE.
Full-time faculty members of MatSE are eligible to apply. Recipients must demonstrate that they have advanced MatSE education benefiting students and/or faculty.
The $1,250 award may be used in accordance with University policy and can be used for, but not necessarily limited to, future service work, conference attendance costs, presentations, technology expenses, and other academic related expenses.
Deadline to apply is extended to March 23, 2026.
Robert Hickey, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is investigating new processes to identify and create these materials through a five-year, $600,000 National Science Foundation Early Career Development (CAREER) Award.
To further shrink electronic devices and to lower energy consumption, the semiconductor industry is interested in using 2D materials, but manufacturers need a quick and accurate method for detecting defects in these materials to determine if the material is suitable for device manufacture. Now a team of researchers has developed a technique to quickly and sensitively characterize defects in 2D materials.