Research Group
Dr. S. Pamir Alpay (Group Leader), p.alpay@ims.uconn.edu
Professor S. Pamir Alpay received his B.S. (1990) and M.S. (1993) from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and his Ph.D. (1999) from the Department of Materials Engineering of the University of Maryland. Dr. Alpay worked as a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Maryland for 1.5 years. He joined the faculty of the University of Connecticut in Oct. 2000 as an Assistant Professor. His interest areas concentrate on the theory and modeling of properties of thin film functional and electronic materials. Dr. Alpay is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2001), the Departmental Fellowship for Outstanding Research at the University of Maryland (1998), and a NATO-A1 doctoral scholarship (1994).
Mr. Zhigang Ban, Ph.D. Candidate, bzhigang@ims.uconn.edu
Zhigang Ban received his B.S from Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R.China, in the field of materials science and engineering. He got his M.S. degree in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from the University of Connecticut between 1999 and 2001 and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the same department. His M.S. work was mainly concentrated on synthesis of nanosize ceramic powders and their structural applications. Zhigang is the recipent of honors and awards such as James Ruppen Fellowship from the University of Connecticut, Travel Scholarship of TMS Fall Meeting at St.Louis, and Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & College. He has published 5 papers and 5 conference proceedings. Zhigang is involved inn theoretical modeling of the effect of epitaxial stresses on the dielectric properties of ferroelectric thin films.
Mr. Burc Misirlioglu, Ph.D. Candidate, burc@ims.uconn.edu
Burc Misirlioglu got his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey in 1998 and 2001, respectively. He was involved in the microstructural and chemical characterization of the catalytic converters of gasoline vehicles for his M.S. degree. He is currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. Burc is working on the PLD processing of BST thin films and their structural characterization in collaboration with Dr. Ramesh's group at the University of Maryland.
Mr. Micheal J. White, Undergraduate Student, whitem10@earthlink.net
Michael White is an undergraduate student of Mechanical Engineering with a double major in Materials/Metallurgy Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Michael began his B.S. in 1998 after completing 6 years of obligated enlisted service as a nuclear mechanical technician in the U.S. Navy. For four years he called the U.S.S. Augusta (SSN-710), a nuclear fast attack submarine, home after spending two years in the Navy s Nuclear Propulsion Training Program. Upon completion of his B.S. in May of 2002, Michael plans on attending graduate school while working in industry.
Mr. Dean Halter, Undergraduate Student, deanhalter@msn.com
Dean Halter is an undergraduate student of Mechanical Engineering with a double major in Materials/Metallurgy Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Dean began working on his undergraduate degree in the spring of 1999 following an eight-year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy. His experience in reactor controls and nuclear plant technology from jobs ranging from instructor at a prototype reactor facility to reactor operator on a submarine have served him well at the University. Dean is currently an Honor's student and president of the University's Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society Chapter. After graduation in May 2002, Dean plan's to gain a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering while working in industry.
Mr. Scott Virkler, Undergraduate Student, scottvirkler@hotmail.com
Scott Virkler is an undergraduate student of Mechanical Engineering with a double major in Materials/Metallurgy Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Scott began his B.S. in 1998 directly after graduating high school. Scott is currently the president of the University of Connecticut's Ski and Sun Club and coordinates most of the group trips. His interest in Mechanical Engineering is shown through his current project of building a hovercraft. After May of 2002, Scott plans on working in the industry.
Dr. Menderes Cirakoglu, mcirakoglu@ims.uconn.edu
Dr. Menderes Cirakoglu joined the Institute of Materials Science as a postdoctoral research fellow in March 2002. He received his B.S. in 1991 and M.S. degree in 1994 from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey and Ph.D. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering in 2001 from the University of Idaho, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. His Ph.D. research was on processing of Ti-B based functionally graded materials by combustion synthesis/dynamic compaction and microwaves. He's currently involved in a project in collaboration with General Electric Co. Dr. Cirakoglu was a visiting scholar at the University of Washington (1993-1994) . He was a visiting researcher at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (2001) and Dr. Cirakoglu is recipient of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Scholarship (1993-94), , University of Idaho, Alumni Excellence Award (2000), Outstanding Graduate Student Award of Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Idaho (2001).