I earned my Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1987, with a dissertation focused on surface analysis of photovoltaic materials. As a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory, I developed a deep interest in scanning probe microscopy, particularly its potential for characterizing material properties at the nanoscale.
Following this, I spent three years in Germany as a von Humboldt Fellow at Forschungszentrum Jülich, then continued my research for six more years in Europe—primarily at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. My work during this period centered on the mechanical properties of nanostructures and the development of instrumentation for nanomechanics. My international collaborations have also included research visits to the University of Bordeaux, Tokyo Institute of Technology, the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and ETH Zürich.
I joined Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in January 2000, where I am now a Full Professor. I take great satisfaction in teaching physics and nanoscience across all levels, from introductory courses to advanced graduate seminars.
Currently, I am finalizing a textbook on atomic force microscopy, slated for publication in 2026. The book is informed by years of course development and instruction at WPI and ETH Zürich, and reflects both the technical rigor and pedagogical clarity I strive to bring to my teaching.
