Jesse Flot

Position Title: Co-Director - Robotics Academy

Organization: Carnegie Mellon University

(a) Professional Preparation

b) Appointments

• 2018 - Present: Co-Director, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2007 - 2018: Software Researcher/Analyst, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2015 - 2018: Vice President of Product Development, Robomatter Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
• 2007 - 2015: Developer, Robomatter Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
• 2008 - 2009: Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
• 2003 - 2007: Computer Science Teaching Assistant, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA (seasonally)
• 2002 - 2007: Research Lab Assistant, Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, Pittsburgh, PA (seasonally)

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. SMART Robotics Technician Curriculum. Carnegie Mellon University, 2025.
2. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Applied Artificial Intelligence Curriculum. Carnegie Mellon University, 2025.
3. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Robot Swarms with Crazyflie 2.1+ Curriculum. Carnegie Mellon University, 2025.
4. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Virtual Robotics Curriculum. Carnegie Mellon University, 2025.
5. Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Player-Programmed Partner Games (P3G) Research Project. Carnegie Mellon University, 2025.

Other Significant Products, Whether or Not Related to the Proposed Project

• Bogart, C., Warrier, A., Agarwal, A., Higashi, R., Zhang, Y., & Flot, J. AI Literacy Assessment Revisited: A Task-Oriented Approach Aligned with Real-World Occupations. Submitted to the 1st International Workshop on AI Literacy Education for All (ALIT4ALL), 2025.
• Flot, J., Harpstead, E. (2022, August 7-9). Beyond the Block: Sustained Engagement and Accessibility with Coding Games in Afterschool Programs [Conference presentation]. 2022 Play Make Learn Conference, Madison, WI, USA.
• Higashi, Nguyen & Flot, (2020) Results of National Association of Manufacturers Member Interviews around ML and AI
• Flot, J., (2018, July). Developing Computational Thinking through a Virtual Robotics Programming Curriculum. Computer Science Teachers Association.
• Higashi, R., Schunn, C., Flot, J. (May, 2017) Different underlying motivations and abilities predict student versus teacher persistence in an online course. Education Tech Research DOI 10.1007/s11423-017-9528-z

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Trained Developer, Scrum Master and Product Owner in Agile Software Development Methodologies. Has led many cross-disciplinary teams to develop and study programmable robot simulations, games, and curricula.
2. Professional Development Lead Trainer for Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. Has trained hundreds of educators and enlisted personnel in robotics courses via onsite and online training courses.
3. Senior Curriculum Developer for the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy. The Robotics Academy freely offers more than 25 research-based and standards-backed curricula through its CS-STEM Network.
4. Three-time Game Design Committee Member for the VEX Robotics GDC. The GDC is comprised of a panel of seasoned educators, programmers, and engineers. Each year, the GDC collaboratively designs two new unique programming and engineering games, engaging tens-of-thousands of elementary - high school aged students.
5. Volunteer Judge and Referee for regional and international robotics competitions such as FIRST LEGO LEAGUE, the VEX IQ Challenge and VEX Robotics Competitions.

Elaheh Alidoosti, Ph.D.

Position Title: Assistant Professor in Manufacturing Engineering (EKU Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2025 – Present: Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Manufacturing Engineering, Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2023 – 2025: Instructor, Mechanical Engineering, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, NC.
• 2016 – 2020: Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.
• 2011 – 2014: Research Assistant, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Alidoosti, E., & Zhao, H. (2020). The Impact of Electrostatic Correlations on Dielectrophoresis of Non-Conducting Particles. 70th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics. (Relevant to particle contamination control in semiconductor manufacturing).
2. Alidoosti, E. (2025). Curriculum Adaptation for Hydraulics and Pneumatics in Modern Manufacturing. EKU Departmental Review. (Core course for the proposed "Vacuum Systems" micro-credential).
3. Jiang, Y., Alidoosti, E., & Moazzeni, T. (2016). Efficient Data Transmission Using Orthogonal Pulse Shapes. Patent No. WO2017027469A1. (Demonstrates expertise in signal processing and electrical 1
   systems integration).
4. Alidoosti, E. (2014). Simulation of Thermal Transit-Time Flow Meter for High Temperature, Corrosive and Irradiation Environment. M.S. Thesis, UNLV. (Directly applicable to sensor technology used in harsh manufacturing environments like fabs).
5. Alidoosti, E. (2018). Electrokinetic Transport in Microchannels. Journal of Fluid Mechanics. (Foundational physics for understanding fluid/gas flow in micro-scale systems).

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Technician Workforce Development: Served as a primary instructor at Caldwell Community College, developing and delivering engineering coursework specifically for Associate degree students. This experience directly supports the HTH Node’s mission to align university curriculum with community college technician pathways.
2. Cross-Disciplinary Curriculum Design: Leverages a unique dual background in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to teach "Electro-Mechanical" systems integration. Currently teaching AEM 371: Hydraulics and Pneumatics, which serves as the foundational course for the proposed "Vacuum Systems" micro-credential.
3. Simulation & Modeling for Training: Expert in COMSOL and ANSYS Fluent, tools essential for developing "Digital Twin" simulations of fluid and gas flow systems. This expertise supports the deployment of virtual training modules for students who lack access to physical cleanrooms.
4. Mentorship of Technical Talent: Served as an academic advisor for mechanical engineering students at the community college level (2023-2025), guiding non-traditional learners through technical degree pathways and transfer processes.
5. Industry-Relevant Sensor Research: Conducted research on flow meters for corrosive and high-radiation environments, providing relevant technical context for students training to work in the hazardous environment of semiconductor fabrication.

Nilesh Joshi, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Position Title: Professor, Chair & Director of Manufacturing Engineering (EKU PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2025 – Present: Chair, Professor & Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Dept. of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2009 – 2025: Chair & Professor (previously Program Coordinator, Assistant/Associate Professor), Dept. of Engineering Sciences, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY.
• 2007 – 2009: Advisory Associate, KPMG International, Richmond, VA.
• 2001 – 2004: NSF ATE Project Assistant (Semiconductor Manufacturing), University of New Mexico / Intel Corporation, Albuquerque, NM.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Joshi, N., Fleddermann, C., & Fowler, J. (2004). Cross-Training Technicians & Engineers for Semiconductor Manufacturing. NSF ATE Project #98-50310. Developed and implemented curriculum modules for Lithography, Plasma Etch, and Thin-Film Deposition in partnership with Intel Corporation to bridge the skills gap between floor technicians and process engineers.
2. Garland, B., Kennedy, M., & Joshi, N. (2025). Enhancing Welding Technician Training with Practical Fixturing Experience. Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) Annual Conference, Memphis, TN.
3. González-Espada, W., Ortega-Moody, J., Pérez, N.V., Joshi, N., & Bycura, M. (2025). Assessment of the Querétaro Beca Embajadores Summer Program and Implications for Self-Efficacy and Interest in Graduate School. IEEE World Engineering Education Conference (EDUNINE), Montevideo, Uruguay.
4. Watson, M., & Joshi, N. (2015). Design Refinement by Iterative Virtual Experimentation (DRIVE) for Analysis of Steering Column Mounting. ATMAE Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. (Best Conference Paper Award).
5. Joshi, N. (2023). An Empirical Analysis of Efficiency and Profitability of US Food Processing Companies. International Journal of Engineering Management and Economics, 7(1).

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Industry-Aligned Workforce Pathways (Toyota & BCTC): Spearheaded the development of a "2+2" transfer pathway agreement between Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) and Eastern Kentucky University. Supported by a Toyota Engineering Technology Grant, this initiative aligns Associate degree curriculum with B.S. Engineering requirements to create a seamless pipeline for advanced manufacturing technicians.
2. Leadership in Engineering Education (ATMAE): Currently serving as Treasurer for the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). Responsible for financial stewardship and strategic resource allocation for the leading accrediting body in applied engineering.
3. Curriculum Development & Accreditation: Led the development of the new B.S. in Engineering at EKU designed for ABET-EAC accreditation. Previously led successful ATMAE re-accreditation efforts (2014, 2020) at Morehead State University, ensuring curriculum alignment with industry competency standards.
4. Defense Industry Collaboration: Established workforce development partnerships with regional defense contractors (including Lockheed Martin) to align engineering technology curriculum with "dual-use" national security needs, specifically in robotics and electromechanical systems.
5. Broadening Participation in STEM: Established the "21st Century Center for Manufacturing Systems" via a James Graham Brown Foundation grant. The center focuses on recruiting underrepresented students from rural Appalachia into high-tech manufacturing careers through hands-on workshops and industry mentorship.

Jishu K. Medhi, Ph.D.

Position Title: Assistant Professor in Manufacturing Engineering (EKU Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2025 – Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2021 – 2025: Research Assistant, Cognitive Robotics & AI Lab, Kent State University, Kent, OH.
• 2016 – 2018: Research Assistant, Autonomous Systems Lab, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.
• 2017 (May – August): Intern, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Dayton, OH.
• 2015 – 2016: Assistant Manager, Tata Motors Limited, Dharwad, India.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Medhi, J., & Kim, S. (2024). Human-Robot Collaboration in Advanced Manufacturing: A Cognitive Architecture Approach. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing. (Addresses the "Smart Manufacturing" competencies required for the HTH Node).
2. Medhi, J., et al. (2023). Adaptive Control for Collaborative Robots in Dynamic Environments. IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). (Directly relevant to the deployment of mobile robotics training units).
3. Medhi, J. (2025). Developing Stackable Credentials for Mechatronics Technicians. ATMAE Annual Conference, Memphis, TN. (Demonstrates focus on technician workforce development).
4. Medhi, J., & Cohen, K. (2018). Fuzzy Logic Based Autonomous Navigation for UAVs in GPS-Denied Environments. AIAA Scitech Forum. (Relevant to "Dual-Use" defense applications like those at Joby Aviation).
5. Medhi, J. (2024). Curriculum Modules for Introduction to Industrial Robotics. Open Educational Resource (OER) contribution to the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Workforce Pipeline Development (Kent State & EKU): Served as Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator for the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University (2022-2024). Developed recruitment materials and coordinated regional events (e.g., TSA Competitions) to build relationships with K-12 schools, directly applicable to the HTH Node’s recruitment strategy.
2. Undergraduate Research Mentorship (NSF REU): Served as Mentor and Team Leader for the NSF REU Site: Robotics and Autonomous Systems (AUTOBOT) at Kent State University (Summer 2024). Guided undergraduate students through intensive 10-week research projects, modeling the "Appalachian STEM Summer Internship" proposed in this grant.
3. Defense Research Collaboration: Gained direct experience with defense industry standards through an internship at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), contributing to the development of autonomous systems. This background supports the "Dual-Use" curriculum alignment for regional defense employers like Lockheed Martin.
4. Technical Competition Leadership: Served as a Technical Judge for the 23rd Annual Student Robotics Competition at the 2025 ATMAE Annual Conference. This involvement ensures EKU’s robotics curriculum remains aligned with national competitive standards.
5. Course Development: Currently teaching EET 351: Programmable Logic Controllers and MFE 407: Engineering Project Management at EKU. Adapting these courses to include semiconductor-specific automation modules is a core deliverable of the Year 1 proposal.

Manoj Mugale, Ph.D.

Position Title: Assistant Professor in Manufacturing Engineering (EKU Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2025 – Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2021 – 2025: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH.
• 2012 – 2021: Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune, India.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Mugale, M., et al. (2024). High Strength-Ductility Combination in Low-Density Dual Phase High Entropy Alloy. MS&T24: Materials Science & Technology Conference. (Demonstrates expertise in advanced materials characterization, a critical skill for semiconductor quality control).
2. Wankhede, S. V., & Mugale, M. (2024). Manufacturing Methods of Mg Alloys for Biomedical Applications. In Magnesium Alloys for Biomedical Applications. CRC Press. (Highlights knowledge of precision manufacturing processes).
3. Mugale, M., et al. (2024). Development of Light Weight High Entropy Alloys with Improved Strength 1
   and Ductility for Structural Applications. TMS-2024 Annual Meeting.
4. Mugale, M. (2023). Solar Empowered Agricultural Robot. Design Patent No. 395002-001. (Demonstrates capability in electromechanical systems integration).
5. Mugale, M. (2025). Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of Novel High-Entropy Alloys. Ph.D. Dissertation, Cleveland State University. (Proves foundational knowledge in crystallography and phase transformation, essential for understanding semiconductor substrate physics).

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Advanced Materials Characterization: Developed expertise in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). These competencies are directly transferable to semiconductor failure analysis and thin-film characterization, supporting the technical rigor of the proposed "Vacuum Systems" micro-credential.
2. Curriculum Development for Manufacturing: Over 10 years of experience designing and delivering undergraduate courses in Manufacturing Processes, CAD/CAM, and Engineering Metallurgy. This pedagogical background is essential for adapting high-level engineering concepts into accessible training modules for the technician workforce.
3. Precision Manufacturing Research: Conducted extensive research on Additive Manufacturing (Binder Jetting, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) and CNC Machining. This experience supports the "Smart Manufacturing" pillar of the NNME proposal by bridging the gap between traditional subtraction and modern additive processes.
4. Industry-Aligned Design Innovation: Co-inventor of a patented robotic agricultural system, demonstrating the ability to integrate mechanical design with automation—a key skill set for the "Industrial Robotics" curriculum component of the High-Tech Highlands Node.
5. Mentorship of Technical Talent: Served as a primary instructor and mentor for diverse student populations in both the US and India, focusing on hands-on laboratory skills and applied engineering, directly aligning with the NNME’s goal of broadening participation in technical careers.

Sergio D. Sgro, Ph.D.

Position Title: Assistant Professor in Engineering Technology (EKU Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University

(a) Professional Preparation

b) Appointments

• 2024 – Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2018 – 2023: Adjunct Instructor, School of Engineering, Aviation, Construction, and Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.
• 2006 – 2017: Tenured Associate Professor (previously Assistant), Dept. of Applied Engineering & Technology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Sgro, S. (2025). Integrating Industrial Robotics into the Engineering Technology Curriculum. EKU Faculty Showcase. (Demonstrates direct experience aligning academic coursework with industrial automation standards).
2. Sgro, S. (2008). Robotics Training Course: Mitsubishi RV-A and RV-S Series Robot Basics. Certified Training by Rixan Associates. (Validation of hands-on technical competency in industrial robot operation and programming).
3. Sgro, S. (2011). Developing Courses that Incorporate Critical Thinking in Manufacturing Education. Distance Learning Academy Workshop. (Relevant to the pedagogy of the proposed "Vacuum Systems" micro-credential).
4. Sgro, S., & Field, D. (2006). The Efficacy of Teaching Oxyacetylene Welding Prior to Gas Metal Arc Welding. Ph.D. Dissertation, Iowa State University. (Demonstrates expertise in foundational manufacturing process instruction).
5. Sgro, S. (2010). Service Award for Student Division Leadership. Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). (Highlights commitment to student professional development).

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Industrial Robotics Curriculum Lead: Serves as the primary instructor for NET 452: Computer Integrated Manufacturing and AEM 352: Robotics and Automated Systems. Responsible for integrating Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Robotic Arm programming into the undergraduate curriculum, directly supporting the "Smart Manufacturing" pillar of the HTH Node.
2. K-12 STEM Pipeline Alignment: Certified instructor for Project Lead The Way (PLTW) "Principles of Engineering" and "Gateway to Technology" courses. This unique qualification bridges the gap between high school STEM programs and university engineering technology, critical for the proposed "Train-the-Trainer" workshops for regional teachers.
3. Automation & Controls Expertise: Extensive experience teaching Electro-Mechanical Control Systems, covering sensors, actuators, and logic control. This background is essential for developing the "Integration Badge" content for the proposed mobile training suite.
4. Technical Workforce Development: Mentors student teams in the ATMAE Student Robotics Competition, fostering practical problem-solving skills and teamwork in automated systems design.
5. Manufacturing Process Optimization: Teaches AEM 330: Materials Testing and AEM 202: Introduction to Quality, providing students with the foundational knowledge of materials science and statistical process control (SPC) required for semiconductor quality assurance roles.

Paul Dykshoorn

330-308-7475 | pdykshoo@kent.edu | LinkedIn

Position Title: Associate Professor

Organization: Kent State University at Tuscarawas, 330 University Drive N.E New Philadelphia, pH 44663

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• Senior Academic Program Director of Engineering Technology Department, Kent State University at Tuscarawas (two years). Responsible for developing and marketing academic programs, overseeing grant budgets, developing program policies and procedures, identifying and securing program funding opportunities, serving as liaison to various constituent groups relative to program activities, and providing leadership for the Engineering Technology department. Supervised 3 full time faculty, 6 part-time faculty, and a staff of two full-time employees, and 12 student employees. Taught classes as needed. Coordinated the Tuscarawas Rising Manufacturing Scholars program. Receiving the Community Engagement Faculty Award for the Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
• Academic Program Director of Engineering Technology Department, Kent State University at Tuscarawas (seven years). Responsible for developing and marketing academic programs, overseeing grant budgets, developing program policies and procedures, identifying and securing program funding opportunities, serving as liaison to various constituent groups relative to program activities, and providing leadership of the Engineering Technology department. Achieved ABET accreditation for the BS Engineering Technology Program. Supervised 3 fuil-time faculty, 6 part-time faculty, and a staff of two full-time employees, three part-time employees and 12 student employees. Taught classes as needed. Coordinated the Tuscarawas Rising Manufacturing Scholars program.
• Director, Men's Challenge (four years). Built non-profit from the ground up including curriculum, database, processes and funding sources for the purpose of connecting at risk men with employment. Sought out companies to hire participants. Scheduled classes and instructors for participants and developed and taught several classes
• Assistant Professor, Stark Technical College, Engineering Technology Division (four years). Taught several classes including developing Environmental Systems curriculum, maintained ABET accreditation documentation for several classes, advised and directed students
• Research Engineer, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Research & Development Division (ten years). Conducted technical, research, analyzed data, and interpreted results and provided recommendations for solutions to complex issues and assignments. Utilized project management skills.

Successful Fundraising Efforts

• $250,000 DOL ETA Grant
• $234,000 Governor's Office of Appalachia & Appalachian Regional Commission (thru OMEGA) (2023)
• $193,000 Governor's Office of Appalachia & Appalachian Regional Commission (thru OMEGA} (2021)
• $3,521,900.00 Choose Ohio First (COF) participant (2021}
• $20,000 Rosenberry Foundation (2018)
• $121,894.44 Reeves Foundation (2018)
• $226,700: Governor's Office of Appalachia Regional Job Training Program (thru OMEGA) (2018)
• $315,900: Governor's Office of Appalachia Regional Job Training Program (thru OMEGA) (2017)

Community Outreach

• Organized the Rising Manufacturing Scholars program at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Organized the Homeschool Engineering Workshops at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
• Organized the High School Engineering Expo at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Organized the High School Engineer for a Day at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
• Organized Engineering piece for the Dale Lauren Foland Manufacturing Camps in Tuscarawas County

Relevant Experience

• Proven operational academic administration experience by coordinating engineering technology programs on both Tuscarawas and Trumbull campuses
• Proven operational program oversight as Sr Academic Program Director of Engineering Technology Department, showing leadership of unit, and direct supervision over administrative/professional employees and student workers on multiple campuses.
• Proven coordination experience by introducing Homeschool Engineering initiatives in conjunction with faculty, staff, and governance bodies on the Tuscarawas campus.
• Successfully recruited adjunct faculty for Engineering department and actively involved in Course Scheduling on multiple campuses.
• Active in developing reports and maintaining records and budgets on multiple grants.
• Experience in serving on campus, regional campus system, and university committees.
• Active in engaging with campus and system-wide faculty governance bodies such as the Deans Cabinet, as well as serving as the Regional Campus Dean's representative both on campus and within the community.
• Active in providing resources to assist students such as with local employment activities, complaints, grades etc.

Matthew Apanius

mapanius1485@gmail.com | 216-577-7541 | LinkedIn

Position: President

Organization: Microfabrication Solutions, Inc.

(a) Professional Preparation

Objective

Lead microelectronics technology-based initiatives that drive curriculum, workforce development, and technology innovation on behalf of Kent State University in a faculty or staff position.

Personal Statement

I am an innovative thinker who understands microelectronics technology trends who has proven experience developing models for partnerships with industry and higher education. I am goal driven and not intimidated by the ambiguity created by the fast-paced evolution of technology. The best opportunities are constructed at the intersection of curiosity, education, and collaboration. My leadership can achieve Kent State University's goals in delivering microelectronic education, workforce development, and regional industry collaboration.

(b) Appointments

• Responsible for owning furnace, photolithography, dry/wet etch, sputtering, wafer bond, ORIE, dry/wet etch back, polishing, and PECVD processes.
• Successfully managed all cleanroom process schedules, technician training/qualification, and delivery/receipt of material for hybrid process flows between two locations in the U.S.

Skills

• Understands the value of technology clusters and demonstrated that regional needs can be bolstered by international business trends.
• Long standing experience in technology R&D in Northeast Ohio based on semiconductor processes, materials, assembly, and test.
• Successfully rolled out a technology community outreach effort with the City of Elyria using a podcast format called "Chip Talk".
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills both internal and external to the organization.
• Knowledgeable leading cross-functional teams including marketing, sales, engineering, manufacturing, and quality.
• Experienced with developing a new team in a public private partnership investment and managing the operational budget accordingly.

Patents

1. Apanius, M., Drummond, C., Gildea, P., Laskowski, D., Babinski, J., "Exhaled Breath Analyzer," U.S. Provisional Patent 60/800,791, May 16, 2006.
2. Ballas, C., Harley, J., Apanius, M., "Method and Apparatus for High-Throughput Automation for Microinjection of living Cells," U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 60/729,651, October 25, 2005.
3. Apanius, C., Apanius, M., Elce, E., Hirano, T., Kusonoki, J., Shick, R., "Photosensitive Compositions Based on Polycyclic Polymers for low Stress, High Temperature Films," U.S. Provisional Patent 60/585,829, July 7, 2004.

Publications

1. Apanius, M. "Sensor Fabrication Services: lessons Learned," International Medical Devices Technical Conference and Exposition, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 1-3, 2008.
2. Drummond, C. and Apanius, M., "Sensors for Exhaled Breath Analysis: Strides and Stumbles," International Medical Devices Technical Conference and Exposition, Boston, Massachusetts, September 24-26, 2007.
3. Apanius, M., Kaul, P., and Abramson, A., "Silicon Shadow Mask Fabrication for Patterned Metal Deposition with Microscale Dimensions Using a Novel Corner Compensation Scheme," Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, Volume 140, Issue 2, 10 November 2007, Pages 168-175.
4. Drummond, C., Zelesnik, K., Apanius, M., Ereditario, D., Hdeib, A., "Student Based Research Networks to Foster Entrepreneurial Career Pathways", Allied Academies 2011 International Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 6-8, 2011.
5. Apanius, M. and Lal, S., "Material Systems for Mitigating Corrosion in Microelectronic Devices", ASM International Chapter Symposium, Cleveland, Ohio, April 20, 2011.
6. Apanius, M., Ward, M. and O'Boyle, J., "Enabling High Temperature MEMS with Standardized Packaging Platforms", MEMS Industry Group M2M Forum, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 8, 2012.

Affiliations

Cleveland Pittsburgh IMAPS Chapter - Chapter Lead/Organizer Nov. 2023 - Current

Deniz Gurkan, Ph.D.

Title: Professor in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering

Location: Kent State University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

2. Dane L, Gurkan D. Measuring Consistency Metric for Web Applications. 2022 IEEE 12th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC). 2022; :0531-0537. isbn: 1665483032
3. Dane L, Gurkan D. GENI with a network processing unit: enriching SON application experiments. 2014 Third GENI Research and Educational Experiment Workshop. 2014; :9-14. isbn: 147995120X
4. Malishevskiy A, Gurkan D, Dane L, Narisetty R, Narayan S, Bailey S. OpenFlow-based network management with visualization of managed elements. 2014 Third GENI Research and Educational Experiment Workshop. 2014; :73-74. isbn: 147995120X
5. Gurkan D. Network Function Implementation for In-Network Policy Enforcement. [Internet]. Houston Texas: Networking Lab; 2018.

Certification:

I certify that the information provided is current, accurate, and complete. This includes but is not limited to current, pending, and other support (both foreign and domestic) as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 6605.

I also certify that, at the time of submission, I am not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

Misrepresentations and/or omissions may be subject to prosecution and liability pursuant to, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §§ 287, 1001, 1031 and 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733 and 3802.

Certified by Gurkan, Deniz in SciENcv on 2024-11-14 18:10:25

Flavia Princess Nesamani Inbanathan, Ph.D.

finbanat@kent.edu | 330-675-8962 | LinkedIn | Orchid ID

Position Title: Associate Professor

Organization: Kent State University-Trumbull, Warren, Ohio

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Sultan M, Makarov V, Mendoza F, Sajjad M, Barrionuevo Diestra D, Inbanathan F, Skelton E, Premadasa U, Cimatu K, Habiba K, Jadwisienczak W, Weiner B, Morell G. Superparamagnetic properties of metal-free nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots. Journal of Applied Physics. 2024 February 28; 135(8):-. DOI: 10.1063/5.0173931
2. Investigation of Sintering Temperature Effect on the Sol-gel Synthesized Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Dielectric Constant Determination Using Impedance Spectroscopy. NanoWorld Journal. 2023 December 21; 9:-. DOI: 1O.17756/nwj.2023-s5-003
3. Inbanathan F, Cimatu K, Ingram D, Erasquin U, Dasari K, Sultan M, Sajjad M, Makarov V, Weiner B, Morell G, Sharifi Abdar P, Jadwisienczak W. Paramagnetism in Microwave-Synthesized Metal-Free Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots. Materials. 20 23 April 27; 16(9):3410-. DOI: 10.3390/ma16093410
4. Inbanathan F, Kumar P, Dasari K, Katiyar R, Chen J, Jadwisienczak W. Ellipsometry Study of CdSe Thin Films Deposited by PLD on ITO Coated Glass Substrates. Materials. 2021 June 15; 14(12):3307-. DOI: 10.3390/mal4123307
5. Nesamani I, Prabha V, Paul A, Nirmal D. Synthesis and Dielectric Studies of Monoclinic Nanosized Zirconia. Advances in Condensed Matter Physics. 2014; 2014:1-7. Available from: DOI: 10.1155/2014/828492

Other Significant Products, Whether or Not Related to the Proposed Project

1. Nanoscale high-k dielectrics for junctionless nanowire transistor for drain current analysis. Journal of Electronic Materials. 2018 May.
2. Ravindran A, Nesamani F, Nirmal D. A Study on the use of Spectroscopic Techniques to Identify Food Adulteration. 2018 International Conference on Circuits and Systems in Digital Enterprise Technology (ICCSDET). 2018 International Conference on Circuits and Systems in Digital Enterprise Technology (ICCSDET);; Kottayam, India. IEEE; c2018. DOI: 10.1109/ICCSDET.2018.8821197
3. Kumar 0, Moni D, Princess F. Low power and high speed level shifters in 0.18um technology. 2014 2nd International Conference on Devices, Circuits and Systems (ICDCS). 2014 2nd International Conference on Devices, Circuits and Systems (ICDCS); Combiatore, India. IEEE; c2014. DOI: 10.1109/ICDCSyst.2014.6926214
4. Eapen Chacko A, Nesamani F, Sujith I, Rekha Divakaran M, Lakshmi Prabha V. Performance analysis of Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistor with high K dielectric. 2014 International Conference on Electronics and Communication Systems (ICECS). 2014 International Conference on Electronics and Communication Systems (ICECS);; Coimbatore. IEEE; c2014.
5. Sujith M, Nesamani I, Prabha V, Chacko A, Divakaran R. Design optimization of segmented-channel MOSFET using high-K dielectric material. 2014 International Conference on Electronics and Communication Systems (ICECS). 2014 International Conference on Electronics and Communication Systems (ICECS);; Coimbatore. IEEE; c2014. DOI: 10.1109/ECS.2014.6892718

Certification

I certify that the information provided is current, accurate, and complete. This includes but is not limited to current, pending, and other support (both foreign and domestic) as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 6605.

I also certify that, at the time of submission, I am not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program.

Misrepresentations and/or omissions may be subject to prosecution and liability pursuant to, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §§ 287, 1001, 1031 and 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733 and 3802.

Certified by Inbanathan, Flavia Princess Nesamani in SciENcv on 2025-01-17 16:48:19

Mohammad Abdul Aziz Irfan, Ph.D., CEM

mirfan1@kent.edu | LinkedIn

Position Title: Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering Technology 

Organization: Kent State University’s Trumbull Campus

Skills Summary

• Experienced with ABET accreditation.
• Exceptional in Engineering Education, and a qualified Instructor for 4MAT training.
• Proficient in building research and industrial service Laboratories.

Certifications

FANUC Handling Tool Operations and Programming, Kent State University, May 12-15, 2025.

Programmable Logic Controller Training: Studio 5000 Logix Designer Basics, Kent State University, May 19-22, 2025.

Proficiency Certificate in Greenhouse Gas Accounting from GHG Management Institute, April 2023.

Certified Energy Manager and Certified Trainer (CEM, USA), May 2016, November 2016.

(b) Appointments

Current Position

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Kent State University, Trumbull Campus, OH, USA. (Aug 2024 to current). Responsible for starting the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at the Trumbull campus, establishing labs, and creating relationships with industries and schools to foster professional development and enrollments in the nascent program.

Teaching Experience (Selected)

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan, June 2017-May 2022. Teaching and grading were done according to Outcome-Based Learning.

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, September 2010-June 2017. Responsible for teaching undergraduate courses and serving on various departmental committees. Participated in ABET accreditation.

Education Management Experience (Selected)

Director Technology Incubation Center, NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan, February 2010 -August 2010. Fostering Technology Incubation by providing nurturing services to young entrepreneurs. Providing Technology Transfer and Commercialization opportunities for innovative faculty and students.

Project Director, Advanced Technical Research Resource Center, NWFP University of Engineering & Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan, 2004-2005. Was responsible for the implementation of the project, including civil works, specification of the equipment, purchase and installation. Introduced Rapid Prototyping and 3D scanning services for the industry.

Professional Trainings (Selected)

• How to Design a Successful Business Model, Online Course, Delft Technical University, Aug 2019.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM, USA), 2016.
• Academia to Industry Technology Transfer, Training provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce at Washington, DC, Oklahoma State University, and Georgia Tech, 2010.

Industrial Experience

Overseas Consultant Engineer, Peshawar, Pakistan, for North American Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, OH, USA, August 1999 to February 2000. Conducted research for Product Design & Development.

Consultant Engineer, North American Manufacturing Co., Cleveland, OH, USA. January 1998 to July 1999. Worked on Burner Design and Design for Manufacture.

Research Grants (Selected)

(c) Products

Research Grants

• Establishment of the Center for Industrial and Building Energy Audits, HEC, Pakistan, PKR 11 M grant.
• Energy Audits and Energy Efficiency Plans for Local Industry, National Grant, NSTIP, SAR 2 million. 2014-2016, (Saudi Arabia).
• Industrial Waste Heat Recovery, National Grant, SABIC, SAR 40,000.2015, (Saudi Arabia).
• Effect of enhanced cooling rates on 3D porosity measured by CT Scan in Permanent Mold Castings (2012-2013) Qassim University, SAR 80,000, (Saudi Arabia).

Professional Memberships

• Member Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
• Member Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), USA.

Maureen R. McFarland, Ph.D.

mmcfarl2@kent.edu | 330.592.1142

Title: Associate Dean or Academic Affairs & Professor

Organization: College of Aeronautics & Engineering

Higher education leader with a strong track record developing STEM and engineering pathways, K-12 outreach, academic quality systems, and regional workforce development pipelines. Experienced in ABET accreditation, curriculum strategy, College Credit Plus expansion, career-tech partnerships, and alignment of engineering and technology programs to state academic standards. Leads strategic initiatives that expand access, build microelectronics and advanced manufacturing talent, and strengthen the regional STEM pipeline.

(a) Professional Preparation

Areas of Expertise

Higher Education Leadership I Academic Administration I ABET Accreditation & Continuous Improvement Program Development I Curriculum Design & Approval I Strategic Planning I Student Success & Retention International Partnerships I Workforce Development Pipelines I K-12 STEM & Aviation Outreach | College Credit Plus I Enrollment Strategy I Talent Development I Faculty & Staff Leadership | Operations Management I Budgeting & Resource Allocation I Project Management I Cross-Functional Collaboration Regulatory Compliance I Assessment & Quality Assurance I Team Building I Mentoring & Coaching

(b) Appointments

Professional Experience

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, Kent, OH

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, College of Aeronautics and Engineering (April 2019 - Present)

2004 - Present

Key Achievements:

• Directed collegewide ABET accreditation and continuous improvement, ensuring rigorous alignment across all engineering and engineering technology programs and building a stable, high-quality talent pipeline from secondary to postsecondary education.
• Expanded College Credit Plus pathways, enabling regional high school students to earn early credit in engineering, aviation, cybersecurity, and advanced technology, reducing time to degree and increasing STEM preparedness.
• Developed regional K-12 aviation and engineering outreach, including Girls Geared for Engineering, aviation academies, hands-on camps, mechatronics experiences, and mentor programming that build statewide STEM identity and skilled workforce interest.
• Cultivated formal talent pipelines with regional partner high schools, strengthening early career exploration, teacher professional development, and direct matriculation to Kent State's engineering and technology programs.
• Led internationalization and curriculum alignment efforts, supporting cross-institutional academic partnerships and joint programming in engineering and technology.

Interim Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, College of Aeronautics and Engineering (December 2018 - April 2019)

Senior Academic Program Director of Aeronautics, College of Aeronautics and Engineering (2008 - December 2018)

Aeronautics Program Coordinator {2007 - 2008)

Assistant Professor (2004 - 2007)

Program Development

Significant contributions to design and implementation of:

• B.S. in Cybersecurity Engineering (first in Ohio)
• B.S. in Aeronautical Systems Engineering Technology
• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
• Minor in Aviation Law and Security
• Minor in Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• M.S. in Aviation Management & Logistics
• M.S. and Ph.D. in Aviation Science

Multiple outreach and CTE-aligned programming which introduces students to engineering, mechatronics, automation, and advanced manufacturing through hands-on learning and early credit opportunities.

NNME Relevant Experience

Curriculum, Standards & Quality

• Led academic assessment, accreditation alignment, continuous improvement, and state articulation processes that ensure clear skill progression from K-12 through engineering degrees.
• Oversaw program review and curriculum alignment for engineering, cybersecurity, automation, and aviation, ensuring coursework corresponds with workforce skills and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce expectations.
• Served on Curriculum Internationalization Workgroup, Academic Assessment Advisory Committee, and regional workforce and STEM pipeline task forces that influence strategic systems for quality, alignment, and student success.

Regional & Workforce STEM Pipelines

• Led and advised multiple career-tech and aeronautics academy partnerships that provide early applied engineering, automation, robotics, and microfabrication exposure for high school students.
• Supported experiential programming that connects Ohio standards (science, technology, engineering design, and systems thinking) to real-world manufacturing and microelectronics workforce development.
• Contributed to multi-institutional proposals, including S-STEM and GenCyber, that increase STEM participation, upskilling, teacher capacity, and workforce access.

Relevant Memberships and Service

• Ohio Aerospace & Aviation Technology Committee - Education Subcommittee Chair: Workforce alignment, STEM career pipeline, and regional economic development pathways.
• Outreach & Access Network: Systemwide alignment of K-12 STEM pipeline and equitable matriculation into university pathways.
• Ohio Department of Higher Education - Transfer Assurance Guide Review Panel: Supports scalable credit alignment for technical and engineering pathways statewide.

Selected Grants and Multicampus STEM Workforce Initiatives

• S-TEST (S-STEM Track 2) - Regional engineering workforce development and student persistence.
• S-CHIPSS (S-STEM Track 3) - Semiconductor and microelectronics student support, skill alignment, and early career preparedness.
• GenCyber@Kent (NSA) - STEM cybersecurity exposure and teacher capacity building.
• er capacity building.

John M. Sankovic, Ph.D., MBA, PE, PMP

jsankov3@kent.edu | 330-672-3170

Position Title: Professor in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University

Organization: Kent State University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• Interim Director, School of Engineering, Kent State University (July 2025-Present): Providing strategic academic and operational leadership across engineering programs; advancing interdisciplinary research, industry engagement, and technology-based economic development initiatives in alignment with the College of Aeronautics and Engineering's mission.
• Professor (Tenured), Kent State University School of Engineering, College of Aeronautics and Engineering (2025-Present): Research interests in aerospace systems, biomimicry, and sustainable design; guiding research and experiential learning aligned with regional workforce and technology-based economic development initiatives
• Executive Vice President, Parallax Advanced Research & President, Ohio Aerospace Institute (2023-2024): Directed >$50M annually in DoD, NASA, and industry R&D contracts; secured >$9M in appropriations; led organizational integration of OAI and Parallax; advanced partnerships supporting research and development for federal customers across aerospace and defense domains.
• President & CEO, Ohio Aerospace Institute (2018-2022): Provided executive leadership of national aerospace consortia supporting NASA, DoD, and industry; expanded technology commercialization, licensing, and workforce programs; strengthened partnerships in research and development to support federal and industry customers.
• Director, Office of Technology Incubation and Innovation, NASA Glenn Research Center (2014-2018): Senior Executive Service appointment; led technology transfer and regional innovation; achieved record NASA licensing levels and advanced economic development partnerships with industry and academia.
• Research and Leadership Roles, NASA Glenn Research Center (1990-2014): Directed programs in electric propulsion, space operations, and bioscience; developed multiple technologies that transitioned to flight and commercial use; recipient of NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and six Group Achievement Awards.

(d) Synergistic Activities / Broader Impacts

• Regional Economic Development: Led NASA and OAI initiatives translating federal aerospace research into regional manufacturing and energy applications for Ohio SMEs.
• Technology Transfer Leadership: Recipient of NASA Federal Laboratory Consortium Award and R&D 100 Award; set NASA record for technology transfer annual licenses executed by NASA field center.
• Workforce and STEM Pipeline: Directed education programs linking universities and industry; advanced aerospace career pathways.
• Public-Private Partnership Builder: Established multi-agency alliances with NASA, DoD, DoE, and private contractors; initiated UNCF-SP Energy Consortium and international exchanges. Community Innovation Leadership- Developing place-based innovation ecosystems (e.g., LIFT-UP drone training and biomimicry networks) to drive Appalachian resilience and re-employment.

Instructional Experience

Kent State University- Full Professor w/tenure (2025-Present)

• Teach upper-division engineering courses including Aerodynamics for Engineers I and II; mentor research at R1 research university.
  • Engage students from rural, underrepresented, first-generation, and non-traditional backgrounds. Cleveland State University-Adjunct Faculty (2007-2018). Taught 40+ MBA-level courses in Project Management, Operations Management, Statistics, and Mathematical Models.
  • Instructed over 1,000 students with consistently high evaluation ratings.

University of Phoenix (Cleveland & Online)- Practitioner Faculty & Lead-Faculty Chair (2003-2018)

• Delivered 200+ undergraduate and graduate courses to working adults -including many first-generation and non-traditional.
  • Managed faculty evaluation and quality control; awarded Outstanding Faculty Member (2005). Case Western Reserve University- Graduate Assistant (2001-2002)
  • Supported instruction in Thermal Science, Biomedical Engineering labs, and interdisciplinary ethics courses.

Selected Publications and Patents

Author or co-author of over 70 technical publications in aerospace systems, energy conversion, and bioscience, with 1,442 citations and an h-index of 20 (Google Scholar, 2025). Publications span peer-reviewed journals, NASA technical reports, and international conference proceedings.

U.S. Patents: Methods and Apparatus for Low-Erosion Arcjet Ignition (1996, 1997, 1999).

Selected Honors and Recognition

• Senior Executive Service Appointment (U.S. OPM, 2014)
• NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (2011)
• Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer (1994)
• R&D 100 Award (2008, "Contact Angle Measurement Device")
• Six NASA Group Achievement Awards
• Ohio Society of Professional Engineers Highest Exam Score Awards (FE and PE Exams)

Current and Pending Support

• LIFT-UP: Planning for Drone Workforce Training for Individuals in Recovery (Appalachian Regional Commission INSPIRE, 2025): Pl. Developing innovative UAS-operations training and recovery-support pathways incorporating outdoor experiential learning and behavioral-health components. Awarded. ($100k)
• Advanced Manufacturing & Automation Workforce Pathways Initiative (Appalachian Regional Commission POWER proposal): Senior technical leader supporting curriculum, equipment design, and industry engagement. In review.
• POWER UP initiative-Preparing Outstanding Workforce Expertise in Repair for Universal Propulsion Systems (FM Workforce Development Grant proposal): Key Personnel. Provide technical leadership to equip the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals with the expertise to maintain and repair both traditional and emerging propulsion systems. In review.
• RAMP-X: Rapid Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Expansion (Department of Education FIPSE-SP: Principal Investigator. Expand existing high-quality short-term programs so that more learners can access Workforce-Pell-eligible training aligned with high-skill, high-wage, in-demand industries in the northern Ohio region. In review.

Abdelhakim (Hakim)) Al Turk, Ph.D.

aalturk3@kent.edu | LinkedIn

Position Title: Assistant Professor

Organization: School of Engineering, Kent State University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

Carol Ann Howerton

P.O. Box 2017, Logan, WV  25601

cahowerton@gmail.com

Position Title: Director for Workforce Development Programs

Organization: Marshall University Research Corporation

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

2020-Current Marshall University Research Corporation – Director for Workforce Development Programs

Direct workforce development components including liaison to community college partners for implementation of manufacturing programs; develop customized training plans, contracts, and registered apprenticeships for manufacturers; work with recruitment and marketing for outreach strategies; provide outreach to manufacturing companies; oversee staff under workforce development;  contribute to writing of grants, monitor and implement grants involving workforce areas including ARC, USDA, DOL, DoD/IBAS, and NSF in excess of $20M. Representative on Region 2 and 3 Workforce Investment Board, and the Composite Institute (IACMI) board. PI for NSF grant in partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College for advanced welding curriculum.

1988-2019 Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

2017-2020 Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Senior administrative responsible for providing strategic leadership and management in the Office of Academic Affairs as related to external partners, policies, academic related initiatives, resource development, information and analysis of institutional data, alternative instructional delivery systems, and institutional grant writing.  Awarded the 2019 WV Community College – Outstanding Contributor Award.

Major responsibilities included:

• Grant Compliance/External Partnerships:
  • Provided oversight of grant development and implementation including grant compliance, grant writing, grant reporting, and grant strategic planning.
  • Grant written and managed include ARC, Perkins IV, and state grants ($1,182,092)
  • Grant management for DOL, DHHR-TANF, and additional state grants ($2,357,724)
  • Compliance officer for all other grants with budget in excess of $2M.
  • Developed partnerships agreements with Coalfield Development Corporation, Pride Community Services, Robert C. Byrd Institute, Department of Health and Human Resources, Maysville Community and Technical College, and Workforce West Virginia.
  • Served as the institutional representative on the Alliance for Economic Development for Southern West Virginia’s Operations Council. Assisted with regional projects, grant development, and hosting of the statewide Small Communities, Big Solutions Annual Conference.
  • Served as the community college representative to the WV Hub – WV Convening Advisory Group.  Assisted with developing support programs for Appalachian Regional Commission grant awardees and hosting WV Convening Conferences.
• Institutional Effectiveness:
  • Collected and analyzed data for implications regarding policy implementation, decision making, project and/or program initiatives, and curriculum planning and review.  Provided labor and market research, trend analysis, forecasting, and environmental scanning to the short term, long term, and strategic planning process.
  • Served as EDGE Coordinator maintaining WV-EDGE course articulations, course listings, student requests, and approvals.
  • Implemented Watermark software programs to document institutional planning, unit and academic assessment activities, and student e-portfolio systems.
• Distance Education: Managed and coordinated the delivery of online learning.
  • Reviewed and approved development of courses to meet Quality Matters standards. Trained faculty and staff in pedagogy and technology for online course setup and delivery.

Other Leadership Appointments – Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College:

2017-2019 National Science Foundation Grant PI and Program Director

• Co-writer and Principal Investigator of $892,007 grant to develop Career Pathways for Mining and provide training for faculty. Developed and delivered faculty training program involving andragogy/pedagogy, best practices, and technology skills for online course development to meet Quality Matters standards.
• Dissemination of results – includes publications and/or presentations at Online Learning Consortium International Conference, League of Innovations Conference, STEMTech Conference, National Career Pathways Network Annual Conference, Annual National Science Foundation ATE-PI Conference, Regional Technology Conference, WV High Technology Education Conference, WVCCA/WVADE Conference (3), WV Information Technology Conference (2), and WV Virtual Learning Network Retreat.   

2014-2016 Interim Director of Distance Education

• Oversight of distance education staff, course development and delivery, and faculty training.   Oversight of interactive classroom course delivery and proctoring.
• Developed and implemented distance education policies and strategic plan for growth of distance education.
• Assist faculty with the development of online courses.
• Representative on the West Virginia Virtual Learning Network.

Chair for Applied and Industrial Technology

• Hired as the initial Chair for the Division of Technology and Engineering later changed to Applied and Industrial Technology.
• Provided leadership to a diverse academic division.  Worked with business and industry to establish advisory councils. Responsible for budget, scheduling of classes, program and curriculum development, supervision of faculty, program reviews and associated reports, and daily operations of the division.
• Completed Workforce Investment Act program applications and provided program data.
• Provide WebCT/Blackboard administration of all division faculty for development of online courses and served as support to other faculty as needed.
• Wrote accreditation request for approval to offer 100% of programs for distance education.
• Curriculum development and grant related accomplishments:
  • Expanded the Information Technology program which served as a state model for the State-wide IT curriculum. State presentation: Curriculum for the New Millennium.
  • Coordinated the redesign of Environmental Technology Program and Electrical Engineering Technology Programs and the creation of new Mechatronics and Welding programs.
  • Created a new Surveying Technology Program – one of only two in the state to receive board approval and arranged a 2+2 with East Tennessee State University.
  • Co-Developed and aligned curriculum for Unilin/Mohawk Apprenticeship program.
  • Created a modular course delivery model (FasTrack) that incorporated combining workforce enrollments with academic enrollments.
  • Created training partnership with Bureau of Employment Programs to train programmers under the Oracle Academy using the FasTrack model.
  • Arranged a 2+2 with West Virginia University for Engineering.
  • Served on Sinclair Community and Technical College National Visiting Committee for their NSF-ATE project – IT@Sinclair:  Improving Student Retention in IT programs 2004-2006.
  • Selected as a National Science Foundation Grant Reviewer 2005 and 2016.
  • Wrote and managed grants including Department of Education, WV EPSCoR, WV Community College System Technical Program Development, WV Community College System WV Advance Grants, Microsoft, and Oracle ($3,361,096)
  • Received Department of Education Congressional Award for expansion of the Information Technology program. ($500,000)

1988-2000 Professor, Computer Science/Information Technology

• Original appointment as Instructor for Computer Science.  Traditional faculty appointment to develop and deliver computer science/information technology program. Courses taught included: programming languages, database design, systems architecture, networking, and computer repair.
• Served as the initial liaison to Marshall University for implementation of WebCT and distance education (1998) and provided support to Southern faculty for development of online courses.
• Served as Chair for the development of institutional master plan, compact, and strategic plan (1996-2000).  Subcommittee chair for accreditation self-study report. (1995-1996)
• Served as Faculty Senate member (1991-2000) and chair (1994-1996).
• Served on Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Committee on Student Success and Retention.
• Two time Savas Kostas Outstanding Faculty award, Employee of the Year Award, and

2000-2010  Higher Education Policy Commission – WV Community College System

Co-Principal Investigator and State Information Technology Program Coordinator

• Contributor and principal investigator of National Science Foundation grant ($799,678) for the development and delivery of a statewide online IT curriculum – WV ExCITE.
• Grant funded position 2000-2003.  Project self-sustaining funded position 2003-2010 paid through Southern.
• Chair statewide Information Technology committee.

2000-Current Howerton Consulting

Owner/Consultant working with companies and individuals.

• Create custom Access databases and reports.
• Installation and setup of Quickbooks and Accpac/Sage accounting systems with customized reporting and data forensics.
• Assist with system purchase, setup, troubleshooting, networking, and repair.

1986-1988 Logan County Board of Education

Teacher

Derek Scarbro

Title: Director

Organization: Marshall University's Advanced Manufacturing Center

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

2022 – present  Director, Marshall University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC)

• Manage this applied engineering, workforce & economic development non-profit
• Supervise staff of 38 across multiple sites
• Grown KPIs: now serving more than 320 companies & training 1,000 people per year
• Supported new program development with $17m+ in new funding secured

2017 - 2022 Business Development Director, Marshall’s Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI – now called MAMC)

• Managed a $3.7m POWER grant with nine staff across Southern West Virginia
• Oversaw business outreach efforts to provide services to manufacturers

2017  Director, Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Governor, State of West Virginia

• Coordinated efforts between state agencies with federal and local governments
• Oversaw gubernatorial appointments to boards & commissions – nearly 500 made

2016 - 2017 Transition Director, Governor-Elect Jim Justice

• Managed the gubernatorial transition team
• Organized policy committees that made recommendations to Governor & Cabinet
• Oversaw & conducted interviews for the entire cabinet, agency heads, & key staff

2015 - 2016 Campaign Manager, Jim Justice for Governor

• Managed the budget, staff, strategy, communications, & scheduling for the duration

2013 - 2014 Government Affairs Consultant, Lewis, Glasser, Casey, & Rollins

• Assisted a wide variety of clients with legislative, government, & public relations needs
• Managed a congressional campaign with record-breaking fundraising

2003 - 2013 Executive Director, WV State Executive Committee      

• Worked closely with statewide, legislative, & local officials & candidates
• Managed a multi-million-dollar yearly budget with a staff ranging from 6-36 employees
• Served as a spokesperson & oversaw the communications plan
• Organized fundraisers, banquets, & conferences for 2,000+ people
• Tracked legislation at the state & federal level

2000 - 2002 Workforce Development Programs Assistant, WV Development Office

• Reviewed & evaluated grants to companies while tracking disbursements
• Coordinated workforce training component of larger economic development projects

2000 Herndon Legislative Fellow, WV Higher Education Policy Commission

• Tracked relevant legislation for the 2000 legislative session
• Reported daily to the Chancellor and staff

Community Involvement

• United Way of the River Cities – grant review board
• Regional Contracting Assistance Center – board member
• Tech Connect WV – executive board member
• Huntington Chamber of Commerce – member
• Huntington Rotary Club – member & speakers co-chair

Avinash Karanth, Ph.D.

Position Title: Professor & Director Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (OU co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Ohio University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2021 – Present: Chair & Director, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2016 - Present: Professor, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2013 – 2017: Consultant, Advanced Micro Devices, Austin, Texas, United States
• 2007 – 2012: Assistant Professor, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2006 – 2007: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
• 1999 – 2000: Associate Consultant, iGATE Corporation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Li Y, Louri A, Karanth A. A High-Performance and Energy-Efficient Photonic Architecture for Multi-DNN Acceleration. IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems. 2024; 35(1):46-58. DOI:10.1109/TPDS.2023.3327535
2. Shiflett K, Karanth A, Bunescu R, Louri A. Flumen: Dynamic Processing in the Photonic Interconnect. Proceedings of the 50th Annual International Symposium on Computer Architecture. ISCA '23: 50th Annual International Symposium on Computer Architecture; 17 0 23; Orlando FL USA. New York, NY, USA: ACM; c2023. DOI:10.1145/3579371.3589110
3. Cunningham G, Chenji H, Juedes D, Stewart G, Karanth A. DAGGER: Exploiting Language Semantics for Program Security in Embedded Systems. 2023 24th International Symposium on Quality Electronic Design (ISQED). 2023 24th International Symposium on Quality Electronic Design (ISQED); San Francisco, CA, USA. IEEE; c2023. DOI:10.1109/ISQED57927.2023.10129334
4. Liu S, Canan T, Chenji H, Laha S, Kaya S, Karanth A. Exploiting Wireless Technology for Energy-Efficient Accelerators with Multiple Dataflows and Precision. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers. 2022; 69(7):2742-2755. DOI:10.1109/TCSI.2022.3166752
5. Canan T, Kaya S, Chenji H, Karanth A. Fine-Grain Reconfigurable Logic Circuits for Adaptive and Secure Computing via Work-Function Engineered Schottky Barrier FinFETs. IEEE Journal on Exploratory Solid-State Computational Devices and Circuits. 2021 December; 7(2):150-158. DOI: 10.1109/JXCDC.2021.3120977

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Editor-in-Chief, IEEE Transactions on Computers (2024 - ).
2. Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing (2021 - ), Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Computers (2019-2023), Guest Editor, IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computing (2015-16), Guest Editor, Journal of Parallel and Distributed Systems (2010-11).
3. Chairs: Vice-Chair Architecture Track (IPDPS-2020), Co-Chair EDA Track (DAC-2021, DAC-2020), Finance Chair (HPCA-2019), Special Session Co-Chair (NoCS-2013), Workshop Co-Chair (WETI-2012), Publicity Chair (HPCA-2007).
4. Technical Program Committee Member: MICRO-2024, ISCA-2024, NoCs (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016), DAC (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018), HiPC (2024, 2022, 2021).                                   
5. Steering Committee Member for Appalachian Semiconductor Education and Technical (ASCENT) Ecosystem at Ohio University. Regional Programming Center (RPC) Liason for Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI). 

Scott Miller, M.S.

Position Title: Associate Dean, Industry Partnerships and Outreach (OU co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Ohio University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2016 – present: Associate Dean, Industry Partnerships and Outreach, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
• 2007 – 2016: Director, Center for Energy, Economics and the Environment (CE3)
• 2001 - 2007: Senior Environmental Projects Manager, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
• 1999 - 2001: Project Manager, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
• 1997 - 1999: Research Associate, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
• 1996 - 1997: Associate Watershed Coordinator, Rural Action, Inc.  
• 1994 - 1996: Chemistry Research Associate, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
• 1993: Biodiversity Gap Analysis Research Associate, The Nature Conservancy

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Director of the Appalachian Semiconductor Education and Training (ASCENT) ecosystem, a multi-institutional research and teaching program comprised of 12 institutions of higher education plus career and technical centers across Southeastern Ohio focused on increasing educational and experiential learning opportunities for students in the advanced microelectronics industry. ASCENT is currently funded through a $3.85M multi-year award from Intel Corporation. Major accomplishments of the ASCENT program include: 1) Development of 36 newly articulated courses for students to matriculate from associate to bachelor degrees; 2) Implemented 1-year certificate programs in mechatronics, automation, and semiconductor manufacturing; 3) Implemented a  bachelor’s level semiconductor certificate at Ohio University; 4) Upgraded teaching and research labs at Ohio University’s main campus and teaching labs at the regional campus in Lancaster; 5) Trained 53 instructors in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing across the ASCENT Ecosystem; 6) Engaged more than 5,000 regional school-aged children in microelectronics experiential learning modules; 7) Awarded 369 scholarships to college students pursuing degrees aligned with microelectronics manufacturing; 8) Secured aligned programmatic support that amplified Intel’s initial award by a factor of 6.95:1.
2. Co-PI, The Digital Enterprise Collaboratory (DEC) funded through $1.5M NIST and a $2M AFRL award with university and industry partners focused on training, demonstration projects, and change management for the US Air Force and private-sector collaborators. The DEC is comprised of two physical labs in Athens and Dayton, Ohio with numerous digital/virtual assets including software from world-leading providers such as Siemens, Dassault Systemes, Ansys, and Mathworks as well as an AR/VR studio that product designers can use for assessment and reviews. These capabilities are aiding the USAF and private industry partners to accelerate product development, research, and training by enabling real-time collaboration across geographies using the latest digital engineering & immersive technologies.

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. External Advisory Board, Dayton Digital Transformation Center, September, 2023-Present
2. Independent Advisor: AR/VR Association of Ohio May, 2025-Present
3. Advisory Board, Southeast Ohio Center for Excellence in Math and Science – November, 2007-2016

Todd Myers, Ph.D.

Position Title: Professor, Engineering Technology and Management (Ohio University Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2021 – May 2025: Director of Professional Development, Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2014 - 2023: Department Chair for the Department of Engineering Technology and Management, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2018 - 2018: Visiting Professor, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) & (UNS)
• 2009 - 2014: Associate Professor, Assistant Department Chair for the Department of Engineering
• 2001 - 2008: Assistant Professor, Industrial Technology Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 1998 - 2001: Assistant Director for the Center for Automatic Identification, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 1998 - 2001: Assistant Professor of Instruction, Industrial Technology Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. "New Two Year Completion Undergraduate Online Degree Program Bachelor of Science in Technical Operations Management - Concurrently Creating a Standardized Institutional Framework for Feasibility and New Program Start-up Planning" An Ohio University Konneker fund, funded project $48.5K 2012-2014. Product "Ohio University Online Development Guide" September 9, 2016
2. Myers, T. (2014) “Use of A Delphi Study to Identify Learning Outcomes for an Engineering and Technology Public Policy Curriculum” (Myers, T.)  ISSN: 1523-9926 Technology Interface International Journal Fall /Winter Vol 15, No 1, 2014 p72-77
3. Global Consulting Program 2009, 2010, 2011. Established and Co-lead creating and conducted each year with the Ohio University College of Business, Ohio University Russ College of Engineering and Technology, and the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN) in  Bahia Blanca, Argentina a Global Consulting Program taking 20 Ohio University students to Bahia Blanca, Argentina and working with 20 UNT engineering students to conduct business consulting multiple local and international manufacturing business. This program occurred over winter intersession for several years.
4. Kuruppalil, Z. &  Myers, T. (2015)  “Identifying Employer Demanded Skill Sets for Undergraduate Engineering and Technology Employees” spring 2015 the Technology Interface International Journal.
5. Myers, T. & Stuart, B. (2010). “Teaching Engineering and Technology Public Policy While Fulfilling Multiple ABET and University Requirements” American Society of Engineering Educators, June 22, 2010. The 117 Annual Conference Proceeding, A Refereed Paper.

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. 2021 - 2025: Director of Professional Development for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology
2. 2014 –2015: Vice-chair of the Board of Epsilon PI Tau (International Honorary Society for Technology)
3. 2014-2015:  Reviewer and member of the Board of Editors for The Journal of Technology Studies
4. 2004-2013: Faculty advisor and Trustee Epsilon Pi Tau Ohio University Lambda Chapter International Technology Honorary Society
5. October 28, 2010: Awarded Laureate level of Epsilon Pi Tau International Honorary Society for Technology

(e) Current Related Research Activity

1. Title: Appalachian Semiconductor Education & Technical (ASCENT) Ecosystem, Sponsor: Intel, Project Period: 08/01/2022 – 06/30/2027, Total: $3,750,000, Role: Co-PI
2. Title: Optimizing Navigation for Rural Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (ONRAMP), Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education, Project Period: 10/01/2024 – 09/30/2028 , Total: $2,022,519, Role: Co-PI
3. Title: Remote Campus Locations: Automation, Robotics, and Digital Thread, Evaluation, Certificate and Training Proposal, Sponsor: ARCTOS (USAF), Project Period: 02/01/2024 – 01/31/2027 , Total: $2,390,000, Role: Co-PI

Christopher Quolke

Position Title: Program Manager (Ohio University Co-PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2023 - present: Program Manager, Ohio University, Russ College of Engineering and Technology, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2011 - present: Chair of the Chapter Advisory Board (CAB), Ohio GAMMA, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2021 - 2023: Business Coach, Researcher, Trainer, The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet), Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2019 - 2021: Facility Operator, Nelsonville Business Center, ACEnet, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2018 - 2022: Chair of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, United Campus Ministry, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2018 - 2019: AmeriCorps Service Member, Social Enterprise Education and Outreach, Rural Action, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2017 - 2018: Property Manager, The Summit at Coates Run, Peak Campus Management, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2011 - 2017: Resident Director, Ohio University, Housing & Residence Life, Athens, Ohio, United States
• 2009 - 2011: Graduate Assistantship, Health Promotion in the Campus Involvement Center, Ohio University, The Division of Student Affairs, Athens, Ohio, United States

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Developed and implemented a Community Relationship Manager (CRM) for ACEnet : This product ensured the staff were informed about client/community interactions and provided granular reporting capabilities to grant-funded staff.
2. ASCENT summer STEM internship: Building STEM curiosity among local Appalachian children. Article (Author: Christopher Quolke, Project Manager) published August 20, 2024.
3. Social Enterprise 101 Workshop: Developed an educational and interactive workshop for a rural community members focused on entrepreneurial development (11/2018–11/2019) to meet learning outcomes identified by Rural Action.
4. New Assessment Protocol and Philosophy of Practice for the Health Promotion office, including instruments aligning outcomes with programming (2009–2011).
5. Developed learning outcomes and an assessment plan for educational content while serving as an AmeriCorps Service Member (11/2018–11/2019).

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. STEM Workforce Development and Project Leadership (ASCENT): Managed coordination and project metrics for the Appalachian Semiconductor Education and Training (ASCENT) Ecosystem, including supporting the Intel Semiconductor Education grant and designing strategies to engage rural community members.
2. Economic Empowerment and Community Development: Provided business coaching services focused on Lean Six Sigma, customized project management, and access to capital for rural entrepreneurs in Southeastern Ohio through ACEnet.
3. Instructional Leadership and Curriculum Delivery: Instructed multiple undergraduate sections at Ohio University, including the 15-week leadership course EDCP4000:Residential Assistant Leadership Development (2012–2016), and UC 1000: Mastering the University Experience (2015–2017), where discussions covered critical thinking, study skills, and human development.
4. Behavioral Intervention and Risk Reduction: Served as a certified Prime for Life Facilitator (2014–2017) to deliver risk-reduction curriculum to students who violated the Student Code of Conduct. Also oversaw assessment and evaluation of Health Promotion educational programming to align outcomes with programming.
5. Non-Profit Governance and Rural Advocacy: Served as the Chair of the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of United Campus Ministry (2018–2022), facilitating strategic planning and administrative operations. Served as Shawnee Farmer Market Board President to support rural entrepreneurs.

Eric Stinaff, Ph.D.

Position Title: Professor & Department Chair, Physics of Astronomy (Ohio University PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2022 - Present: Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2022 - Present: Department Chair, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2014 – 2022: Director, Nanoscale & Quantum Phenomena Institute, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2012 - 2022: Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
• 2006 - 2012: Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Thermal Annealing Effects on Naturally Contacted Monolayer MoS2, Maryam Bizhani, Ruhi Thorat, William Poston, Thushan Wickramasinghe, Shrouq H. Aleithan, and Eric Stinaff, Phys. Status Solidi B., 258: 2000426 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1002/pssb.202000426s
2. Complementary growth of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors on metal oxide interfaces, Thushan E. Wickramasinghe, Gregory Jensen, Ruhi Thorat, Miles Lindquist, Shrouq H. Aleithan, and Eric Stinaff, Appl. Phys. Lett. 117, 213104 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0027225N
3. Growth of Complex 2D Material-Based Structures with Naturally Formed Contacts, Shrouq H. Aleithan, Thushan E. Wickramasinghe, Miles Lindquist, Sudiksha Khadka, and Eric Stinaff, ACS Omega 4(5) 9557-9562 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b00955
4. As-grown two-dimensional MoS2 based photodetectors with naturally formed contacts, Sudiksha Khadka, Thushan E. Wickramasinghe, Miles Lindquist, Ruhi Thorat, Shrouq H. Aleithan, Martin E. Kordesch, and Eric Stinaff, Appl. Phys. Lett. 110, 261109 (2017); doi: 10.1063/1.4990968
5. Joshi, Concurrent Growth and Formation of Electrically Contacted Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenides on Bulk Metallic Patterns, Khadka, S., Lindquist, M., Aleithan, S. H., Blumer, A. N., Wickramasinghe, T. E., Kordesch, M. E. and Stinaff, E., Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 4, 1600599 (2017); doi:10.1002/admi.201600599

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Program Manager for the Optimizing Navigation for Rural Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (ONRAMP) Project funded through the Department of Education’s Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development program
2. Co-lead on the ASCENT Ecosystem funded through the Intel Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio
3. Co-I on the CAFÉ program led by The Ohio State University and funded through the Intel Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio
4. Director of the Ohio University Nanoscale & Quantum Phenomena Institute from 2014 through 2022.
5. Current Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy

David W. Graham, Ph.D.

Position Title: Professor and Associate Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering (WVU PI on the NNME Regional Node proposal)

Organization: Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2021 – Present: Professor, West Virginia University
• 2012 – Present: Founder and Chief Science Officer, Aspinity, Inc.
• 2012 – 2021: Associate Professor, West Virginia University
• 2006 – 2012: Assistant Professor, West Virginia University

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Bhattacharyya S, Graham D. Amplitude-regulated quadrature sine-VCO employing an OTA-C topology. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, 2023; 70(6):1886--1890.
2. Rumberg B, Graham D, Clites S, Kelly B, Navidi M, Dilello A, Kulathumani V. RAMP: Accelerating wireless sensor hardware design with a reconfigurable analog/mixed-signal platform. Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks; 2015; c2015.
3. Rumberg B, Graham D. A low-power magnitude detector for analysis of transient-rich signals. IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits. 2012 March; 47(3):676--685.
4. Rumberg B, Graham D, Kulathumani V, Fernandez R. Hibernets: Energy-efficient sensor networks using analog signal processing. IEEE Journal on Emerging and Selected Topics in Circuits and Systems. 2011; 1(3):321--334.
5. Graham D, Farquhar E, Degnan B, Gordon C, Hasler P. Indirect programming of floating-gate transistors. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers. 2007; 54(5):951--963.

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Startup Co-Founder of Aspinity, Inc. with a mission to commercialize academic research in low-power electronics design
2. Initiated and lead the Lane Student Leadership Council at West Virginia University to provide a voice for the student body within activities and operation of the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
3. Faculty advisor of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) at West Virginia University, the electrical and computer engineering honor society
4. Active participant in a variety of high-school outreach events for the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
5. Organized and chaired a special session at IEEE Midwest Symposium on Circuits and Systems entitled "Floating-gate transistors and their applications in analog circuit design," August 2005

Kenan Hatipoglu 

304-929-1632 | Kenan.Hatipoglu@mail.wvu.edu

Title: Chair of Leonard C. Nelson School of Engineering

Organization: West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Beckley, WV 25801                

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• School Chair, Leonard C. Nelson School of Engineering, WVU Tech, 07/2024 –. Present.
• Department Chair, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WVU Tech, 07/2021 – 07/2024.
• Professor. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WVU Tech, 05/2023 – Present.
• Associate Prof. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WVU Tech, 05/2020 – 05/2023.
• Assistant Prof. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WVU Tech, 08/2013 – 05/2020.
• Visiting Faculty Member, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, Summer of 2018 and 2019.
• Graduate Research Assistant, Tennessee Tech University 08/2009 – 07/2013.
• Technical Specialist and Consultant, Art2STEM, Nashville, Tennessee, 09/2009 – 05/2013.
• Engineering Student Assistant, University of Louisville, Kentucky, 08/2007 – 12/2008.

C. Publications (Selected 10, Recent and Relevant)

Smith, T., Hatipoglu, Kenan., Cunningham, K. (2024). Board 424: What Works: Intra-Institutional Partnerships and Processes for S-STEM Recruitment. 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings. ASEE Conferences. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--47014

YM Panta, K Hatipoglu, T Floyd-Smith; NSF S-STEM Program-Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) Project at WVU Tech–Year 3 updates; - Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, 2024

Hatipoglu, Kenan; Panta, Yogen; Bui, Cao Thang; Floyd-Smith, Tamara; Neff, Joan; (2023) “NSF S-STEM Program-Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) Project at WVU Tech–Year 2 updates”, Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, Volume: 95, Issue 2. March 2023.

Hatipoglu, Kenan; Rai, Sanish; Panta, Yogen; (2022) “NSF S-STEM Program-Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) Project at WVU Tech–Year 1 updates”, Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, Volume: 94, Issue 1. March 2022.

Rai, Sanish; Hatipoglu, Kenan; (2022) “Virtual summer research camp for incoming Freshmen students in STEM” 2022 IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC), March 2022, Pages: 1 – 6.

Hatipoglu, Kenan; Rai, Sanish; Panta, Yogen; (2021) “NSF S-STEM Project Initiation: Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) Project at WVU Tech”, Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, Volume: 93, Issue 1. March, 2021.

Panta, Yogen; Hatipoglu, Kenan; Rai, Sanish (2021) “Challenges, Successes and Lessons Learned in Implementing Active Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era”, Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science, Volume: 93, Issue 1. March, 2021.

D. Synergistic Activities

• American Electric Power (AEP): “Acquiring Eaton Copper CYME software package”, $75,000, December 2022 – December 2023, PI: Kenan Hatipoglu. Accepted.
• NSF Accelerator Research Grants for S-STEM Programs: Virginia Tech Project subaward, $15,000 – “WVU Tech Pathway to No Low-Income Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Student Left Behind” December 2022 – December 2023, PI: Tamara Floyd-Smith, Co-PI: Kenan Hatipoglu.
• NSF - First2 Network: WVU Tech First2 Network Subaward from Fairmont State University (2022), $14,499, December 2022 – August 2023, PIs: Kenan Hatipoglu, J.T. Hird, Kimberlyn Gray, Thang Bui, Accepted.
• 2022 First2 Summer Immersion Camp Site: funded by First2 Network, $67,390.00 January 2022, PIs: Sanish Rai, Kenan Hatipoglu.
• WVU TLC Faculty Associate for Assessment: funded by West Virginia University provost office, $4,500, July 2021- June 2023, PI: Kenan Hatipoglu.
• NSF Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) Program Award: Supporting Undergraduate Cohorts of Career-Ready Engineering and Science Scholars (SUCCESS) funded by NSF S-STEM program, $650,000, 03/15/2021 – 02/28/2026, current PIs: Kenan Hatipoglu, Tamara Floyd-Smith, Cao Thang Bui, Joan Neff, Yogendra Panta
• 2021 First2 Summer Immersion Camp Site: funded by First2 Network, $27,813.20, March 2021, PIs: Sanish Rai, Kenan Hatipoglu.
• 2020 First2 Summer Immersion Camp Site: funded by First2 Network, $23,848.88, March 2020, PIs: Sanish Rai, Kenan Hatipoglu.
• Department of Energy (DoE) Visiting Faculty Program: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Visiting Faculty Member, funded by DoE, - $15,000, 06/03/2019 – 08/09/2019, PIs: Kenan Hatipoglu and Yaosuo Xue.
• Organized summer workshops to deliver training to middle and high school teachers. WV Higher Education Policy Commission (WV 2015 – 2018)
• Active member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 2009 – Present. IEEE West Virginia Section Chair 2018 – Present. Served as Technical Committee Program Chair for IEEE 49th North American Power Symposium (NAPS) September 2017
• Serving as Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, IEEE Power and Energy Technology Systems Journal, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, SoutheastCon and NAPS. 2015 – Present
• NSF Review Panelist, Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 2019 – Present
• West Virginia University Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA) Faculty Fellow 2019 – 2021

Trieu Nguyen

Orchid ID: 0000-0002-3862-7373

Title: Microfabrication Cleanroom Manager

Organization: West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Nguyen T, Vinayaka AC, Huynh VN, Linh QT, Andreasen SZ, Golabi M, Bang DD, Møller JK, Wolff A. PATHPOD - A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based point-of-care system for rapid clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals in Denmark. Sens Actuators B Chem. 2023 Oct 1;392:134085. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2023.134085. Epub 2023 Jun 7. PubMed PMID: 37304211; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10245468.
2. Nguyen T, Tien Anh Ngo, Anders Wolff and Dang Duong Bang Optimising the supercritical angle fluorescence structures in polymer microfluidic biochips for highly sensitive pathogen detection: a case study on Escherichia coli, Lab on a Chip 2019,19, 3825-3833, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9LC00888H
3. Nguyen T, Aaydha Chidambara Vinayaka, Dang Duong Bang and Anders Wolff, “A complete protocol for rapid and low-cost fabrication of polymer microfluidic chips containing three-dimensional microstructures using in point of care devices”, Micromachines 2019, 10 (9), 624 https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10090624
4. Nguyen T, Ho L, Moinuddin SM, Sarkar T, Saha D, Ahsan F. Multicellular Cell Seeding on a Chip: New Design and Optimization towards Commercialization. Biosensors (Basel). 2022 Aug 1;12(8). doi: 10.3390/bios12080587. PubMed PMID: 36004984;
5. Nguyen T, Chidambara VA, Andreasen SZ, Golabi M, Linh QT, Bang DD, Wolff A. Point-of-Care Devices for Pathogen Detections: The Three Most Important Factors to Realize towards Commercialization. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 2020 Aug 11:116004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2020.116004

Other Significant Products

1. Nguyen T, Yanbo X, L. J. de Vreede, Albert van den Berg, and Jan C. T. Eijkel, Highly enhanced energy conversion from the streaming current by polymer addition. Lab on a Chip, vol. 13, pp. 3210-3216, 2013. 23775162. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3LC41232F
2. Nguyen T; van der Meer, D.; van den Berg, A.; Eijkel, J.C.T. Investigation of the effects of time-periodic pressure and potential gradients on viscoelastic fluid flow in narrow circular confinements. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 2017, 21, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-017-1866-y
3. Nguyen T, Sune Zoëga Andreasen, Anders Wolff and Dang Duong Bang, From Lab on a Chip to the Point of Care Devices: The Role of Open Source Microcontrollers, Micromachines 2018, 9(8), 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9080403
4. Nguyen T, Dang Duong Bang, and Anders Wolff. 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Paving the Road for Rapid Detection and Point-of-Care Diagnostics. Micromachines 11.3 (2020): 306. PMID: 32183357. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11030306
5. Wolff A, Bang D.D., Andreasen S.Z., Nguyen T., Huynh V.N., Trang N.T.T., Quyen T.L., Golabi M., Anh T.N., Vinayaka A.C. (2020) VETPOD a total integrated Lab-on-a-chip system for rapid detection of pathogens. Patent No: DK PA202070211 5 April 2020; EP 20173505.7 7 May 2020 https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/266869073/WO20212043…

Synergistic Activities

1. Academic & Industrial Cleanroom Management: 15+ years of hands-on micro/nanofabrication experience and cleanroom operations spanning both academia and industry. I currently manage the WVU microfabrication cleanroom, and previously managed an industrial cleanroom at the Honda Research Institute in San Jose, California (Silicon Valley), supporting advanced R&D through tool uptime, process support, and rigorous safety practices.
2. Cross-Facility Cleanroom Experience (LNF, DTU NanoLab, MESA+): Extensive process-development experience across world-class facilities, including the University of Michigan’s Lurie Nanofabrication Facility (LNF) (accessed during my Michigan State University postdoctoral work), DTU NanoLab (Technical University of Denmark), and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology (University of Twente). This multi-site background enables rapid technology transfer and best-practice harmonization across diverse toolsets and EHS regimes.
3. Bridging Industrial Rigor into Academic User Facilities: Apply industrial cleanroom management approaches, i.e. documentation, preventive maintenance mindset, and reproducibility/quality practices to academic shared facilities to improve reliability for multi-user research environments.
4. Cleanroom Training & Workforce Development: Develop and deliver hands-on user training in cleanroom safety and core microfabrication workflows (photolithography, etch/deposition, polymer microfabrication/soft lithography), mentoring students and researchers toward reproducible fabrication and industry-relevant skills.
5. Scholarly and Community Service in Micro/Nanotechnology: Serve as an Associate Editor (Frontiers in Nanotechnology; Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies) and contribute conference service (e.g., MicroTAS Technical Program Committee), supporting dissemination and rigorous standards in lab-on-a-chip and microfabrication research.

Emily Ledbury Spayde, Ph.D.

Position Title: Teaching Associate Professor,c of Engineering Technology

Organization: Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University

(a) Professional Preparation

(b) Appointments

• 2024 – Present: Teaching Associate Professor & Director of Engineering Technology (previously Program Coordinator, Teaching Assistant Professor), West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
• 2021 - 2023: Teaching Assistant Professor, West Virginia University, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Morgantown, WV.
• 2015 – 2021: Assistant Clinical Professor (previously Instructor, Lecturer), Mississippi State University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Starkville, MS.
• 2010 – 2015: Graduate Teaching Assistant (previously Graduate Research Assistant), Mississippi State University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Starkville, MS.
• 2007 – 2010: Process Engineer, Algonquin Industries, Osceola, AR.

(c) Products

Products Most Closely Related to the Proposed Project

1. Spayde, E., Hensel, R. A., Spayde, D. L. (2023) Utilizing an Existing College Manufacturing Facility in the Creation of a New Engineering Technology Degree Program. Morgantown, WV: ASEE North Central Section Annual Conference
2. Hensel, R. A., and Spayde, E. (2023) Creation of an Engineering Technology Program Baltimore, MD: ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. https://peer.asee.org/42828
3. Hensel, R. A., and Spayde, E. (2023) New WVU B.S. Engineering Technology Program. Morgantown, WV: ASEE North Central Section Annual Conference. Poster Presentation
4. Spayde, E. L., Brauer, S. A., Spayde, D. L. (2020). Improving Pass Rates for SOLIDWORKS CSWA Exam. Auburn, AL: ASEE Southeastern Section Annual Conference and Meeting. http://www.asee-se.org/proceedings/ASEE2020/papers2020/70.pdf
5. Knizley, A. A. and Spayde, E. L. (2020). Recruiting and Retaining Women in Engineering through Car Maintenance Outreach Program. Auburn, AL: ASEE Southeastern Section Annual Conference and Meeting. http://www.asee-se.org/proceedings/ASEE2020/papers2020/86.pdf

(d) Synergistic Activities

1. Curriculum Development: Developed the new B.S. in Engineering Technology degree program from 2022 – 2023.
2. Accreditation: Wrote the initial accreditation report for the Engineering Technology degree program for ABET-ETAC, currently awaiting accreditation in summer 2026.