Current and Past MRS/TMS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows
2012/2013 -- Andrew Steigerwald
Andrew Steigerwald earned his B.E. (2005) from Ohio State University, M.S. (2007) from Fisk University and Ph.D. (2010) in Interdisciplinary Materials Science and Engineering from Vanderbilt University as an National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Fellow. His thesis work focused on the development of photoacoustic spectroscopy as a technique for characterizing radiation damage in semiconductors. While working on his Ph.D., Steigerwald worked extensively on novel thin-film growth techniques, studied ultrafast dynamics of diluted magnetic semiconducting systems for use in potential spintronic devices, and spent time as a visiting scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Following his Ph.D., Steigerwald continued as a post-doctoral researcher at Vanderbilt, working to understand the nanoscale relationship between structural disorder and opt oelectronic modification in optical devices.
Steigerwald’s interest in public policy started at Ohio State University as a member of the Undergraduate Student Senate where he worked to promote the diverse interests of the student body and acted as the liaison to the board of trustees. His time spent at an HBC institution, work at a national laboratory, participation in public-private research ventures, and attendance at a symposium series hosted by Vanderbilt, which focused on the role of scientists in government, helped reinforce Steigerwald’s desire to become directly involved in science policy.
2011/2012 -- Jennifer Nekuda Malik
Jennifer Nekuda Malik earned her Ph.D. (2008), M.S. (2006) and B.S. (2005) in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from Colorado School of Mines (CSM). Her thesis work was a collaborative project between CSM and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that focused on development and optimization of deposition and processing conditions for liquid-based precursors for copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaics. While working on her Ph.D., Malik earned both an R&D 100 Award and recognition for Excellence in Technology Transfer for her work with hybrid CIGS. Following her Ph.D., Malik worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Imperial College London, characterizing and optimizing the microstructure of both hybrid (organic-inorganic) and organic materials for electronic applications.
Malik’s interest in public policy started in high school when she had the opportunity to participate in mock government and see first-hand how public policy is formed. She continued to develop this interest at CSM through the McBride Honors Program. Malik is specifically interested in education and science outreach as well as development of environmental and energy policy.
2009/2010 -- Edward D Herderick
Edward D Herderick will receive his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University in August 2009. He received his BS (2005) and MS (2007) in MSE from Ohio State as well. His graduate research has been done under the advisement of Prof. Nitin Padture and is focused on the synthesis, characterization, and property measurement of metal-oxide-metal heterojunction nanowires. During his graduate studies Ed was an NSF IGERT fellow (2005-08) and received a Diamond Award from the American Ceramic Society (2008). In addition to his academic work, Ed has been an active member of the campus community, serving on the OSU Council of Graduate Students for two years and also taking part in many outreach activities to bring students and teachers to campus. His main area of policy interest is in solutions to the 21st century energy challenge; that is improving the way we generate, transmit, and consume energy to provide economic growth and strengthen national security in an environmentally sustainable manner.
October 15, 2009: Edward D Herderick has been assigned to the office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).
2008/2009 -- Ticora Jones
Ticora V. Jones earned her Ph.D. in Polymer Science & Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2006 and her BS in Materials Science & Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000. Ticora was both a NIH fellowship recipient and a Ford Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellow during her graduate career. Her dissertation research was on the synthesis and characterization of small molecules to investigate the role of external stimuli on the folding of molecules, which can be linked to biological phenomena such as protein folding. Prior to her graduate work, Ticora spent a year working for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, first as a middle school teaching fellow for a science and mathematics standards program in DC Public Schools, and then building infrastructure and creating content for the Minority Scientists Network, an online portal for Sciencecareers.org.
Upon completing her doctorate, Ticora worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where her research was focused on creating and characterizing metal nanoparticles for catalysis applications and merging them with polymer nanocomposites to create functional materials.
While in graduate school, Ticora co-founded and chaired the Graduate Education and Career Development Initiative, an organization dedicated to providing new student orientation, seminars, and workshops for graduate students. In addition to this organization, she has also been involved in a number of outreach and educational programs designed to bring accessible scientific and technical role models to young students. It is these influences she credits with her own interest in the scientific enterprise- as a high school student Ticora began doing research in chemistry as a part of the American Chemical Society's Project SEED program.
Ticora is looking forward to the opportunity presented by the Materials Societies Congressional Fellowship to engage in the legislative process. She is interested in developing policies related to the funding of the scientific and technological enterprise, especially surrounding issues related to alternative energy, sustainability, and science education.
10/13/2008: Ticora V. Jones has accepted a position in Senator Russell Feingold's (D-WI) office.
Back To Top