Curriculum Vitae

Robert F. Sekerka

University Professor Emeritus

Physics and Mathematics (courtesy appointment in Materials Science and Engineering)

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

Personal Data

Born: November 27, 1937, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

Family: Wife: Carolyn Lee Confer Sekerka, Esquire; Adult Children: Lee Ann Sekerka Loew, Robert Thompson Sekerka

Education

Ph.D. Physics (1965), Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Doctoral thesis: The Theory of Magnetic Relaxation in the Rare Earth Iron Garnets with Application to Europium Iron Garnet, directed by Professor J. H. Van Vleck

A.M. Physics (1961), Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

B.S. (Summa Cum Laude) Physics (1960), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Diploma, Penn Hills High School, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania (1955)

Employment

June 2011-date, University Professor Emeritus, Physics and Mathematics, (courtesy appointment in Materials Science and Engineering) Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1991-2011, University Professor, Physics and Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1982-1991, Professor of Physics and Mathematics and Dean, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

January 1 - June 30, 1988, Academic Leave, Groupe de Physique des Solides de l'École Normal Supérieure, Université Paris VII, Paris, France

1976-1982, Professor and Head, Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Carnegie Mellon University

1972-1976, Professor of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Carnegie Mellon University

1969-1972, Associate Professor of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Carnegie Mellon University

1969, Manager, Materials Growth and Properties Department, Westinghouse Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1965-1968, Senior Scientist, Department of Theoretical Physics, Westinghouse Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Summers of 1962 and 1963, Junior Engineer, Crystallogenics, Westinghouse Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Summers of 1960 and 1961, Junior Research Metallurgical Engineer, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1955-1958, Technician, Department of Metallurgy, Westinghouse Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Editorships

1971-1994, Associate Editor (theory), Journal of Crystal Growth

1970-1976, Associate Editor, Metallurgical Transactions

Honors and Awards

1998: Bruce Chalmers Award, TMS, for “seminal contributions to solidification processing...”

1997: Fellow, American Physical Society

1997: Fellow, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science

1996: Doctor Honoris Causa, West University of Timisoara, Romania

1992: IOCG Frank Prize, awarded by the International Association for Crystal Growth “For seminal contributions to the theory of crystal growth, including the theory of morphological stability of growing crystals”

1980: Philip M. McKenna Memorial Award for outstanding research contributions to Metallurgy

1980: Fellow, American Society for Metals

1962-1965: National Science Foundation Fellow, Harvard University

1960: Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Harvard University

1960: A.G. Worthing Award, given annually to the outstanding senior in Physics at the University of Pittsburgh

Courses Taught

Undergraduate: Thermodynamics, Materials Science, Introduction to Statistical Physics, Physics for Engineering Students II (waves, electricity and magnetism), Solid State Physics, Thermal Physics I, Thermal Physics II, Physical Mechanics I

Graduate: Condensed Matter Theory I, Transport Properties, Phase Transformations, Mathematical Methods in Materials Research, Special Topics in Condensed Matter Physics: Morphological Stability, Statistical Mechanics

Principal Committees

2001-2007, International Organization of Crystal Growth, President

1986-2001, International Organization of Crystal Growth, Co-Vice President
1969-date, International Organization of Crystal Growth

1999-2005, NASA Discipline Working Group for Materials Science, Chair
1980-date, American Association for Crystal Growth, Executive Committee

1974-date, Solidification Committee of TMS

1989-91, Space Studies Board of the NRC, Chairman, Committee on Microgravity Research

1985-88, Solid State Sciences Committee of the National Research Council

1983-87, Task Force on the Scientific Uses of Space Station, NASA

1983-87, Space Applications Advisory Committee, NASA (Chairman, Subcommittee on Microgravity Sciences and Applications)

1975-76, STAMPS Committee of the National Research Council (to evaluate NASA's program on scientific and technological aspects of materials processing in space)

Consulting

1970-date National Institute of Standards and Technology

1995 European Low Gravity Association/European Space Agency, Grand Jury

1988 European Space Agency

1978-85, Westinghouse Research Laboratories (Research Council and photovoltaics)

1976-79, Bell Laboratories

1975, University Space Research Association/NASA

Public Service

1986-1991, Executive Board of the Science Institute of the Pittsburgh Public Schools

1984-1988, Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh NMR Institute

1984-1991, Science Advisory Committee of the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education

1986-1991, Research Committee of the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa.

1979-1988, Board of Directors, Forbes Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Memberships

Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Xi, The American Physical Society (Fellow), The International Organization for Crystal Growth (Past President and Officer of Executive Committee), The American Association for Crystal Growth (Executive Committee), The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, The American Society for Metals (Fellow)

Hobbies

Downhill skiing, golf, classical piano, and foreign languages

Last updated 04/13/2015