UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Susan Trolier-McKinstry, professor of ceramic science and engineering, and electrical engineering, has been named the Steward S. Flaschen Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State. An endowed professorship is among the highest honors that can be bestowed on a faculty member. The endowed professorship was established with a $1 million gift from Penn State alumnus Steward S. Flaschen and his family.
“I was delighted, surprised and honored to be named to this professorship,” Trolier-McKinstry said.
Her group’s work focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that contribute to the properties of materials and integrating new materials into devices.
Trolier-McKinstry plans to use the Flaschen professorship to conduct research on thin films using dielectric and piezoelectric ceramics. Dielectric materials are used in devices that store and generate electricity, and are ubiquitous in all electronic devices. Piezoelectric materials convert between electrical and mechanical energies, and applications include ultrasound imaging equipment, precise positioning devices, and sensors. The professorship will also enable her to provide new research opportunities for her and her students.
“This professorship will be beneficial for Dr. Trolier-McKinstry as she continues her important work in materials science and engineering. Her contributions to the field and to Penn State have been invaluable,” said Susan Sinnott, head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “We are very grateful for the Flaschen family’s donation and are pleased that Dr. Trolier-McKinstry will benefit from this generous gift.”
Trolier-McKinstry is the director of the Materials Research Institute’s Nanofabrication Laboratory. She is a fellow of the American Ceramic Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Materials Research Society, and is an academician of the World Academy of Ceramics. She currently serves as an associate editor for Applied Physics Letters. She is 2016 vice president of the Materials Research Society. She previously served as president of IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society and Keramos, a national professional ceramic engineering fraternity.
Trolier-McKinstry earned a bachelor of science and master of science in ceramic science and engineering, as well as a doctorate in ceramic science, all at Penn State. She has co-authored more than 380 papers and has several patents.