Mechanical Engineering
Resume:
Darran Robert Cairns
Personal Details Work Home
West Virginia University, 908 Tremont Street,
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Morgantown, WV, 26505
Morgantown, WV, 26506
******.******@****.***.*** *.*.******@****.**.**
Phone: 304-***-**** x2336 304-***-****
Fax: 304-***-****
Education 1999 PhD Materials Science
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
1995 BSc Physics
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Research Experience
2006-Present Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering
West Virginia University, Mechanical & Aerospace, Morgantown, WV, USASolution based processing of composite materials. Micro and nano-composite materials. Liquid crystalline materials and composites. Coatings for wear and corrosion resistance & thermal barriers. Sensors.
2001-2005 Research Specialist
3M Touch Systems, Optical Systems Division, Methuen, MA, USAHigh performance coatings for mechanical protection of displays and touch sensorsMetallization of organic and inorganic transparent conducting filmsDevelopment of wear resistant composite sol-gel optical coatingsDegradation mechanisms of functional materials Processing-structure-properties relations of transparent conducting filmsHigh performance Pb-free nanoparticle based thick film ceramics.Micro-composite based adhesive systems for solder replacement.
1998-2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate in Engineering
Brown University, Division of Engineering, Providence, RI, USAOpto-mechanical properties of organic functional materialsElectrical and mechanical properties of functional transparent conducting materials on polymers for flexible device applicationsFabrication and characterization of organic passive optical components for information displaysSelf-assembled electro-optical meso-structures from reactive liquid crystal monomersFabrication and characterization of strain sensors from liquid crystal-polymer compositesFlexible and conformable information displaysPhysical aging of liquid crystalline materials
Graduate Student in Metallurgy & Materials
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UKDissertation title "The mechanical reliability of silica optical fibres"Experimental and statistical analysis of mechanical failure of optical fibres in aqueous environments. Sponsored by Pirelli Cables UK Ltd.
Teaching Experience
1999-2005 Adjunct Assistant Professor in Engineering
Brown University, Division of Engineering, Providence, RI, USACourse title: Structure and Properties of Non-Metallic MaterialsFull responsibility for course developmentUpper level class primarily Seniors and Graduate Students
2000 Adjunct Assistant Professor in Physics
University of Massachusetts, Department of Physics, Dartmouth, MA, USACourse title: 2nd Semester Physics (Electric Circuits and Electromagnetism) for modern physics program Studio based teaching approach with all teaching performed in the laboratory
1995-1998 Teaching Assistant in Mathematics and Engineering
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UKTA for Department of Mathematics engineering mathematics coursesLaboratory demonstrator for numerical and computational methods course including development of laboratory assignmentsLaboratory demonstrator for polymer processing laboratoryTA for composite beam design experiment
Supervisory Experience
Research EngineerAaron Kessman, 3M Touch Systems (Supervisor)
Fabrication and characterization of thin film touch sensors
Technicians
2005 Mauricio Lopez, 3M Touch Systems (Supervisor)
Pb free nanocomposite thick films
2005 Scott Driscoll, 3M Touch Systems (Supervisor)
Mechanical properties of Pb free electrical interconnects
3M Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Lisa Jog, MSE, Brown University (Supervisor)
Pb free nanocomposite thick films
2004 Jason Rich, ChemE, Cornell University (Supervisor)
Processing/mechanical property relationships for sol-gel derived silica nanocomposites
PhD Students
2006-Present John Sandro Rivas, ME, West Virginia University (Co-Advisor), Mechanical Properties of Aerogels
Jose Vedrine, EE, Brown University (Co-Advisor)
Flexible Displays
2004-2005 Edwin Edwards, Biomedical Engineering, Brown University (Committee member) Birefringent Polymers for temperature measurement
Undergraduate Students
2002-2003 Suraj Gorkhali, EE, Brown University (thesis reader)
Flexible and conformable displays
2000 Lara Oliver, EE, Brown University (day-to-day supervision)
Flexible Display Materials
2000 Vicki Shier, EE, Brown University (day-to-day supervision)
Flexible Displays Materials
1999 Suzanne Sachsman, EE, Brown University (day-to-day supervision)
Flexible Display Materials
1999 Richard Witte, MSE, UIUC (day-to-day supervision)
Flexible Displays Materials
1999 Dan Sparacin, MSE, Brown University (day-to-day supervision)
Flexible Displays Materials
1998 Sharon Pang, MSE, University of Birmingham (day-to-day supervision)
Optical Fibers
Educational Outreach
1998-2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate in Engineering
Brown University, MRSEC, Providence, RI, USA
Developed course materials for MRSEC educational outreach activitiesInstructor in MRSEC educational outreach to youth groups including Providence Boys and Girls Club and the Providence Bridge SchoolInstructor in Brown Universities MRSEC Educational Institute for high school science teachersDay-to-day supervision of seven undergraduate students as part of Brown Universities summer research experience program for undergraduates
Achievements
Paper selected for Best Papers of Society for Information Display 2003
Visiting Assistant Professor in Engineering Brown University 2003-04
University of Birmingham Honorary Research Fellow in Engineering 2002-05
(promoted to Honorary Senior Research Fellow Jan 1st 2006)
Chapter Chair of New England Chapter of The Society for Information Display
Co-inventor of reflective strain gauges and polarization sensitive devices
Regional Winner Institute of Materials National Lecture Competition 1998
University of Birmingham Postgraduate Faculty Student Liaison Committee
Pirelli Cables Graduate Student Fellowship 1995-1998
Professional Service
Chapter Chair of New England Chapter of The Society for Information Display
Program Committee Member Society for Information Display International Symposium (2004 – present)
Program Committee Member International Display Research Conference 2006
Learned Societies
Institute of Physics, CPhys, MInstP
Institute of Materials
Institute of Physics EMAG –Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group
European Microscopy Society
Materials Research Society
Society for Information Display
Publications
Underlined signifies undergraduate student researcher.
Journal
1) D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Electro-mechanical properties of transparent conducting substrates for flexible electronic displays, Proceedings of the IEEE, 93, p1451 (2005).
2) M. J. Escuti, D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Optical-strain characteristics of anisotropic polymer films fabricated from a liquid crystal diacrylate Journal of Applied Physics 95, p2386 (2004).
3) S. P. Gorkhali, D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Flexible transparent conducting substrates for rollable displays: a cyclic loading study, Journal of the Society for Information Display 12, p45 (2004).
4) D. R. Cairns, S. P. Gorkhali, S. Esmailzadeh, J. Vedrine, and G. P. Crawford, Conformable displays based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Materials on Flexible Substrates, Journal of the Society of Information Display, 11, p289 (2003)
5) D. R. Cairns, M. Sibulkin and G. P. Crawford, Switching dynamics of suspended mesogenic polymer microspheres Applied Physics Letters, 78, p2643 (2001).
6) N. A. Bailey, D. R. Cairns, G. P. Crawford, and J. N. Hay A study of enthalpic relaxation of a Liquid Crystal Liquid Crystals, 28, p1761 (2001).
7) D. R. Cairns, N. S. Eichenlaub and G. P. Crawford, Ordered polymer microstructures synthesized from dispersions of liquid crystal mesogens, Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 351, p379 (2000).
8) D. R. Cairns, C. C. Bowley, S. Danworaphong, A. K. Fontecchio and G. P. Crawford, Optical Strain Characteristics of Holographically-Formed Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Films Applied Physics Letters 77, p2677 (2000).
9) D. R. Cairns, R. P. Witte II, D. K. Sparacin, S. M. Sachsman, D. C. Paine, G. P. Crawford and R. R. Newton Strain-dependent electrical resistance of tin doped indium oxide on polymer substrates Applied Physics Letters, 76, p1425 (2000).
10) D. R. Cairns, G. M. Genin, A. J. Wagoner, C. L. Briant and G. P. Crawford, Amplified strain-rate dependence of deformation in Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal materials, Applied Physics Letters, 75, p1872 (1999).
11) D. R. Cairns and S. N. Kukureka, On the use of Weibull estimators for describing strength distributions in brittle materials, in preparation
12) D. R. Cairns, P. J. Richter and A. J. Kessman, Mechanical and tribological investigations of sol-gel derived SiO2 optical coatings submitted to Wear December 2005
13) P. J. Richter and D. R. Cairns, Mesostructured silica nanocomposite coatings with controlled roughness in preparation
Book Chapter
14) D. R. Cairns, Mechanical Reliability of Conductive Polymers for Rollable Display Applications in Flexible Flat Panel Displays, G. P. Crawford Editor, Wiley, (2005)
Patents
15) G. P. Crawford, D. R. Cairns, C. C. Bowley, S. Danworaphong, A. K. Fontecchio S. M. Faris and L. Li, Reflective Strain Gauge with Aspected Particles and Polarization Sensitive Devices US 6,778,236
16) P. J. Richter, D. R. Cairns and F. J. Bottari, Touch Input Sensing Device, US 2005/0073507 A1
17) E. M. Cross, R. S. Moshrefzadeh, F. J. Bottari, D. R. Cairns, A. F. Chernefsky and P. J. Richter, Capacitive touch screen with conductive polymer, US 2003/0213624 A1
18) P. J. Richter, D. R. Cairns and F. J. Bottari, Wiring Harness and Touch Sensor Incorporating Same, US 2005/0126831 A1
19) G. P. Crawford, D. R. Cairns, C. C. Bowley, S. Danworaphong, A. K. Fontecchio S. M. Faris and L. Li, Reflective Strain Gauge and Polarization Sensitive Devices US 2005/0087021 A1
Three additional unpublished patents pending in the field of touchscreen technology
Conference
20) D. R. Cairns, P. J. Richter, A. J. Kessman and F. J. Bottari, Infrared Firing of Sol-Gel Derived Silica Coatings for Wear Resistant Optical Applications, Materials Research Society Symposium (2005).
21) S. P. Gorkhali, D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Reliability of transparent conducting substrates for rollable displays: a cyclic loading study, Society of Information Display XXXIV, (2003).
22) S. P. Gorkhali, D. R. Cairns, S. Esmailzadeh, J. Vedrine and G. P. Crawford, Conformable displays based on polymer dispersed liquid crystal materials, Asia Society of Information Display, 7, 33-36 (2002).
23) D. R. Cairns, S. P. Gorkhali, J. Vedrine, G. P. Crawford, A Comparison of the Thermo-mechanical Reliability of Organic and Inorganic Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Flexible Displays, Asia Society of Information Display, 7, 331-334 (2002).
24) S. P. Gorkhali, D. R. Cairns, S. Esmailzadeh, J. Vedrine and G. P. Crawford, Conformable-polymer dispersed liquid crystals with indefinitely captured form, Society of Information Display XXXIII, 1004 (2002).
25) J. Vedrine, D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Temperature effects and mechanical properties of ordered reactive mesogens for passive optical film applications, Society of Information Display XXXIII, 578 (2002).
26) D. R. Cairns, D. C. Paine and G. P. Crawford, The mechanical reliability of sputter coated indium tin oxide coated polyester substrates for flexible display and touchscreen applications Society of Vacuum Coaters 44th Annual Technical Conference Proceedings 160 (2001).
27) D. R. Cairns, D. C. Paine and G. P. Crawford, The mechanical reliability of indium tin oxide coated polymer substrates for flexible displays and touchscreens MRS proceedings, 666, F3.24.1-F3.24.12 (2001).
28) D. R. Cairns, D. C. Paine, S. N. Kukureka and G. P. Crawford, The effect of thermal shrinkage on ITO coated PET for flexible display applications Society of Information Display XXXII, 654 (2001).
29) D. R. Cairns, A. F. Chernefsky and G. P. Crawford, Wear resistance of Indium Tin Oxide coatings on PET substrates for touchscreen applications Society of Information Display XXXII, 574 (2001).
30) D. R. Cairns, M. L. LaCourse, M. J. Jakubowski, F. J. Bottari and G. P. Crawford, Conductive and adhesive properties of z-axis adhesives for tail-bonding Society of Information Display XXXII, 578 (2001).
31) M. J. Escuti, D. R. Cairns, J. Vedrine, and G. P. Crawford, Optical-strain characteristics of ordered reactive mesogen birefringent films for viewing-angle compensation Society of Information Display XXXII, 870 (2001).
32) S. N. Kukureka, A. Pedicini and D. R. Cairns, Embedded fiber-optic sensors: performance aspects and the single-fiber fragmentation test Proceedings of SPIE Vol 4215, p 218-224 (2001).
33) S. N. Kukureka and D. R. Cairns, A comparison of the distribution of estimated weibull parameters from optical fiber strength measurements, Proceedings of SPIE Vol 4215, p 90-97 (2001).
34) D. R. Cairns, D. C. Paine, S. Danworaphong, D. K. Sparacin and G. P. Crawford Electrical studies of mechanically deformed indium tin oxide coated polymer substrates Society of Information Display XXXI, 274 (2000).
35) D. R. Cairns, V. L. Shier, L. D. Oliver, D. C. Paine and G. P. Crawford, Mechanical reliability of Indium Tin Oxide electrodes on polymer substrates for lightweight flexible displays, Asia SID, 6, 493 (2000).
36) D. R. Cairns, S. M. Sachsman, D. K. Sparacin, R. P. Witte II, G. P. Crawford and D. C. Paine Mechanical behavior of indium oxide thin films on polymer substrates in Thin Films VIII–Stresses and Mechanical Properties, Editors R. Vinci, O. Kraft, N. Moody, P. Besser and E. Shaffer II, p401 (2000).
37) D. R. Cairns, M. Sibulkin and G. P. Crawford, Electro-Mechano-Optical (ElMO) microstructures fabricated from reactive mesogens: a novel light modulating material, SID Digest of Technical Papers, XXX, p725 (1999).
38) D. R. Cairns, R. P. Witte II, D. K. Sparacin, S. M. Sachsman, D. C. Paine and G. P. Crawford Electro-mechanical study of indium tin oxide on a polymer substrate for flexible display applications Proceedings of the 6th International Display Workshop, Sendai, Japan, 1105 (1999).
39) S. N. Kukureka and D. R. Cairns, "Statistical analysis methods for strength distributions in optical fibres", in Optical Fiber Reliability and Testing, M John Matthewson, Editor, Proceedings of SPIE Vol 3848, p 17 (1999).
40) D. R. Cairns and G. P. Crawford, Ordered polymer spheres synthesized from dispersions of liquid crystal mesogens, European Conference on Liquid Crystals 99 Book of Abstracts O-27 (1999).
41) D. R. Cairns, S. N. Kukureka, R. C. Neat and A. Marshall, "A consideration of the effect of ageing on the mechanical reliability of silica lightguides by the use of strength-probability-time graphs", Proceedings of 46th International Wire & Cable Symposium p 889 (1997).
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