SOWBARANIGHA CHINNUSAMY

Santa Clara CA 408-***-**** acwvuf@r.postjobfree.com www.linkedin.com/in/sowbacj

Highly organized and self-motivated materials engineer with 2+ years experience in thin film processing and

nanofabrication. Extensive hands-on experience in analytical characterization and optical materials.

Excellent leadership, problem solving, troubleshooting, and process optimization skills.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Analytical Characterization: Optical Microscopy, UV-Vis Spectroscopy, SEM, EDAX, XRD,

AFM, Four-Point Probe, Photoluminescence, FTIR, Metallography

Thin Film Processing: UV Photolithography, Spin Coating, Chemical Etching, PECVD,

Sputtering, Filmetrics Thin-Film Measurements

Mechanical Testing: Instron Tensile, Hardness, Ductility, Corrosion Resistance as per

ASTM/ISO Standards

Other: Gwyddion, ImageJ, AutoCAD, LTSpice, PC1D,

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Assistant, NBA Lab, SJSU, San Jose, CA (June 2015 Sept 2016)

Designed micro solar cell device using CAD. Synthesized graphene quantum dots by top-down method.

Evaluated semiconductor-nanoparticle composite layer using SEM, AFM, UV-Vis, PL.

Successfully patterned ITO layer of smallest feature of 10 microns using UV photolithography

Led troubleshooting and proposed creative approach for timely completion of the experiments

Achieved results showing 39% higher performance compared to values in literatures

Published results as a first-author in a peer-reviewed journal

R efereed Journal Publication

Graphene Quantum Dot - Titania Nanoparticle Composite Materials for Photocatalytic Water Splitting,

MRS Advances, Sowbaranigha Chinnusamy, Ravneet Kaur, and Folarin Erogbogbo, 20 June 2016

Research Scientist, SSN Research Center, India (June 2011 - Jan 2012)

Conducted research investigations on amorphous silicon thin film for semiconductor devices and evaluated

VLS mechanism of growth of silicon nanowires using gold nanoparticles.

Deposited amorphous silicon and silicon nitride thin films using PECVD

Worked on a government defense research funded project worth $250,000

Prepared technical reports and presented results to director of the institution

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Student Assistant, SJSU, San Jose, CA (June 2015 - Aug 2015)

Summer in Silicon Valley program: Team project facilitator and event coordinator

Headed a team of 8 students from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan on a technical project

Achieved excellent team work and awarded second place for the team project

Teaching/Instructional Student Assistant, SJSU, San Jose, CA (Aug 2014 - May 2016)

Lab Courses: Introduction to Materials Engineering (BCME, Undergraduate), Heat Transfer in Electronics

Independent laboratory handling, safety and maintenance

Managed a group of 18 students to accomplish mechanical testing and experimental tasks

Evaluated assignments for materials technology and heat transfer in electronics courses

GRADUATE PROJECT (June 2015 May 2016)

Synthesis and characterization of graphene quantum dots-titania nanoparticle composite material

Carried out extensive literature review and submitted detailed technical report

Successfully synthesized nanoparticles by wet chemical top-down method using acids

Presented results in various symposiums, meetings and technology exhibitions

Related Poster Presentations

Nano-meter scale science and technology poster session at AVS 62nd International symposium

IEEE SFBA Nanotechnology council symposium

5th Annual student poster session at NCCAVS symposia & exhibitions

2016 MRS Spring meeting & exhibit

TECHNICAL PROJECTS

Broken Key Analysis (Spring 2014)

1995 fractured key was analyzed using EDAX and XRD characterization tools

Studied failure mechanism from stress-strain, S-N fatigue properties

Presented the results to a class of 10 and recognized as the best team project

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Thin Films (Spring 2014)

Investigated CVD process physics, types, significance and limitations

Conducted extensive literature search of graphene fabrication using CVD

Wrote a term paper on CVD modeling techniques and nanowire growth by PECVD

Got A in the term project and semiconductor materials coursework

Characterization of Bird Beaks (Fall 2014)

Conducted extensive literature search on bird beak characterization

Collaborated with a group of four and performed SEM, DSC, FTIR, hardness testing

Successfully prepared a technical report and presented the results to a class of 20

AFM Size characterization of Graphene Quantum Dots (Fall 2015)

Investigated the effect of temperature on the height of quantum dots using AFM

Processed the images using Gwyddion and ImageJ software tools

Wrote a detailed report and presented to a class of 10

Fabrication and Testing of Silicon Solar Cell (Fall 2015)

Designed solar cell layout using LTspice and PC1D simulation tools

Fabricated and performed electrical testing of solar cells with a group of four

Presented to a class of 10 and wrote a detailed report on design/fabrication process

HONORS/ACHIEVEMENTS

Awarded Masters e8 Scholarship for the year 2010 by Education for Sustainable Energy

Development (ESED) scholarship program, Quebec, Canada

Awarded Asia Pacific Partnership 2010 (APP) sponsorship for the Masters Program

EDUCATION

San Jose State University, San Jose, California May 2016

M.S. Materials Engineering

University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia March 2011

M.S. Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

Anna University, Chennai, India April 2009

B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering

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