My Research Interests

My research interests lie primarily in the areas of design and advanced manufacturing with focus on improvement and efficiency.  I have had the opportunity to investigate the application of design for the environment and green manufacturing to lead-free soldering technologies in electronics production.  I am interested in researching those principles in other areas to include product level electronics, automotive products, and processing industries.  My ongoing design-for-the-environment research will include the economic, cultural, and supply chain aspects of manufacturing.

Most of my interest centers on the research I did during the completion of my doctoral dissertation in Mechanical Engineering for the University of Maryland.  I was fortunate to work as a Research Assistant in the Computer-Aided Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) Electronic Products and Systems Center on campus.  My dissertation was entitled "Assessing the Migration to Lead-free Electronics."  Related research areas include those that I cover in my Design for Society and Sustainable Engineering Principles classes.  I enjoy studying topics such as environmental improvement and environmental responsibility.

In terms of product and process improvements, I am interested in manufacturing efficiencies that include production through-put rate, yield rate, cost reduction, and miniaturization.  I am also interested in applying acquired and researched manufacturing experience to advanced processes in nanofabrication and micro-scale design. 

I have recently worked on a material flow analysis of naphthalene for the Environmental Protection Agency.  Final results will be included in a paper that is in progress.  Analysis steps and procedures can be applied to other priority chemicals.  Such applications will provide further opportunities for environmental improvement by hazardous material elimination.

Please contact me at rcc102@psu.edu for any information regarding this topic. I have a way to go on the dissertation, but I am committed to environmental improvement and plan to remain active in the pursuit thereof.

Last updated: 28 September 2006