Julia Phillips (physicist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Julia M. Phillips
Born (1954-08-17) August 17, 1954 (age 67)
Freeport
NationalityUnited States
Alma mater
Known for
  • Materials science
  • Science policy
AwardsGeorge E. Pake Prize
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
Institutions
ThesisElectronic excitation of helium and krypton by electron impact (1981)
Doctoral advisorShek-Fu Wong

Julia Mae Phillips (born August 17, 1954)[1] is an American physicist. She began her career in materials research on thin films on semiconductors and has transitioned into leadership roles in science policy. She currently serves on the National Science Board.

Early life and education[]

Phillips was born in 1954 in Freeport, Illinois.[1] Her father and grandfathers were doctors. Growing up in a rural area, she often went out stargazing.[2] When she was in fifth grade, a teacher showed her how to triangulate to calculate distances, which further motivated her to study astronomy. Her mother was supportive and bought Phillips and her brother science kits. Phillips found the quantitative and objective nature of science appealing.[2] She graduated from Freeport High School in 1972 as valedictorian.[3]

She completed an undergraduate degree in physics at the College of William & Mary in 1976.[3] Her undergraduate honors thesis was entitled Neutral differential cross section measurements in collisions of cl ̄with the rare gases.[4] She was mentored by John Delos.[5]

Phillips went on to complete a master's and PhD at Yale University.[6] Shortly before completing her PhD, Phillips's supervisor had a nervous breakdown, which was a lesson to Phillips in reaching out for assistance when needed.[2] Her 1981 doctoral thesis was on the topic of Electronic excitation of helium and krypton by electron impact.[7]

Career[]

Phillips worked at Bell Labs starting in 1981.[6] She has noted that the environment at Bell Labs was excellent for research freedom and collaboration and could be a model for new research centers.[8] She was a member of the technical staff until 1988 when was promoted to a supervisor role.[9]

Phillips researched thin film epitaxial materials and oxides on semiconductors for potential electronics applications.[6] She dubbed this work "lunatic fringe molecular beam epitaxy".[2] She also contributed to high-temperature superconductors and transparent conducting materials.[2]

In 1995, she joined Sandia National Laboratories and in 2001, she became a Director of the Sandia Physical, Chemical, and Nano Sciences Center. Between 2005 and 2007, she was also a Director of the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT).[10] Phillips's last role at Sandia was as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. She retired in 2015, though remains an Emeritus Director.[6][11] In New Mexico, Phillips was a major figure in the nanotechnology industry and advised the governor's office on how to foster tech start-ups and interest students in science careers. She has been praised for her energy and commitment to high-quality research with a positive, long-term impact. She managed 180 people and a budget over $45 million.[3]

In 2016, Phillips was appointed to the National Science Board by President Barack Obama on a six year term. This role involves advising the National Science Foundation and the president on matters related to science policy and innovation in the United States.[12][13] Phillips was excited to take on the responsibility and ensure that scientific research in the US remains of a high caliber.[13]

In 2020, Phillips became a President’s Distinguished Scholar at the University of Vermont, a mentorship role to support leadership and technology transfer.[11] She is a proponent of interdisciplinary materials research to solve problems related to energy, sustainability and medicine. She believes that a variety of perspectives and domains of expertise will lead to new breakthroughs. Phillips serves on the External Advisory Board of MIT's Materials Research Laboratory.[14][15]

Phillips has chaired the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Condensed Matter Physics and served as president of the Materials Research Society in 1995.[16] She has been an editor for numerous physics journals including Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Applied Physics, Applied Physics Reviews, and Journal of Materials Research. She holds five patents.[10] From 2016 to 2020, she was Home Secretary of the National Academy of Engineering.[17] She is a founding member of Expert Connect.[18]

Awards and honours[]

Personal life[]

In 1989, Phillips married a now-retired neurobiologist. Phillips and her husband are both musicians. She plays the flute and he plays the piano. The couple had two daughters. One daughter, Julia Connor, is a violinist[3] while the other, Bridget Connor, is a chemist.[29]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Phillips, Julia M." history.aip.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e Madsen, Lynnette (2016-02-01). Successful Women Ceramic and Glass Scientists and Engineers: 100 Inspirational Profiles. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-73360-8.
  3. ^ a b c d Robinson-Avila, Kevin (2007-11-11). "The matchmaker". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Phillips, Julia Mae (1976). Neutral differential cross section measurements in collisions of cl ̄with the rare gases (Thesis). OCLC 9010309.
  5. ^ "Julia Phillips". www.aip.org. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  6. ^ a b c d stephanie.shaw@nist.gov (2019-04-29). "Julia Phillips - Biography". NIST. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  7. ^ Phillips, Julia Mae (1981). Electronic excitation of helium and krypton by electron impact (Thesis). New Haven] CT. OCLC 702698339.
  8. ^ "Harvard's incomparable Venky". www.seas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  9. ^ "Julia Mae Phillips, Ph.D., Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who's Who". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  10. ^ a b c "2008 George E. Pake Prize Recipient". www.aps.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ a b "Renowned Scientist Becomes First President's Distinguished Scholar at UVM". www.uvm.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  12. ^ "President Obama Appoints Morgan Research Division VP To National Science Board". Morgan State University Newsroom. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  13. ^ a b c Labs, Sandia (2016-10-27). "Sandia National Laboratories: Former Sandia VP named to National Science Board". Sandia Labs. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  14. ^ "Interdisciplinary materials science a key to progress". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  15. ^ "Introducing the Materials Research Laboratory at MIT". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  16. ^ "Past MRS Presidents". www.mrs.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  17. ^ a b "Julia M. Phillips". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  18. ^ "Expert Connect". National Science and Technology Medals Foundation. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  19. ^ "5 Sigma Physicist Award". www.aps.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  20. ^ Ayala, Christine (2018-08-04). "Walking the nuclear risk tightrope". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  21. ^ Administrator, Who's Who Site (2018-12-27). "Julia Mae Phillips". Who's Who Lifetime Achievement. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  22. ^ "List of MRS Fellows | Materials science awards". www.mrs.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  23. ^ "Dr. Julia M. Phillips". NAE Website. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  24. ^ "Yale Awards Wilbur Cross Medals to Graduate School Alumni". YaleNews. 2004-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  25. ^ "Elected Fellows | American Association for the Advancement of Science". www.aaas.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  26. ^ "Daily News Briefs". www.photonics.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  27. ^ "Woody Award Recipients | MRS Awards". www.mrs.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  28. ^ "APS Fellow Archive". www.aps.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  29. ^ "Julia Phillips". EngineerGirl. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
Retrieved from ""