Shashank Sharma
Post-doctoral Research Associate
Quantum Science Research
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
1501 Page Mill Road
M/S 1123
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Ph: 650.236.4031
Fax: 650.236.9885
Email:
shanku98@yahoo.com
I am currently a post-doctoral research associate in the Quantum Science Research (QSR) group at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories in Palo Alto, CA. I received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville in August 2000 and May 2003 respectively. During my stay at UofL and as a part of the CVD group, I received top-notch academic training along with valuable experience in materials research. My doctoral research under Prof. Sunkara’s guidance focused on bulk nucleation and growth of inorganic 1-D nanostructures using a unique approach that we discovered and developed at UofL. In this approach, multiple nanometer scale nuclei form in large pools of non-catalytic, low-melting metal melts exposed to an activated gas phase containing the appropriate growth precursors. The nanoscale nuclei subsequently grow in one dimension in the form of nanowires and nanotubes. Being a part of the CVD group also got me opportunities to travel to a number of prestigious national meetings of AIChE, MRS, and AVS to present my work and form acquaintances with eminent researchers in my field.
In May 2003, I was awarded with the John M. Houchens prize by the University of Louisville for outstanding dissertation among the graduating class of May 2003. I was also a recipient of the Graduate Dean's citation. I was nominated to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 2001 and elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National All University Honor Society in May 2000. Prior to joining the graduate program at UofL, I secured 6th rank and was among the top 0.51% of all the students appearing in the All India entrance examination for the post graduate chemical engineering program in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in March 1998.
"When I look back, my almost five years in the CVD group were some of the most enjoyable and intellectually stimulating years of my life. CVD group offered me a unique research environment in which my research aptitude grew gradually through a learning process that by the end of my graduate studies made me a competent researcher for an industrial research lab setting of HP Labs. This learning process involved “getting my hands dirty”, trying new things, quizzing myself about various experimental observations (and making scientific sense of them by finding the right answers), and getting different perspectives from my very sharp colleagues. Speaking of colleagues, fun company of my fellow CVD group members will always be the most memorable part of my stay at UofL !"
I joined the Quantum Science Research (QSR) group at HP Labs in April of 2003. My work at HP Labs focuses primarily on using chemical vapor deposition to form nanostructures by “self-assembly” approach. In this approach, the chemical reactions providing the precursors for nanowire growth (silicon and germanium) are locally enhanced by a metal catalyst. I focus my efforts on controlling both the catalyzing nanoparticles and also the chemical reactions providing the silicon or germanium.
