Workshops & Panels

Tuesday, July 11 | 9:00am - 10:30am

Abstract: The workshop will review scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) and SThM applications. It will discuss heat transfer mechanisms at the nanoscale, SThM tip-sample heat transfer interactions, spatial resolution and sensitivity for thermal characterization, accurate theoretical models to extract sample temperatures and thermal conductivity, as well as limitations of the technique. The discussion will mainly focus on SThM using resistive and thermocouple type probes, recent developments and commercially available probes, AFM platforms, and calibration methods. The workshop will evaluate available SThM probes and discuss the experimental setups used with emphasis on practical use. Finally, it will discuss various relevant applications in material science, semiconductor, and biology.

Learning outcomes: heat transfer mechanisms at the nanoscale, theoretical models for SThM based thermal conductivity and temperature measurements, SThM probes, evaluation of commercially available SThM systems, experimental SThM setups, SThM applications.

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Workshop Leaders

Dr. Theodorian (Theo) Borca-Tasciuc
Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Department
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

Dr. Theodorian (Theo) Borca-Tasciuc has a B.S. in Physics from Bucharest University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. He started his academic career in 2001 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and since 2013 he is a full professor. He is the director of the Nanoscale Thermophysics and Energy Conversion Laboratory (NanoTEC) on the Rensselaer campus. His research interests include development of advanced metrology techniques for fast, accurate, and high spatial resolution characterization of thermal and thermoelectric properties, fundamental and multiscale investigations of thermal transport and energy conversion particularly in solid-state and development of innovative materials, devices, and systems with applications ranging from sustainable buildings to medical devices. He received the NSF CAREER award, School of Engineering Outstanding Team award, is a member of the ASME’s K8 committee on Fundamentals of Heat Transfer, and a member of the ASME's K-9 committee on Nanoscale Thermal Transport. He organized and chaired multiple symposia and sessions on nanoscale thermal transport and energy conversion with ASME, MRS, and CIMTEC International Conferences.

 

Dr. Angelo Gaitas
Icahn School of Medicine
Mount Sinai, New York, NY

Dr. Angelo Gaitas is an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai (ISMMS), where he is currently focused on developing AFM based single cell analysis methods. One of these includes a MEMS thermocouple cantilever with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This innovative device will allow for the direct measurement of temperature variations at the nanoscale, enabling a deeper understanding of the role temperature gradients play in cellular function.

Dr. Gaitas has extensive training in micro- and nano-engineering, physics, and project management in biomedical engineering. He is the leader of a research group that specializes in the development of new devices for single-cell measurements. His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics, a Master's in Mesoscopic Physics/Nanotechnology, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Microsystems from Delft.

Prior to joining ISMMS, Dr. Gaitas worked as a Research Associate in Microsystems at the University of Michigan and founded a small business focused on the commercialization of MEMS devices including SThM devices for AFM applications. He has served as a Principal Investigator on several small business research grants from the NSF and NIH, totaling more than $4.5 million. These grants supported the development of thermal microdevices and other MEMS devices with applications in semiconductors, material characterization, and biomedical research.

Dr. Gaitas has invented and developed novel sensors and actuators for temperature and mechanical measurement and microfluidics, including scanning thermal probes for AFM measurements. His scanning thermal probe sensors were successfully commercialized and used in various research and commercial settings. Dr. Gaitas has published 34 peer-reviewed journal papers, many of which focus on SThM, and holds eight issued patents.

 

Tuesday, July 11 | 1:45pm - 3:15pm

K8 Theory and Fundamental Research

Presenter, Discussion Lead:

Van P. Carey
University of California at Berkeley

Approximate duration: 2 hours (1.5 hr presentation and 0.5 hr for questions/discussion)

Workshop Abstract: This workshop will begin with a presentation that will aim to summarize the features and uses of data science-based machine learning tools that may be relevant to researchers with interests in heat transfer, thermophysics and/or energy technology development. Principles behind genetic algorithms and neural network models will be discussed together with the features of thermophysics, heat transfer and associated energy technologies that can dictate the types of data science tools that are most useful. Pathways to access open-source python machine learning computational tools will be described with recommendations on how to get started. Typical Computer program algorithm structures will be described.

The presentation will aim to provide information that an investigator can use to initiate research use of machine learning tools, with the target audience being young ME faculty or researchers who want to grow their knowledge of machine learning tools, or more senior faculty who may want to provide a path to train post doc or grad student researchers. Several aspects of using machine learning tools will be described including:

• Physics based models and data science models of system behavior – can they be complementary perspectives?
• Strategies to achieve a synergistic combination of physics-based modeling and machine learning tools that yield more than the sum of the parts.
• Use of machine learning tools for energy component/system design optimization.
• Machine-learning-based energy system adaptive control.
• Use of machine learning tools to make strategic choices in research experiments or device performance tests

Strategies for incorporating machine learning data science into engineering education will also be discussed and a new graduate course entitled Machine Learning Tools for Modeling Energy Transport and Conversion Processes that is being taught in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley will be described. The structure and topic coverage will be explained and student class project examples using machine learning tools for design optimization and adaptive control of energy systems will be presented. The final segment of this workshop will be dedicated to questions and discussion.

Professor Carey is widely recognized for his research on near-interface micro/nanoscale thermophysics and transport in liquid-vapor systems, and computational modeling and simulation of energy conversion and transport processes. His research has frequently included modeling at multiple scales, ranging from the molecular level (molecular dynamics simulation of thermophysics) to the device and system level (multidevice system models). His research is also exploring the use of machine learning strategies to enhance performance of energy conversion and transport in applications, and create energy technologies that can autonomously adapt to maximize their performance and reduce their environmental impact.

Since joining the Berkeley faculty in 1982, Professor Carey’s research has spanned a variety of applications areas, including high performance solar thermal power systems, building and vehicle air conditioning, smelting and casting of aluminum, phase change thermal energy storage, heat pipes for aerospace applications, high heat flux cooling of electronics, data center thermal management, and energy efficiency of digital information systems. His research has also contributed to developing advanced heat rejection technologies for electronics cooling, building AC systems, and power plants, and developed performance models for Tesla turbine expanders for green energy conversion technologies and thermionic power generation technologies for space applications.

Carey’s current research emphasizes development of strategies to use machine learning tools to better understand and model flame spread processes in electronic systems and the physics of boiling heat transfer at surfaces covered with hydrophilic nanostructured coatings. This includes exploring innovative ways to combine advanced instrumentation data and machine learning image analysis to understand the physics of boiling processes. He is also using machine learning tools to enhance performance modeling of energy conversion devices, and developing machine-learning-based adaptive energy conversion systems that can autonomously adjust their operation to simultaneously maximize energy efficiency and meet operating requirements for the application of interest.

Carey is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and he has also served as the Chair of the Heat Transfer Division of ASME. Carey received the James Harry Potter Gold Medal in 2004 for his eminent achievement in thermodynamics, and the Heat Transfer Memorial Award in the Science category (2007) from the ASME. Carey is also a three-time recipient of the Hewlett Packard Research Innovation Award for his research on electronics thermal management and energy efficiency (2008, 2009, and 2010), and he received the 2014 Thermophysics Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Tuesday, July 11 | 3:45pm - 5:15pm

Organizing Committee: K8 on Fundamental Research

Panel Moderators: Dr. Amitabh Narain, Michigan Technological University, and Dr. An Zou, Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc.

Panelists:
Dr. Richard Bonner, Chief Technology Officer, Accelsius, Austin, TX
Dr. Nahson Eadelson, Zutacor Corporation, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder
Dr. Sukhvinder Kang, Aavid, Thermal Division of Boyd Corporation, Chief Technology Officer
Jeff Zahnd, APC International, Inc., Vice President of Engineering
Dr. Reza Shaeri, Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc., R&D Engineer III
Dr. Gilbert Moreno, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Senior Research Engineer (Power Electronics Thermal Management)
Navid Gougol, Yektasonics, Inc., CEO, and Founder

The primary goal of this interactive panel is to create a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas and insights on cutting-edge advancements and pressing challenges in the field of electronics cooling and thermal management. To kick off the panel, each panelist will deliver a brief presentation that delves into the current and emerging hurdles the electronics industry faces. These presentations will highlight the existing knowledge gaps that impede the development of efficient solutions to address these rapidly evolving demands.

The panelists will explore a diverse array of topics within electronic cooling and thermal management, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The discussion will emphasize key aspects such as high heat flux and efficient, and environmentally friendly cooling approaches for components that span from computer chips to entire data centers. The panel will also delve into thermal management for eMobility batteries, electric machines, and autonomous computing electronics, underlining the crucial role of maintaining safe operating temperatures for achieving optimal performance. To encourage dynamic and engaging interactions, the presentations will be interspersed with lively discussions involving both the panelists and the audience.

Tuesday, July 11 | 11:00-12:30 AM

Co-Moderators:
Zhuomin Zhang, Georgia Institute of Technology
Patrick Hopkins, University of Virginia

Synopsis: Nano/microscale heat transfer emerged as an active research field around late 1980s, pioneered by late Professor Chang-Lin Tien along with his mentees and promoted by many distinguished leaders in the heat transfer community. Significant progress has been made in both research and engineering education in this field over the past 30 years. This panel focuses on the educational aspects of nanoscale heat transfer at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, such as the development of textbooks, teaching tools, mentorship, and teaching methods. Panelists will share their experiences and audience will participate in the discussion or ask questions.

Panelists/Topics:
Timothy Fisher, University of California – Los Angeles, Modern, Interactive Programming Tools for Enhanced Learning and Assessment

Xiulin Ruan, Purdue University, Onsite and Online Delivery of Nanoscale Thermal Transport Curriculum

Jun Liu, North Carolina State University, Project-based Learning of Molecular-level Theory and Modeling Techniques

Patrick Hopkins, University of Virginia, Hands-on Experimental-based Module for Nanoscale Thermal Conductivity Measurements

Zhuomin Zhang, Georgia Institute of Technology, Textbooks and Monographs in Nanoscale Thermal Transport