Kennedy Hired as President, EO Japan
Optical components provider Edmund Optics (EO) of Barrington, N.J., announced the appointment of Timothy Paul Kennedy as president, Edmund Optics Japan. Kennedy replaces veteran Isao Wakasa, who pioneered the development of the EO sales location in February 1994 and retired in May 2009. Kennedy's responsibilities include sales, marketing, and operations strategy for the Tokyo team, as well as regional participation in the strategic sales growth for all of Asia. He has five years of experience directing the sales & marketing team at EO Singapore, including the development of the Korean office, multiple Asian Web sites, and a fully translated Japanese Master Source Book. Kennedy has a BS in optical engineering from the University of Arizona and speaks English, Mandarin, and Japanese. (7/3/2009)
Dugan Named DARPA Director
Regina E. Dugan has been appointed as the 19th director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Department of Defense (DoD) announced. DARPA is the principal agency within the DoD for high-risk, high-payoff projects in research, development, and demonstration of concepts, devices, and systems that provide highly advanced military capabilities for current and future combat forces. Dugan has held several key positions in industry, most recently as president and CEO of RedXDefense LLC, which she co-founded in 2005, a company that develops defense against explosive threats. She has also served in senior executive positions in several additional companies in roles ranging from global sales and marketing to research and product development. During her first tour at DARPA from January 1996 to May 2000, Dugan received the program manager of the year award for her leadership of the “Dog’s Nose Program,” which was focused on the development of an advanced, field-portable system for detecting the explosive content of land mines. She is also the recipient of the deFleury Medal, the office of the secretary of defense award for exceptional service, and the award for outstanding achievement. She has participated in wide-ranging studies for the Defense Science Board, the Army Science Board, the National Research Council and Science Foundation, and currently sits on the Naval Research Advisory Committee and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency Science and Technology Panel. Dugan earned her doctorate in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology and her master's and bachelor's degrees from Virginia Tech. She is the co-author of “Engineering Thermodynamics” (1996), sole inventor on one issued patent and inventor or co-inventor on nine additional patents pending. (7/3/2009)
Bruker Gets 1st EPR Spectrometer Order
Bruker BioSpin of Karlsruhe, Germany, announced its first order for an Elexsys™ E780 system, the first commercial mm-wave 263-GHz EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectrometer and its EPR division's first foray into quasi-optical microwave technology. The E780 incorporates a
 |
A very high frequency EPR probe. (Photo: Bruker BioSpin)
|
unique superconducting magnet that can be ramped up to 12 Tesla, and when combined with new EPR probe technology for optimum sensitivity, can measure large samples up to 5 mm. The E780 provides multiple turnkey operation modes including CW- and Pulse-EPR, as well as ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance) and ELDOR (electron-electron double resonance), enabling research groups to use 263-GHz EPR technology routinely for the first time. The first E780 system is expected to be installed at the Helmholtz-Zentrum in Berlin in late 2009 for pioneering new EPR applications in solar energy and photovoltaic research, as the new instrument can provide important details about the structure of defects in thin-film silicon solar cells. The complete E780 order totals more than $2.2 million and was supported by the recent German stimulus package “Konjunkturpaket.” It represents the start of a new research collaboration project between Bruker and the Helmholtz-Zentrum on EPR probe development for electrical detection. (7/3/2009)
Universal Display Nabs $750K for Flexible OLEDs
Phosphorescent organic LED (PHOLED) provider Universal Display Corp. of Ewing, N.J., has been awarded a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a nonglass, ejection-safe, flexible OLED display prototype for prospective use by pilots in tactical cockpit settings. Combined with military display systems from L-3 Comunications and backplane technology from LG Display, the PHOLED display prototype will be energy efficient, offer full-color video rate and have wireless communications capabilities. In addition, it will be flexible enough to be wrapped around a cylinder for easy storage during flight. The design goal is to provide Air Force pilots with a replacement for printed maps and checklists typically held on their knees in tactical cockpits. In Phase I, Universal demonstrated the initial technical feasibility of such a display. Under terms of Phase II, the team will deliver four breadboard subsystems based on a bright 6-in. diagonal, full-color, low power consumption PHOLED display on flexible metal foil. These displays will then be wrapped around cylinders containing power supplies and wireless communications electronics for evaluation in a tactical cockpit setting. (7/2/2009)
UK, China Fund Spintronics Study
A team of researchers from the University of Surrey and two other institutions have been awarded a grant of around £430,000 (about $704,000) to develop prototype ultrasmall-scale silicon structures for "spintronic" semiconductors. Jointly awarded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Science Foundation of China, the three-year grant exploits Chinese expertise in silicon fabrication nanotechnology and UK expertise in observing and controlling the way electrons spin within semiconductors. "Silicon-Based Nanospintronics" brings together experts from the London Centre for Nanotechnology at University College London, the Institute of Microelectronics at Peking University and the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute who have proposed a new way of manipulating electron spins with laser beams. The work could eventually lead to cheaper and more sophisticated processing technologies for computers. The spin of electrons is a fundamental quantum mechanical phenomenon which causes them to behave like small magnets. In normal electronic devices the spin is not relevant, but the increased energy dissipation and performance variability associated with smaller devices is spurring a search for "spintronic" methods and devices where information is carried by the spin itself. While silicon has not been the material of choice for spintronic research to date because of its very weak magnetic properties, there is interest because of its extremely high purity and the far cheaper and more sophisticated processing technologies available for silicon. (7/2/2009)
First AFM Bioworkshop in Taiwan
Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Asylum Research, in conjunction with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), will host the first Taiwan AFM Bioworkshop to be held July 30-31, 2009 at NHRI, Zhunan Campus, in Taiwan. The AFM Bioworkshop will combine talks from leading researchers and industry experts on AFM for life science applications, as well as instructional AFM demonstrations using Asylum Research’s MFP-3D AFM. Speakers include Hsien-Chang Chang, National Cheng Kung University; Shuchen Hsieh of National Sun Yat-sen University; Ming-Long Yeh, National Cheng Kung University; Je-Wen Liou of Tzu Chi University; as well as Sophia Hohlbauch and Amir Moshar, application scientists at Asylum Research. Topics covered include principles of AFM, biological imaging, force spectroscopy, integration of AFM and optical microscopy, sample preparation, application examples and future directions in AFM. The event is free to all researchers in the field of AFM. Additional workshop information and registration can be found at
www.asylumresearch.com (7/1/2009)
Spectranetics Taps New Senior VP
Spectranetics Corp., a laser systems manufacturer located in Colorado Springs, Colo., announced the appointment of Jason Hein to the position of senior vice president, sales, marketing and product development for both the Vascular Intervention and Lead Management businesses. Hein joined the company in July 2006. Spectranetics also announced that Renee Boehme, director, lead management sales has been promoted to vice President, US Sales – Lead Management. According to Emile Geisenheimer, the company’s president and CEO, the reorganization eliminates the position of VP, general manager, Vascular Intervention. (7/1/2009)
Mouser, Honeywell Expand to Asia
Mouser Electronics Inc., an electronic component distributor located in Mansfield, Texas, announced its distribution authorization with Honeywell Sensing and Control has been expanded into Asia. Golden Valley, Minn.-based Honeywell Sensing and Control, a strategic business unit of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, brings its engineering solutions to more than 50,000 products that include switches and sensors. Mouser currently has branch locations throughout Asia, in countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. In addition to Asia, Mouser’s global presence expands to the United States, Mexico, Israel, and several throughout Europe, as well as other authorized partners around the world. (6/30/2009)
Prysmian, Draka Discuss Merger
Prysmian, a company that deals in high-technology cables and systems based in Milan, Italy, has entered into preliminary discussions with cable solutions company, Draka, about possibly combining the two companies, which will be implemented through a share for share cross-border statutory merger with Prysmian as the surviving entity. According to the companies, the discussions are at a preliminary phase and any proposed transaction will be submitted to the respective boards for approval only if, and when, the main elements of the combination will be sufficiently defined. Any proposed transaction would be subject to several conditions, including shareholders’ approval, financing and employee consultation procedures. Because of this, there is no assurance at this stage that a transaction of any kind will take place. (6/29/2009)
Boston Scientific Taps New CEO
Natick, Mass-based Boston Scientific Corp. has announced that Jim Tobin will retire from the position of president and CEO, effective July 13, 2009. The company’s board of directors has also announced that it has appointed Ray Elliott as the new president and CEO. Elliott, 59, has more than 35 years of experience leading health care and consumer products companies. He led the orthopedics company Zimmer Holdings Inc. for 10 years, joining the company as president and rising to become chairman, president and CEO. Prior to joining Zimmer, he served as president and CEO of Cybex International Inc., a medical rehabilitation and cardiovascular products company. He has also served as president and chairman of various divisions of Southam Inc., a communications group, and as group president of the food and beverage company John Labatt Ltd. He began his career in the health care industry with American Hospital Supply Corp. - now Baxter International Inc. - where he served for 15 years in sales, marketing, operations, business development and general management positions, leading to his appointment as president of all the Far East divisions, based in Tokyo. He has also served on a number of boards, including AdvaMed, where he was chair of its orthopedics sector. He was a member of the Boston Scientific board of directors from 2007 until earlier this year. In addition to serving as president and CEO of Boston Scientific, he will rejoin the board. (6/29/2009)