Materials Application Research Center Leadership

Dr. Shreek Mandayam, 
Vice President for Research, has announced the following:

Starting on September 1, 2024, MARC will be led by co-directors Dr. Edwin Piner (Physics) and Dr. Yatin Karpe (Innovation and Commercialization). MARC is funded by the Texas Legislature to accelerate the development of new technologies using advanced materials from concept to commercial production.

 Dr. Piner has had a distinguished career at the intersection of science and technology commercialization. His research--focused on the growth, characterization, semiconductor fabrication, and performance optimization of gallium nitride, aluminum nitride, and their alloys--has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Research Foundation, and the U.S. Army. His team has pioneered techniques for growing single-crystal on patterned diamond, enabling direct contact between III-Nitride semiconductors and diamond, which is expected to revolutionize thermal transport and device performance in harsh environments.

 Dr. Karpe joined TXST as the AVP for Innovation and Commercialization in September 2023. With over 22 years of experience, he has accelerated efforts at TXST to translate academic discoveries into commercial products and enhance external economic engagement. He will also continue his involvement with several professional organizations, including the AUTM Foundation. He also serves on committees of several regional, national, and international organizations, such as the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), that advance innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization of academic research.