Bio
Dr. Sumner B. Harris is currently an R&D Associate working within the Data NanoAnalytics Group at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from The University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama in 2021 working on plasma diagnostics, plume simulation, and epitaxial growth of FeSe with pulsed laser deposition (PLD). He was postdoctoral researcher in the Functional Hybrid Nanomaterials group at CNMS between 2021-2023 where he focused on nanomaterials synthesis with PLD using in situ diagnostics (Raman/photoluminescence, plume imaging, ion probe, reflectivity) as feedback for precision and/or autonomous synthesis experiments. Currently, his work revolves around applying AI/ML techniques to materials synthesis and the development of automated PLD tools, workflows, and algorithms for autonomous synthesis of thin film materials.
Awards
2020 UAB Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies at the Doctoral Level
2020 UAB College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Award
2020 Outstanding Physics Graduate Student Award
Education
Ph.D. in Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. 2021
M.S. in Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. 2017
B.S. in Physics, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA. 2015