James A. Bain

James A. Bain is a Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and serves as Associate Director of the Data Storage Systems Center (DSSC). Bain’s research focuses on magnetic, optical, and resistive switching devices for information storage, including heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) and phase change materials.

• Education: B.S. (1988) in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania; M.S. (1991) and Ph.D. (1993) in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

His work spans nanotechnology, energy-efficient computing, RF metrology, and multiphysics modeling. Bain’s research has received recognition through the Scott Institute seed grant for energy research. He has co-authored over 225 papers and holds a leadership role as ECE’s Associate Department Head for Academic Affairs since 2018. His laboratory investigates thermal transport, device reliability, and emerging memory architectures.

Recent publications highlight advancements in HAMR thermal management, resistive switching dynamics, and phase-change RF switches. Bain’s expertise intersects with the IEEE Magnetics, Electron Devices, and Photonics Societies, as well as the Materials Research Society.