Samuel Graham

Samuel Graham is a Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, with a joint appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. (2003), M.S. (1995), and B.S. (1993) from Georgia Tech and Florida State University. His research focuses on micro/nano engineering, semiconductor reliability, flexible electronics, and energy materials. Key areas include thermal analysis of GaN-based semiconductors, flexible device packaging, and ultra-barrier film technology. He leads the Electronics Manufacturing and Reliability Laboratory (EMRL) and collaborates with the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Florida State University

Research Interests: Explores thermal management in wide bandgap semiconductors (e.g., GaN), packaging for flexible electronics, and energy-efficient materials. His group develops experimental techniques for device-level thermal stress analysis and collaborates with industry and DoD on cooling solutions and barrier film technologies.

Publications: Recent work includes studies on microcantilever heaters, thermal boundary resistance modeling, and nanomaterial transfer for flexible devices. These contributions bridge nanoscale phenomena with practical applications in electronics and energy systems.

Awards:

• Joseph H. Anderer Faculty Fellow (2008-2013)
• NSF Career Award (2005-2010)
• Merchant Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award (2004)

Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary projects with ORNL’s Energy and Transportation Division, NextFlex Consortium, and COPE. Focuses on advancing energy-efficient materials and flexible electronics for harsh environments.