Michael Lane

Michael Lane is the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs in Engineering Science at Emory & Henry College, holding a Professor rank. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry and Physics from Emory & Henry (1995), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University (2000). Prior to academia, he worked at IBM's TJ Watson Research Center (1999–2007), managing the Materials and Reliability Sciences group. His research focuses on materials interfaces, corrosion mechanisms, and nanolayer engineering in semiconductors. He has authored over 50 papers and holds 40 patents, with grants from NSF and industry partners totaling $195,000+ annually. Lane has mentored numerous students who advanced to top graduate programs.

Education:

• Ph.D. and M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University
• B.S., Chemistry and Physics, Emory & Henry College

Research Interests: Focuses on interfacial engineering in materials science, particularly nanolayers for strengthening metal-ceramic interfaces, corrosion mechanisms in low-dielectric thin films, and semiconductor device reliability. His work bridges theoretical models and experimental validation.

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes nanoscale toughening mechanisms (e.g., molecular nanolayers) and environmental effects on material failure, with applications in semiconductor technology and energy systems.

Awards:

• Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award (2014)
• H. Hiter Harris Teaching Award (2012)
• Exemplary Teaching Award (2010)

Advising & Grants: Directed student honors theses on topics like corrosion micro-mechanisms and sensor materials. Secured extramural funding from NSF, Semiconductor Research Corporation, and industry partners like Intel.