Philip D. Rack

Philip D. Rack is a Professor and the Leonard G. Penland Chair at the University of Tennessee's Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the Tickle College of Engineering. He also serves as Director of the Center for Materials Processing. His career spans over two decades in academia and industry, with significant contributions to advanced materials processing and nanofabrication techniques.

Dr. Rack earned his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida in 1997, following a Magna Cum Laude bachelor's degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993. His research program focuses on three main areas: combinatorial thin film synthesis for rapid materials discovery, materials integration and nanofabrication for advanced device applications, and nanoscale focused electron beam stimulated processing. These research directions have led to significant advances in nanofabrication techniques, particularly in electron beam induced deposition and etching.

His recent publications reveal a continued evolution of his research toward advanced materials discovery using combinatorial methods, high entropy alloys, and sophisticated nanofabrication techniques. A notable trend is the integration of machine learning with microscopy and materials characterization, reflecting the growing importance of artificial intelligence in materials science. His work spans multiple disciplines including nanotechnology, electron microscopy, thin film science, and advanced manufacturing.

• 2020, 2016, 2013 University of Tennessee College of Engineering Research Fellow Award
• 2018 AVS Fellowship
• 2017, 2016 CNMS Division Award for Distinguished Scientific Paper, ORNL
• Multiple earlier Research Fellow Awards (2009, 2007, 2006)
• Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Achievement Award (2003)

Dr. Rack has secured numerous research grants supporting his work in nanofabrication and materials processing, including collaborations with Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he has contributed to the development of vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays. His laboratory features specialized equipment including a multi-source rf magnetron sputtering system capable of combinatorial thin film deposition and a focused electron beam system for nanoscale processing. His research group has developed innovative techniques for nanoscale directed assembly, electron beam induced deposition and etching, and combinatorial materials discovery.