Susan Trolier-McKinstry

Susan Trolier-McKinstry is an Evan Pugh University Professor and Steward S. Flaschen Professor of Ceramic Science and Engineering, and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Penn State University. She directs the Center for Dielectrics and Piezoelectrics and the Center for Three-Dimensional Ferroelectric Microelectronics.

• Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Ceramic Science and Engineering from Penn State.

Her research focuses on structure-processing-property relationships in electroceramics, particularly dielectric/piezoelectric films and their applications in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Current projects include CMOS-compatible piezoelectric materials, 3D ferroelectric microelectronics for non-von Neumann architectures, and tunable dielectrics for low-temperature integration.

Scientific Awards include IEEE UFFC-S Achievement Award (2025), Edward C. Henry Award (2024), National Academy of Engineering membership (2019), and IEEE Robert E. Newnham Award (2016).

• Advising: Mentors graduate students such as Casey Zhang and Leonard Jacques.
• Labs: W.M. Keck Smart Materials Integration Laboratory.