I joined the Physics Department of the University of Central Florida in August of 2000. My research interests are ion-solid interactions and the development of new materials for present day high technology applications, as well as future nanoscale devices. In particular, I'm interested in exploring the use of ion beams to synthesize, modify, and analyze these materials. Currently, we are investigating the possibility of using ion implantation to form p-type wide band gap semiconductors, focusing on zinc oxide (ZnO) as representative material. Another area of research is heavy ion backscattering spectrometry, where we are trying to develop an ion beam imaging system for use in the analysis of biological specimens, and of structures with reduced dimensions. Before joining UCF, I spent 14 years at the Research and Development Laboratories of Eastman Kodak Company, in Rochester, New York. At Kodak, I participated in research projects involving the deposition, microstructural development, epitaxy, and ion implantation, of thin films for electronic and optoelectronic applications. For some time, I was also responsible for a materials characterization group that supported research and production activities throughout the company.
I was born in Argentina, where I started my professional training. I received the degree of 'Licenciado' in Physics from the Institute of Physics Dr. J. Balseiro, in Bariloche, Argentina, in 1974. Later, I did my graduate studies in Israel, obtaining the degrees of Master of Science in Physics and Doctor of Science, from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, in 1978 and 1982, respectively. During my graduate thesis work, with Professor Rafi Kalish, I investigated ion implantation of diamonds, using various forms of ion beam analysis, and electronic transport measurements. That work demonstrated p-type doping of diamond by boron implantation. After obtaining my D.Sc. degree, I was awarded a Fellowship from the Bantrell Foundation, to conduct post-doctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Boston. At MIT, I carried out research in: ion beam modification and analysis of graphite and dilute magnetic semiconductors, and in pulsed melting of graphite, in the group of Professor M. S. Dresselhaus. I have authored or co-authored about 90 scientific publications.