Research Interests
High resolution microscopy and spectroscopy (TEM, FEM, FIM, AP), microfabrication, vacuum microelectronics, electron emission.
Education
Ph.D. Materials Science, Stanford
1962
M.S. Metallurgy, University of Illinois 1960
B.S. Metallurgy, University of Wisconsin 1957
Background and Research
John Hren became the department head in 1985, coming from the University of Florida where he was the director of the Center for Analytical Instrumentation. He has also served as chair of the Materials Science and Engineering masters degree program for National Technological University since 1988.
"Finding the best way to educate students of all ages on the relevance of materials science to their lives is my underlying goal. An equally important objective is to demonstrate to my colleagues that materials, correctly chosen, can be solutions to their problems. The use of multimedia as an educational tool is an especially effective way to reach all levels, and we are experimenting with its use. My research is confined to studies of electron emission, especially relevant to vacuum microelectronics; that is, arrays of electron emitters of nanometer scale packaged into micro-sized vacuum devices analogous to vacuum tubes. Coatings, such as diamond on silicon or metal emitters, appear especially promising."
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