Graduate Student Kathryn Smith Received a 2012 PHD Fellowship from IBM. This consists of a $20,000 stipend and a $10,000 educational allowance, to be used towards the student’s education and at the University’s discretion. All Ph.D. Fellowship Awards are eligible for renewal annually and may be awarded for a maximum of three years.

Kathryn joined the School of Chemical Engineering in Fall 2008. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. She is studying the effect of nanoscale thin films on the adhesion of micro- and nano-scale particles to microelectronic substrates.  Her work focuses on measurement and modeling of the fundamental force relationships that control this adhesion, with special focus on van der Waals forces. Kathryn is advised by Professor Steven Beaudoin.