Research Interests:

• Development and characterization of advanced ceramics and composites for high temperature and severe environment applications; neutron and high energy particle irradiation effects in metals, alloys and ceramics, emphasis on irradiation effects on properties and microstructures of carbide ceramics and composites; influence of helium production on irradiation effects in metals and ceramics at elevated temperatures.

Education:

• University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
• PhD, Materials Science, 1994
• MS, Materials Science, 1991
• BS, Materials Science, 1988

Professional Experience:

• 7/2003 - present: Research Staff, Materials Science and Technology Division (formerly Metals and Ceramics Division), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
• 11/1996 – 7/2003: Associate Professor, Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Associate Professor, concurrently, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
• 4/1999 – 7/2004: Visiting Scientist, Oarai Engineering Center, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, Oarai, Japan
• 4/1997 – 3/1999: Visiting Associate Professor, Fusion Engineering Division, National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki, Japan
• 3/1995 – 10/1996: Research Associate, Research Operations Division, National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki, Japan
• 10/1994 – 2/1995: Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Materials Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Teaching Experience:

• Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, 1996-2003.
• Co-supervised 19 PhD students and 12 MS students.
• Courses: Physics of Energy Conversion Materials, Fall 2002, Fall 2000, Fall 1998; Materials for High Quality Energy Systems, Fall 1999, Fall 1997.

Honors and Awards:

• Fusion Power Associates Board of Directors' Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award, 2006, for his outstanding scientific contributions and leadership role in the development of new, attractive silicon carbide composites for potential use in fusion power plants of the future.
• Awarded, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1996 – 1997
• Finished PhD Course with Academic Honors
• Awarded, Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1994 – 1996
• Invited Participation to Numerous International Conferences
  • 9th International Symposium on Ceramic Materials and Components for Energy and Environmental Applications (2008CMCEE), November 10-14, 2008, Shanghai, China.
  • American Nuclear Society 18th Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (18th TOFE), September 28 - October 2, 2008, San Francisco, CA.
  • 2nd International Symposium on New Frontier of Advanced Si-Based Ceramics and Composites (ISASC-2008), June 8-11, 2008, Jeju, Korea.

Major Professional Activities:

• Chair, IEA Fusion Materials Agreement Working Group on SiC/SiC Ceramic Composites for Fusion Energy Applications
• Chair, ASTM International Subcommittee C28.07 on Ceramic Matrix Composites
• Member, The American Ceramic Society
• Member, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
• Past member in the following professional organizations: Japan Institute of Metals / Japan Society of Plasma Science and Fusion Research / Editorial Board member, Journal of Plasma and Fusion Research, 2002-2003 / Atomic Energy Society of Japan (Secretary, Materials Science and Technology Division, 2001-2002, Member, Scientific Program Committee, Fusion Engineering Division, 2003) / Japan Society of Applied Physics

Technical Inventions:

• Greater than 20 patents (granted + pending) applied. Mostly related to processing of silicon carbide-based ceramic composites.

Recent Conference Organization:

• Co-organizer, Symposium on Processing, Properties and Performance of Engineering -Ceramics and Composites, the 32nd International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics & Composites, January 21-26, 2007, Daytona Beach, Florida.
• Co-organizer, Symposium on Processing, Properties and Performance of Engineering Ceramics and Composites, the 31st International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics & Composites, January 21-26, 2007, Daytona Beach, Florida.
• Co-organizer, Symposium on Ceramics in Nuclear and Alternative Energy Applications, the 30th International Conference & Exposition on Advanced Ceramics & Composites, January 22-27, 2006, Cocoa Beach, Florida.
• Co-organizer, 2nd JSME/ASME International Conference on Materials and Processing, June 19-22, 2005, Seattle, Washington.
• Co-organizer, The 11th International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials, December 7-12, 2003, Kyoto, Japan.

Publications: