R. Stanley Williams
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
R. Stanley Williams begins the interview by discussing his childhood and Sputnik's influence on his decision to study science. Then Williams described his early predisposition towards chemistry and learning from both his father and books from the library. After a positive experience in high school, Williams found himself not as prepared in comparison to his peers at Rice University. Williams worked hard to catch up, and was mentored in microwave spectroscopy by Professor Robert Curl. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Williams worked at Hewlett-Packard for a summer through Robert Curl's connections. At HP Williams worked on photoelectron spectrometers and made some notable contributions. Next Williams worked on photoemission while pursing his graduate degree at the University of California at Berkeley. After receiving his PhD , Williams accepted a position at Bell Laboratories as staff scientist—his research there involved using photoemission to study surface chemistry. Disliking the corporate culture at Bell, Williams moved to University of California at Los Angeles after one year. At UCLA Williams started from scratch and very quickly built up a large research lab. Throughout his stay at UCLA, Williams' research topic ranged from photoemission, ion scattering, STM, and finally AFM. After an earthquake in 1994 destroyed most of his instruments, Williams returned to HP and started a research initiative that eventually evolved into the Quantum Science Research Laboratory (QSR). QSR's four research areas include: nanoelectronics; nanophotonics; nanomechanics; and nanoarchitecture. Williams concludes the interview by offering his thoughts on outside collaboration and funding, the importance of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) to HP, and how he views QSR in relations to other research institutions.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Rice University | BA | Chemical Physics |
1976 | University of California, Berkeley | MS | Physical Chemistry |
1978 | University of California, Berkeley | PhD | Physical Chemistry |
Professional Experience
AT&T Bell Laboratories
University of California, Los Angeles
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Laboratories
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
2000 | Julius Springer Award for Applied Physics |
2000 | Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology |
2002 | Scientific American 50 Top Technology Leaders |
2003 | Herman Bloch Medal for Industrial Research |
2004 | Joel Birnbaum Prize |
2005 | Scientific American 50 Top Technology Leaders |
2007 | Glenn T. Seaborg Medal |
Table of Contents
Early disposition towards science. Growing up in South Texas and interest in chemistry.
High school experience. Undergraduate degree at Rice University. Catching up in classes and studying privately. Being mentored by Robert Curl. Summer position at Hewlett-Packard.
Photoemission work and controversies. Stanford Synchrotron facility experience. Funding and fellowships.
Deciding to be a staff scientist at Bell Labs. Research on photoemission, ion scattering, and STM. Thoughts on corporate politics at Bell Labs. Transition to UCLA.
Building a new lab and learning to write proposals and grants. Difference between industry and academia. Continuing STM research. Expanding research group laboratory space. Efforts to start a research center. Dealing with funding problems and changing research direction. Constructing STM and AFMs. Learning about bulk thermodynamics.
Northridge Earthquake destroying UCLA lab equipment. Accepting HP Lab offer. Setting up instruments and research group. Agilent spinoff and last minute decision to stay with HP. Difference between HP and Bell Labs and thoughts on technology transfer. Origins of the Quantum Science Research Group (QSR) and its research areas. Outside collaborations and funding.
MEMS research and view of QSR in relations to other research institutions.
About the Interviewer
Cyrus Mody is an assistant professor of history at Rice University. Prior to that position he was the manager of the Nanotechnology and Innovation Studies programs in the Center for Contemporary History and Policy at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and materials engineering from Harvard University and a PhD in science and technology studies from Cornell. He was the 2004–2005 Gordon Cain Fellow at CHF before becoming a program manager. Mody has published widely on the history and sociology of materials science, instrumentation, and nanotechnology.