Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development

Appointment of Director of Defense Research Relations: Bruce LaMattina

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce LaMattina, Ph.D., P.E. as Director of Defense Research Relationships in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate and Professional Education.

Dr. LaMattina will be instrumental in providing leadership in creating research proposals, promoting the university’s research capabilities and identifying the research needs of funding organizations.  He will also work closely with assisting faculty in matching their research capabilities with the needs of various federal agencies.  In particular, his focus will be on building relationships with the United States Department of Defense.

Dr. LaMattina received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware. Most recently Dr. LaMattina has served as the Branch Chief, Army Research Office (ARO) for Solid Mechanics with the U.S. Army. Some of his accomplishments at ARO  include broadening the scope of solid mechanics research by developing a new research thrust linking solid mechanics to biology, medicine, sensors and electronics.  He has also successfully increased the ARO solid mechanics budget by leveraging funds from DARPA and other agencies which have resulted in significant funding increases to the Army. During his tenure there, the Solid Mechanics Program has steadily grown, tripling in size within the first five years. He has also developed strong collaborations with ONR, AFOSR, MRMC and others.

AFOSR Sponsored Research Opportunities seminar: March 24, 2011

A seminar will be given on AFOSR-sponsored research opportunities in the area of "mechanics of multifunctional materials and microsystems."  New challenge has been to develop multifunctional load-bearing structures with integrated specific functionalities such as sensing and detection of threats, healing and remediation of damage, thermal management, built-in communication channel, self-supply of power, etc.  It is hoped that individual elements of materials and microsystems are simultaneously participating in distinct, beneficial physical processes thereby delivering truly dramatic improvements in system-level efficiency instead of incremental improvements encountered in mono-functional materials.  The current research efforts are guided by numerous examples of biological systems, in which jointed frameworks and complex materials impart active functionality at multiple length scales within the materials.

Dr. Les Lee is a Program Manager for Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials & Microsystems at the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in Arlington, Virginia.  His primary responsibilities include the establishment of science base for integration of advanced materials and microdevices into future aerospace systems requiring multifunctionality.  At present, he is presiding over three Multi-disciplinary research initiatives (MURI) funded by the US Department of Defense and four special research initiatives funded by AFOSR covering a broad range of research topics.  Dr. Lee joined AFOSR in 2001, following 12 years on the faculty of Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics at the Pennsylvania State University.   At Penn State, he taught the engineering mechanics courses and performed the sponsored research in the areas of: nanocomposites, penetration failure mechanics, fatigue behavior, and manufacturing science of composites.  Prior to his academic career, he had 10 years' industrial research experience and 3 years' government research experience.   Dr. Lee received Sc.D in Materials Science & Engineering (1976) and S.M in Mechanical Engineering (1973), both from MIT.

OTC Panel: Starting a company to commercialize your technology: March 29

Will your technology be the next Rutgers Start-Up Company? Come learn about how Rutgers can assist you in creating a company to commercialize your technology.

Registration is free but spaces are limited. Please register early.

Distinguished Guest Speaker: Professor Kathleen McKeown, Columbia University

Funding Opportunity from Invention Development Fund

Intellectual Venture’s Invention Development Fund a $600M+ fund has collaborated with Rutgers University to present two specific funding opportunities.