Erin Searcy, Ph.D. – Idaho National Laboratory
B.S. Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba. M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Manitoba. Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta.
Member Since 2018 | Dr. Erin Searcy is the Bioenergy Technologies Department Manager at the Idaho National Lab (INL). She leads a team of more than 30 researchers and scientists who conduct research to address barriers to the efficient supply of quality, sustainable biomass feedstocks, supporting the development of a domestic energy source. Dr. Searcy has had several roles at INL since joining in 2008, including Bioenergy Platform Analysis Lead, principal investigator on several biomass feedstock logistics and sustainability projects, and techno-economic analyst. She spent almost three years supporting the Bioenergy Technologies Office at the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, D.C. in management and operations while employed by the INL. In years prior, she was a sessional instructor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta and also served as a consultant. |
Lucien Bouchard – Photronics, Inc.
B.S. Mathematics, St. Michael’s College. A.S Electronics Engineering, New Hampshire Technical Institute. A.S Computer Networking, Champlain College.
Member since 2017 | Lucien Bouchard is vice president of global accounts and applications engineering at Photronics, Inc., a semiconductor and flat panel display photomask company. He is responsible for the business development of advanced semiconductor accounts globally. His team of applications engineers is responsible for providing innovative solutions by evaluating advanced photomask materials, photoresists, and tools. Prior to working for Photronics, Lucien worked at IBM in Burlington Vermont, holding various positions in engineering and management. |
James Saal, Ph.D. – Citrine Informatics
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Rice University
M.S. Material Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D. Material Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
Member since 2025 | Dr. James Saal is the Director of External Research Programs at Citrine Informatics, where he manages Citrine’s government-funded research programs, advancing the state-of-the-art in materials informatics with academic, government, and industrial collaborators. Before joining Citrine in 2018, James was Manager of Technology at QuesTek Innovations, leading programs in alloy design and ICME methods development. Dr. Saal earned his B.S in Materials Science and Engineering from Rice University in 2005, and his Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 2010, where he focused on the integration of density functional theory with CALPHAD for materials design. He continued postdoctoral study at Northwestern University, developing a high-throughput materials property database and studying Mg- and Co-based alloys. Since then, Dr. Saal has specialized in computational simulation of process-structure-property relationships, ICME design of new materials, and the use of data-driven methods in materials science. His research has included alloys, ceramics, and polymers, and diverse properties such as corrosion, additive manufacturing printability, and thermoelectric performance. Dr. Saal is the author of over 50 peer-review publications, several patents on designed materials, and a co-edited book on Computational Materials System Design. He has served as a Trustee of ASM International and Chair of the TMS ICME Committee. |
Stephen Thomas – Bristol Myers Squibb
B.S. Computer Science, Periyar University
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University
Member since 2025 | Stephen Thomas is a computational materials scientist with a strong background in coarse-grained molecular dynamics and software engineering. He is a Senior Modeling Scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads a team of researchers who conduct molecular modeling and machine learning research to accelerate small molecule drug development. Thomas’s previous roles at Bristol Myers Squibb have included Modeling Engineer and Modeling Engineer for Drug Product Development. Prior to his time at Bristol Myers Squibb, he was a Graduate Assistant and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Purdue University, and he also worked as a Senior Systems Specialist and Senior Software Engineer. He has a keen interest in using the predictive capabilities of molecular-scale modeling for industrial applications. |
Susan Ruth – The Aerospace Corporation-Retired
B.S. Chemistry, Occidental College
M.S. Systems Architecture and Engineering, University of Southern California
Member since 2025 | Susan Ruth is a retired Senior Project Engineer from The Aerospace Corporation, where she worked for over 31 years, supporting the acquisition, development, and fielding of launch vehicles. During her tenure, she held various project management and engineering positions, contributing to both satellite and rocket programs. Before joining The Aerospace Corporation, Ruth was an Engineer at Aerojet ElectroSystems, specializing in materials, processes, and manufacturing for satellites, with a focus on composites and adhesives. She began her career as a Chemist at SRI International, where she specialized in the evaluation of novel resins for use as a matrix for composites. Her expertise lies in materials, with a special emphasis on organic-based materials like composites and adhesives, as well as the application of systems engineering methods to programs. |
Brett Spaulding – Kokusai Electric
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University
Member since 2025 | Brett Spaulding is an alumnus of the Advanced Materials Lab at Boise State University, where he gained foundational experience in materials research during his undergraduate studies. During his time at Boise State, Spaulding focused on investigating the mechanical properties and degradation of various materials. He is currently a professional with Kokusai Electric, leveraging his academic background in a corporate setting. |