Industry Advisory Board

The Materials Science and Engineering Industry Advisory Board collaborates closely with the Department, College of Engineering, and University to facilitate the success of the Materials Science and Engineering Program at Boise State.

Industry Advisory Board Goals

The Industry Advisory Board Serves to:

Promote the national and international reputation of,
Promote the regional reputation of, and
Provide advice and support to,

the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Board Members
	Barry Cordero - Medtronic B.S., Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego Member Since 2018 Barry Cordero has worked in the medical device industry since 2001. He is currently the Director of Global Operations Excellence at Medtronic Diabetes. As a Lean Sigma Master Black Belt, Barry leads the continuous improvement strategy for Medtronic Diabetes, the fastest growing therapy division within Medtronic. A Veteran of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Program, Barry attended San Diego City College and served in the MESA program where he helped tutor classmates and revive the City College Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). His passion for the community continued at the University of California San Diego where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering. Barry served as Board of Directors Chair and interim CEO for SHPE multiple times between 2013 and 2017 where he helped continue to drive SHPE’s life-changing mission in the Latino community nationally. Barry has been featured in US News World Report, ABC News Blog’s Second Tour, Hispanic Executive, La Voz Latina and the San Francisco Chronicle for his passion for diversity in STEM.
	Brenda Kraus - Micron Technology B.S., Chemistry, Susquehanna University. M.B.A. Boise State University. Member Since 2021. Board Chair Brenda Kraus a senior member of the technical staff at Micron Technology. In 1992, she joined Micron as a chemist in the Synthesis Lab where her responsibilities evolved from new chemical precursor synthesis into film deposition of numerous main group and transition metal and metal-containing films. Currently, Ms. Kraus is a process development engineer performing thin film deposition and her research is implemented into Micron’s current and future memory products. Since its inception, Ms. Kraus has been heavily involved with Micron Foundation’s K-12 Programs, participating in classrooms, on-site hands-on lessons, and virtual presentations to promote STEM education outreach to all students with a particular emphasis on women in STEM careers. Ms. Kraus holds over 50 U.S. and International patents.
	Dan Branagan, Ph.D. - Force Multiplying Strategies LLC B.S. Metallurgy, Michigan Technological Institute. Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State. Member Since 2016 Dr. Daniel Branagan is the founder of The NanoSteel Company, acquired by US Steel in 2021. Prior to NanoSteel, he was a staff scientist at the Idaho National Laboratory, USDOE, an adjunct professor at the University of Idaho, and an associate scientist at Ames Laboratory, USDOE. He currently is the president and CEO of Force Multiplying Strategies LLC. For over 25 years, Dr. Branagan has focused on the development and commercialization of paradigm changing disruptive materials nanotechnology in various mainstream industries. His research on steel nanotechnology has focused on solutions to material challenges through the use of non-toxic and recyclable materials. enabling increased usage of abundant and sustainable natural resources. Through Dr. Branagan's innovative research efforts, he holds several hundred pending and granted US and International patents.
	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.
	Jackie Forhan - Global Foundries B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Boise State University. Member Since 2017 Jackie Forhan is a Supply Analyst at Global Foundries, a leading full-service semiconductor design, development, fabrication and innovation company. She manages supply execution and supports manufacturing sites for a diverse set of customers and products in New York and Vermont. Jackie previously worked for IBM in Burlington, Vermont, holding various positions in supply chain, reliability engineering, and project management.
	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.
	Nigel Browning, Ph.D. - University of Liverpool B.S. Physics, University of Reading. Ph.D. Physics, University of Cambridge. Member Since 2016 Dr. Nigel Browning is a Professor in the School of Engineering and the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Liverpool. Dr. Browning is an expert in S/TEM and TEM imaging. Previously, Dr.Browning held positions at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of California at Davis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.