VALERIE  J.

 LEPPERT  

Professor                                      5200  N.  Lake  Road  

Materials  Science  and  Engineering   Merced,  CA  95343  
University  of  California,  Merced                                                                               t:  (209)  228-­4365  
  e:  vleppert@ucmerced.edu
 
PROFESSIONAL  PREPARATION    
University  of  California,  Davis     Mater.  Sci.  and  Eng.   Postdoctoral  Res.  Assoc.       1995    
Northwestern  University       Mater.  Sci.  and  Eng.       Ph.D.           1994    
Sonoma  State  University       Physics/Chemistry     B.A.  (with  distinction)       1987    
Sonoma  State  University       Biology         B.A.             1986    
 
APPOINTMENTS    
08/17  -­  present   Faculty  Equity  Advisor,  UC  Merced,  School  of  Engineering  
07/16  -­  present   Professor,  Founding  Faculty,  UC  Merced,  School  of  Engineering  
08/12  -­  08/14   Faculty  Accreditation  Organizer  (ABET),  UC  Merced,  Mat.  Sci.  and  Eng.  
07/05  -­  6/16   Associate  Professor,  Founding  Faculty,  UC  Merced,  School  of  Engineering  
07/04  -­  09/15   Founding  Director,  Imaging  and  Microscopy  Facility  (First  Campus  Centralized  
Research  Facility),  UC  Merced,  School  of  Engineering  
08/06  -­  08/09   Associate   Director   for   Outreach   and   Education,   NSF   NSEC   “Center   Of  
Integrated  Nanomechanical  Systems”  
07/04  -­  08/07     Founding   Director,   Engineering   Service   Learning   Program,   UC   Merced,  
School  of  Engineering  
07/03  -­  07/05     Assistant  Professor,  Founding  Faculty,  UC  Merced,  School  of  Engineering  
07/03  -­  07/05     Visiting  Assistant  Professor,  UC  Davis,  Dept.  Chem.  Eng.  and  Mat.  Sci.  
08/01  -­  07/03     Assistant  Professional  Researcher,  UC  Davis,  Dept.  Chem.  Eng.  and  Mat.  Sci.  
11/99  -­  08/01     Assistant  Adjunct  Professor,  UC  Davis,  Dept.  Chem.  Eng.  and  Mat.  Sci.  
03/95  -­  11/99     Lecturer  and  Post-­Graduate  Researcher,  UC  Davis,  Dept.  Chem.  Eng.  And  
        Mat.  Sci.  
09/87  -­  12/93     Research  Assistant,  Northwestern  University,  Dept.  Mat.  Sci.  and  Eng.  
12/84  -­  09/87     Biologist,  Anatec  Laboratories,  Santa  Rosa,  CA  
12/81  –  12/87   Sergeant,   Combat   Medic   (91B),   US   Army   Reserves,   6253d   United   States  
Army  Hospital,  Hamilton  Field,  Novato,  CA  
 
AREAS  OF  PROFESSIONAL  EXPERTISE  
-­   Synthesis   and   characterization   of   technological   and   environmental   nano/microphases,  
with   an   emphasis   on   transmission   electron   microscopy   and   electron   energy-­loss  
spectroscopy      
-­   Structure-­property-­performance-­biological  response  relationships  of  nano/microphases      
-­   Integration  of  research  and  education      
-­   Problem-­based  learning  and  team  learning/science  
-­   Curriculum  development  (undergraduate,  graduate)  and  assessment  (ABET,  WASC)  
ACADEMIC  INTERESTS  AND  ACTIVITIES    
1.       Research  Facility  Development:      
  -­   Founding   Director   for   UC   Merced   Imaging   and   Microscopy   Facility   (first   centralized  
research  facility  at  UC  Merced)  
  -­   Co-­Founder   of   Electron   Microscopy   Materials   Science   Central   Facilities   at   UC   Davis  
(transfer  of  staff  and  equipment  from  Office  of  Research)  
2.     Curriculum  Innovation:      
  -­   Founding  Director  of  Engineering  Service  Learning  program  
  -­   PI   for   NSF   CLC   seed   grant   to   establish   UC   Merced   EPICS   (Engineering   Projects   in  
Community  Service)  program  
  -­   Partnered  with  Dean  Jeff  Wright  to  obtain  $1.2M  endowment  for  Engineering  Service  
Learning  program  (co-­wrote  proposal  and  presented  it  to  donor)  
3.     Integration  of  Research  and  Teaching:    
  -­   UC  Merced  PI  for  NSF  NSEC  (duration  =  10  years)  that  focused  on  providing  summer  
research   opportunities   in   nanoscale   science   and   engineering   at   UC   Merced   and   UC  
Berkeley  to  20-­25  UC  Merced  undergraduate  students  per  year  
4.       Professional  Activities:    
  -­   Advisory  Board  Member,  UC  Toxic  Substances  Research  and  Teaching  Program  
  -­   Advisory   Board   Member,   UC   Presidents   Postdoctoral   Fellowship   Program   (goal   of  
program   is   to   prepare   exceptional   underrepresented   scientists   and   engineers   for   a  
career  in  academia)  
  -­   Proposal   Review   Committee   Member,   Center   for   Functional   Nanomaterials,  
Brookhaven  National  Laboratory  
  -­   Proposal  Review  Committee  Member,  National  Center  for  Electron  Microscopy  
  -­   Proposal  Review  Board  Member,  Molecular  Foundry  
  -­   Users’  Executive  Committee  Member,  Molecular  Foundry  
  -­   Ad-­hoc  Reviewer  for  SLAC  National  Accelerator  Laboratory  
  -­   NSF  Mail-­In  and  Panel  Reviewer  
5.     Mentoring  and  Outreach:    
  -­   UC   Merced   Engineering   Service   Learning   mentor   for   students   who   constructed  
nanotechnology  exhibits  for  the  Castle  Science  and  Technology  Center  in  Atwater,  CA  
  -­   Team   transitioned   in   2010   to   building   demonstration   kits   for   science   classes   at  
Cruikshank  Middle  School  in  Merced,  CA  
   
 
 
PH.D.  AND  POST-­DOCTORAL  ADVISORS  
R.P.H.  Chang  (Ph.D.),  R.P.  Van  Duyne  (Ph.D.),  S.H.  Risbud  (Post-­doctoral)  
 

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STUDENTS  AND  POST-­DOCS  SUPERVISED  
Post-­docs   (2)   –   Lilian   Davila   (7/6   –   6/8,   UC   Merced,   Asst.   Prof.,   Engineering,   UCM),   Jacek  
Jasinski   (3/4   –   6/8,   UC   Merced,   Materials   Characterization   Theme   Leader,   Center   for  
Renewable  Energy,  U.  Louisville)  
Graduate   (7)   –   Kennedy   Nguyen   (M.S.   UC   Merced   2016   “Speciation   and   Health   Risks   of  
Atmospheric   Nanoparticles”,   UC   Merced),   Aaron   Cowles   (M.S.   UC   Merced   2015,   Avogy),  
Kevin   Mercurio   (M.S.   UC   Merced   2014   “Guiding   Cell   Behavior   in   2D,   3D,   and   Dynamic  
Environments”,   Northrup-­Grumann),   Gayatri   Premshekharan   (Ph.D.   UC   Merced   2012  
“Inflammatory  mechanism  induced  by  natural  and  engineered  silica  particles  in  human-­derived  
macrophages   at   low   non-­cytotoxic   doses”,   Post-­doctoral   Researcher,   UCSF),   Ashley   Harvey  
(Ph.D.   UC   Davis   2005   “Synthesis   and   atomic-­level   characterization   of   rare   earth   oxide  
nanoparticles   with   EELS   and   XAS”,   Quallion),   Rebecca   Chacon   (M.S.   UC   Davis   2004  
“Characterization   of   electrochemically   deposited   PbTe   thermoelectric   nanowires”,   Intel),   Geoff  
McCool   (M.S.   UC   Davis   2004   “Synthesis   and   characterization   of   sulfide   and   selenide  
nanoparticles”,  Nanostellar)  
Undergraduate  (37)  –  UC  Merced:  Paul  Sherrill,  Ben  Sherrill,  Anthony  Hayes,  Ryan  Dewitt,  Kip  
Hensley,   Nathan   Graves,   Matthew   Nelson,   Cameron   Hoyle,   Brian   Kelley,   Anita   Ghia,   Jaime  
Mendez,  Mario  Tirado,  Kwyn  Meagher,  Jacob  Peterson,  Jose  Mendez,  Kevin  Mercurio,  Heather  
Jackson,   Alex   Yuen,   Deborah   Corvaglia,   David   Maginetti,   Ariel   Parker,   Michael   Urner,   Shelby  
Skelton,   Omee   Herr,   Joseph   Silva,   Moses   Chun,   Ian   Ojeda-­Vasquez,   Matthew   Robinson,  
Maeve  O’Brien,  Salvador  Padilla,  Annaliza  Torres                
UC  Davis:  Christina  Zhang,  Bridget  Bonner,  John  Tseng,  Cameron  Shelton,  Derek  Shon,  Jack  
Ostrowski  
 
PH.D.  AND  MASTERS  COMMITTEES  
UC   Merced:   PhD   -­   Rob   Root,   Emily   Reed   (Chair),   Alicia   Blancas   (Chair),   Gayatri  
Premshekharan,  Miguel  Diaz,  Tessa  Pinon,  Silin  Sa  (Chair),  Anley  Tefera,  Jasmine  Armstrong;;  
MS   –   Anley   Tefera,   Theresa   Stelter,   Aaron   Cowles   (Chair),   Yang   Liu,   Kevin   Mercurio   (Chair),  
Kennedy  Nguyen  (Chair),  Erin  Ray  
UC   Davis:   PhD   -­   Kathy   Pettigrew,   Jill   Johnson,   Ivy   Chu,   Lia   Stanciu,   Joseph   Woolman,   Dan  
Hewitt,  Robert  Wright,  Erik  Woodbury  
 
HONORS  AND  AWARDS  
2018     Outstanding  Woman  Faculty  Award,  Women’s  Programs,  UC  Merced  
2017     Selected   Participant,   Kinetic   Keynote   Speaker,   National   Academies   Keck   Futures  
Initiative   Workshop   –   Beyond   Boundaries:   15   Years   of   Exploring   Intersections   in  
Science,  Engineering  and  Medicine,  Irvine,  CA  
2017       Participant,   National   Academy   of   Engineering   3rd   Global   Grand   Challenges   Summit,  
Washington,  DC  
2015     Invited   Participant,   National   Academics   Workshop   on   Integrating   the   Arts   and  
Humanities  into  Science,  Engineering  and  Medicine,  Washington,  DC  
2015     Selected   Participant,   National   Academies   Keck   Futures   Initiative   Workshop   –   Art,  
Science,   Engineering   and   Medicine   Frontier   Collaborations:   Ideation,   Translation   and  
Realization.  Irvine,  CA  

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2015     Participant,   National   Academy   of   Engineering   2nd   Global   Grand   Challenges   Summit,  
Beijing,  China  
2014     Selected   Participant,   Executive   Leadership   Academy:   “Ten   Years   From   Now:   Leading  
In  a  Multicultural  Environment”,  Center  for  Studies  in  Higher  Education,  UC  Berkeley  
2013     Dr.  Fred  Spiess  Award  for  Distinguished  Senate  Service,  UC  Merced  
2008     Invited   Participant,   National   Academy   of   Engineering   Japan-­America   Frontiers   of  
Engineering  Symposium,  Kobe,  Japan  
2008     Invited   Participant,   “Senior   TechLeaders:   Leadership,   the   Final   Frontier”,   Anita   Borg  
Institute  2008  Senior  TechLeaders  Workshop,  Georgia  Tech,  Atlanta,  Georgia  
2005         Research  Fellowship,  International  Center  for  Young  Scientists,  Japan  National  Institute  
for  Materials  Science,  Tsukuba,  Japan  
2004     Invited   Participant,   National   Academy   of   Engineering   10th   Annual   Symposium   on  
Frontiers  of  Engineering,  Irvine,  CA  
2003     Finalist,  UC  Davis  Academic  Federation  Award  for  Excellence  in  Research  
2002   NSF  Advance  Fellows  Award  “Electron  Microscopy  of  Nanomaterials”  
1992   Alpha  Sigma  Mu  -­  National  Metallurgical  and  Materials  Engineering  Honor  Society  
1987    Graduation  with  Distinction  in  Chemistry,  SSU  
 
ORGANIZATIONS  
-­   Materials  Research  Society            
-­   American  Chemical  Society  
-­   American  Society  of  Engineering  Education  
 
PUBLICATIONS  
1.   F.  Xiong,  Y.Y.  Wang,  V.  Leppert  and  R.P.H.  Chang,  Pulsed  Laser  Deposition  of  Amorphous  
Diamond-­like   Carbon   Films   with   ArF   (193   nm)   Excimer   Laser   at   Room   Temperature,   J.  
Mater.  Res.  8,  2265  (1993)  
2.   C.  Jelen,  S.  Charriere,  M.  Razeghi,  V.  Leppert,  R.P.  Van  Duyne  and  R.P.H.  Chang,  Growth  
of   InSb/GaAs   Layers   on   YIG-­Coated   GGG   Substrate,   in   Symposium   D:   Semiconductor  
Heterostructures   for   Photonic   and   Electronic   Applications,   edited   by   Derek   C.   Houghton,  
Charles  W.  Wu,  and  Raymond  T.  Tung  (Mat.  Res.  Symp.  Proc.  281)  Warrendale,  PA,  381  
(1993)    
3.   S.   Mahamuni,   B.S.   Bendre,   V.J.   Leppert,   C.A.   Smith,   D.   Cooke,   S.H.   Risbud   and   H.W.H.  
Lee,  ZnO  Nanoparticles  Embedded  in  Polymeric  Matrices,  Nanostructured  Materials  7,  659  
(1996)  
4.   T.J.  Goodwin,  V.J.  Leppert,  C.A.  Smith,  S.H.  Risbud,  M.  Niemeyer,  P.P.  Power,  H.W.H.  Lee  
and   L.W.   Hrubesh,   Synthesis   of   Nanocrystalline   Gallium   Nitride   in   Silica   Aerogels,   Appl.  
Phys.  Lett.  69,  3230  (1996)  
5.   V.J.   Leppert,   S.H.   Risbud   and   M.J.   Fendorf,   High-­Resolution   Electron   Microscopy   and  
Microanalysis  of  ZnSe  Quantum  Dots  in  Glass  Matrices,  Phil.  Mag.  Lett.  75,  29  (1997)  

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6.   T.J.   Goodwin,   V.J.   Leppert,   S.H.   Risbud,   I.M.   Kennedy   and   H.W.H.   Lee,   Synthesis   of  
Gallium  Nitride  Quantum  Dots  Through  Reactive  Laser  Ablation,  Appl.  Phys.  Lett.  70,  3122  
(1997)  
7.   A.  Navrotsky,  S.H.  Risbud,    J.J.  Liang  and  V.J.  Leppert,  Thermochemical  Insights  Into  Rapid  
Solid-­State  Reaction  Synthesis  of  Beta-­SiAlON,  J.  of  Phys.  Chem.  101,  9433  (1997)  
8.   N.  Kumbhojkar,  S.  Mahamuni,  V.  Leppert  and  S.H.  Risbud,  Quantum  Confinement  Effects  in  
Chemically  Grown,  Stable  ZnSe  Nanoclusters,  NanoStruct.  Mat.  10,  117  (1998)  
9.   S.   Guha,   V.J.   Leppert,   S.H.   Risbud   and   I.   Kang,   Observation   of   Excitonic   States   in   PbSe  
Nanocrystals,  Solid  State  Commun.  105,  695  (1998)  
10.  V.J.   Leppert,   S.   Mahamuni,   N.R.   Kumbhojkar   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Structural   and   Optical  
Characteristics   of   ZnSe   Nanocrystals   Synthesized   in   the   Presence   of   a   Polymer   Capping  
Agent,  Mat.  Sci.  and  Eng.  B  52,  89  (1998)  
11.  V.J.   Leppert,   C.J.   Zhang,   H.W.H   Lee,   I.M.   Kennedy   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Observation   of  
Quantum  Confined  Excited  States  of  GaN  Nanocrystals,  Appl.  Phys.  Lett.  72,  3035  (1998)  
12.  S.   Guha,   V.J.   Leppert   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Identification   of   the   Electronic   States   of   Se2`  
Molecules  Embedded  in  Borosilicate  Glasses  and  in  Se-­Based  Nanometer  Sized  Crystals,  J.  
of  Non-­Cryst.  Sol.  240,  43  (1998)  
13.  S.H.   Risbud   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Nanometer   Characterization   of   Rapidly   Densified   Ceramics  
and   Glass-­Semiconductor   Composites,   in   Ceramic   Microstructures:   Control   at   the   Atomic  
Level,  edited  by  Antoni  P.  Tomsia  and  Andreas  M.  Glaeser,  Springer  Publishing  Company,  
New  York,  NY,  pp.  199-­207,  (1998)  
14.  S.  Mahamuni,  K.  Borgohain,  B.S.  Bendre,  V.J.  Leppert  and  S.H.  Risbud,  Spectroscopic  and  
Structural   Characterization   of   Electrochemically   Grown   ZnO   Quantum   Dots,   J.   Appl.   Phys.  
85,  2861  (1999)  
15.  Y.   Yang,   V.J.   Leppert,   S.H.   Risbud,   B.   Twamley,   P.P.   Power   and   H.W.H.   Lee,   Blue  
Luminescence  from  Amorphous  GaN  Nanoparticles  Synthesized  In  Situ  in  a  Polymer,  Appl.  
Phys.  Lett.  74,  2262  (1999)  
16.  C.A.   Smith,   H.W.H.   Lee,   V.J.   Leppert,   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Ultraviolet-­Blue   Emission   and  
Electron-­Hole  States  in    ZnSe  Quantum  Dots,  Appl.  Phys.  Lett.  75,  1688  (1999)  
17.  J.  Liang,  A.  Navrotsky,  V.J.  Leppert,  M.J.  Paskowitz,  S.H.  Risbud,  T.  Ludwig,  H.J.  Seifert,  F.  
Aldinger   and   M.   Mitomo,   Thermochemistry   of   Beta-­SiAlON     (Si6-­ZAlZOZN8-­Z,   Z=   0-­3.6)  
Materials,  J.  Mat.  Res.  14,  4630  (1999)    
18.  J.C.   Ostrowski,   A.K.   Murali,   D.J.   Duval,   V.J.   Leppert   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Processing   of   GaN  
Powders   Suspended   in   a   Silica   Sol-­Gel,   Abstracts   of   Papers   of   the   American   Chemical  
Society  217,  U492,  (1999)  
19.  H.W.H.   Lee,   C.A.   Smith,   V.J.   Leppert   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Quantum   Confined   Electron-­Hole  
States  in  ZnSe  Quantum  Dots,  in  Semiconductor  Quantum  Dots,  edited  by  S.S.  Moss,  D.  Ila,  
H.W.H.   Lee   and   D.J.   Norris,   (Mater.   Res.   Soc.   Symp.   Proc.   571),   Warrendale,   PA,   259  
(2000)  
20.  I.   Molodetsky,   A.   Navrotsky,   M.   Paskowitz,   V.   Leppert   and   S.   Risbud,   Energetics   of   X-­ray  
Amorphous  Zirconia  and  the  Role  of  Surface  Energy  in  its  Formation,  J.  of  Non-­Cryst.  Sol.  
262,  106  (2000)  
21.  Y.   Yang,   C.   Tran,   V.   Leppert   and   S.H.   Risbud,   From   Ga(NO3)3   to   Nanocrystalline   GaN:    
Confined  Nanocrystal  Synthesis  Inside  Silica  Xerogels,  Mat.  Lett.  43,  240  (2000)  

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22.  A.K.  Murali,  V.J.  Leppert  and  S.H.  Risbud,  Gallium  Nitride  Quantum  Dots  in  a  Silica  Xerogel  
Matrix.    Mat.  Sci.  and  Eng.  B  76,  206  (2000)  
23.  M.R.   Ranade,   F.   Tessier,   A.   Navrotsky,   V.J.   Leppert,   S.H.   Risbud,   F.J.   DiSalvo   and   C.M.  
Balkas,  Enthalpy  of  Formation  of  Gallium  Nitride,  J.  of  Phys.  Chem.  B  104,  4060  (2000)  
24.   B.R.   Madewell,   S.M.   Griffey,   M.C.   McEntee,   V.J.   Leppert   and   R.J.   Munn,   Feline   Vaccine-­
Associated   Fibrosarcoma:     An   Ultrastructural   Study   of   20   Tumors   (1996-­1999),   Vet.   Path.  
38,  196  (2001)  -­  cover  article  
25.  A.  Murali,  A.  Barve,  V.J.  Leppert,  S.H.  Risbud,  I.M.  Kennedy  and  H.W.H.  Lee,  Synthesis  and  
Characterization  of  Indium  Oxide  Nanoparticles,  Nano.  Lett.  1,  287  (2001)  
26.  V.J.  Leppert,  A.K.  Murali,  S.H.  Risbud,  M.  Stender,  P.P.  Power,  C.  Nelson,  P.  Banerjee,  and  
A.M.   Mayes,   High-­Resolution   Electron   Microscopy   and   Microanalysis   of   Ordered   Arrays   of  
Size-­Controlled   Amorphous   Gallium   Nitride   Nanoparticles   Synthesized   In-­situ   in   a   Block  
Copolymer  Matrix,  Phil.  Mag.  B  82,  1047  (2002)  
27.  V.J.   Leppert,   A.S.   Harvey,   G.D.   McCool,   F.T.   Quinlan,   J.   Feng,   G.   Shan,   P.   Stroeve,   S.H.  
Risbud,   B.D.   Hammock,   and   I.M.   Kennedy,   Long-­wavelength-­emitting   nanocrystals   for  
bioassay   applications,   in   Nanoscale   Optics   and   Applications,   edited   by   G.   Cao,   W.P.   Kirk  
(SPIE  Proceedings  4809),  Bellingham,  WA,  pp.110-­121  (2002)  
28.  L.P.   Davila,   V.J.   Leppert,   and   S.H.   Risbud,   Microstructure   and   Microchemistry   of   Silicon  
Particles  Formed  During  Electrical-­Discharge  Machining,  J.  of  Mat.  Sci.  –  Mat.  in  Elect.  14,  
507  (2003)  
29.  Y.M.   Zhou,   C.Y.   Zhong,   I.M.   Kennedy,   V.J.   Leppert,   and   K.E.   Pinkerton,   Oxidative   Stress  
and  NFKB  Activation  in  the  Lungs  of  Rats:    A  Synergistic  Interaction  Between  Soot  and  Iron  
Particles,  Toxic.  and  Appl.  Pharm.  190,  157  (2003)  
30.  Y.M.  Zhou,  A.  Aust,  I.M.  Kennedy,  V.J.  Leppert,  S.V.  Teague,  and  K.E.  Pinkerton,  Reduced  
Lung  Cell  Proliferation  Following  Short-­Term  Exposure  to  Ultrafine  Soot  and  Iron  Particles  in  
Neonatal  Rats:  Key  to  Impaired  Lung  Growth?,  Inhal.  Toxic.16,  1  (2004)  
31.  J.   Jasinski,   I.M.   Kennedy,   K.E.   Pinkerton,   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Surface   Oxidation   State   of  
Combustion-­Synthesized   g-­Fe2O3   Nanoparticles   Determined   by   Electron   Energy-­Loss  
Spectroscopy   in   the   Transmission   Electron   Microscope,   Sensors   and   Actuators   B:   Chem.  
109,  19  (2005)  
32.  V.J.  Leppert,  J.  Jasinski,  and  K.E.  Pinkerton,  Surface  Chemistry  of  Combustion-­Synthesized  
Iron   Oxide   Nanoparticles   Determined   by   Electron   Energy-­Loss   Spectroscopy,   in   Electron  
Microscopy   of   Molecular   and   Atom-­Scale   Mechanical   Behavior,   Chemistry   and   Structure,  
edited  by  David  C.  Martin,  David  A.  Muller,  Paul  A.  Midgley,  and  Eric  A.  Stach  (Mater.  Res.  
Soc.  Symp.  Proc.  839),  Warrendale,  PA,  P2.7,  (2005)  
33.  A.   Harvey,   B.   Guo,   I.   Kennedy,   S.   Risbud,   and   V.   Leppert,   A   Systematic   Study   of   the  
Oxygen   K-­edge   in   the   Cubic   and   Less   Common   Monoclinic   Phases   of   the   Rare   Earth  
Oxides  (Ho,  Er,  Tm,  Yb)  by  Electron  Energy  Loss  Spectroscopy,  J.  of  Phys.  Cond.  Mat.  18,  
1  (2006)  
34.  S.C.   Mui,   J.   Jasinski,   V.J.   Leppert,   M.   Mitomi,   D.R.   Sadoway,   and   A.M.   Mayes,  
Microstructure   Effects   on   the   Electrochemical   Kinetics   of   Vanadium   Pentoxide   Thin-­Film  
Cathodes  J.    Electrochem.  Soc.  153,  A1372  (2006)  

6
 
35.  J.   Jasinski,   I.M.   Kennedy,   K.E.   Pinkerton,   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Spatially-­Resolved   Electron  
Energy-­Loss   Spectroscopy   Studies   of   Iron   Oxide   Nanoparticles,   Microsc.   Microanal.   12   ,  
424  (2006)  
36.  J.  Jasinski,  V.  J.  Leppert,  Si-­Ty  Lam,  G.  A.  Gibson,  K.  Nauka,  C.  C.  Yang,  Zhang-­Lin  Zhou,  
Rapid  Oxidation  of  InP  Nanoparticles  in  Air,  Solid  State  Comm.  141,  624    (2007)  
37.  S.  Newsam,  E.  Pernice,  J.  Jasinski,  V.  Leppert,  Using  Transmission  Electron  Microscopy  to  
Quantify     the   Spatial   Distribution   of   Nanoparticles   Suspended   in   a   Film,   in   Computational  
Imaging   V,   edited   by   C.A.   Bouman,   E.L.   Miller,   and   I.   Pollak   (SPIE   Proceedings   6498),  
Bellingham,  WA,  649812  (2007)  
38.  P.  Dagtepe,  V.  Chikan,  J.  Jasinski,  V.J.  Leppert,  Quantized  Growth  of  CdTe  Quantum  Dots;;  
Observation  of  Magic  Sized  CdTe  Quantum  Dots,  J.  Phys.  Chem.  C  111,  14977  (2007)  
39.  J.  Jasinski,  V.  J.  Leppert,  D.  Zhang,  J.  Parra,  and  V.  Katkanant,  Application  of  Channeling-­
Enhanced   Electron   Energy-­Loss   Spectroscopy   for   Polarity   Determination   in   ZnO  
Nanopillars,  Appl.  Phys.  Lett.  92,  093104  (2008)    
40.  D.   Zhang,   J.   Jasinski,   M.   Dunlap,   M.   Badal,   V.J.   Leppert,   V.   Katkanant,   Synthesis   and  
Characterization   of   Silica   Nanosprings   by   a   Low   Temperature   Chemical   Vapor   Deposition,  
Appl.  Phys.  A    92,  595  (2008)  
41.  N.   Dahal,   V.   Chikan,   J.   Jasinski,   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Synthesis   of   Water   Soluble   Gold/Iron  
Alloy  Nanoparticles,  Chem.  Mat.  20,  6389  (2008)  
42.  G.   Premasekharan,   H.J.   Forman   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Role   of   Surface   Characteristics   in   the  
Production  of  Reactive  Oxygen  Species  by  Ambient  Crystalline  Silica  and  Engineered  Silica  
Particles,  J.  Free  Rad.  Bio.  Med.  45,  S22  (2008)  
43.  Lilian   P.   Dávila,   Valerie   J.   Leppert,   Eduardo   M.   Bringa,   The   mechanical   behavior   and  
nanostructure  of  silica  nanowires  via  simulations,  Scripta  Materialia  60,  843-­846  (2009)  
44.  Z.J.   Jiang,   V.   Leppert   and   D.F.   Kelley,   Static   and   Dynamic   Emission   Quenching   in  
Core/Shell   Nanorod   Quantum   Dots   with   Hole   Acceptors,   J.   Phys.   Chem.   C   113,   19161  
(2009)  
45.  G.  Premasekharan,  H.J.  Forman,  and  V.  Leppert,  Role  of  Particle  Surface  Characteristics  in  
the   Production   of   Reactive   Oxygen   Species   and   Cytokines   by   Engineered   and   Ambient  
Crystalline  Silica,  J.  Free  Rad.  Bio.  Med  47,  S129  (2009)  
46.  G.   Premasekharan,   K.D.   Nguyen,   H.J.   Forman   and   V.   Leppert,   Engineered   nano-­   and  
micron-­sized  silica  particle-­macrophage  interactions:  Effect  of  particle  size  and  surface  iron  
impurities  on  reactive  oxygen  species  and  lipid  peroxidation  production,  Abstracts  of  Papers  
of  the  American  Chemical  Society  241,  142-­COLL  (2011)  
47.  G.   Premasekharan,   K.   Nguyen,   J.   Contreras,   V.   Ramon,  V.J.   Leppert,   and   H.J.   Forman,  
Iron-­mediated   lipid   peroxidation   and   lipid   raft   disruption   in   low-­dose   silica-­induced  
macrophage  cytokine  production,  Free  Rad.  Bio.  Med.  51,  1184    (2011)  
48.  K.   Nguyen,   G.   Premasekharan,   A.   Yuen,   H.J.   Forman,   and   V.J.   Leppert,   Effect   of  
Engineered  Solid  and  Mesoporous  Silica  Particles  Physical  Properties  on  In  Vivo  Toxicity,  in  
Symposium   LL:   Biomimetic   Engineering   of   Nano-­   and   Microparticles,   edited   by   D.   Discher  
(Mater  Res.  Soc.  Symp.  Proc.  1357),  Warrendale,  PA,  1504  (2011)  
49.  X.   Cai,   H.   Mirafzal,   K.   Nguyen,   V.   Leppert,   and   D.F.   Kelley,   Spectroscopy   of   CdTe/CdSe  
Type-­II   Nanostructures:   Morphology,   Lattice   Mismatch,   and   Band-­Bowing   Effects,   J.   Phys.  
Chem.  C  116,  8118  (2012)  

7
 
50.  R.  Hatano,   K.  Mercurio,   J.I.   Luna,   D.E.  Glaser,   V.J.   Leppert,   and   K.E.  McCloskey,  
Endothelial   cells   derived   from   embryonic   stem   cells   respond   to   cues   from   topographical  
surface  patterns,  J.  Biol.  Engr.  7,  1  (2013)  
51.  K.  Nguyen  and  V.J.  Leppert,  Analysis  of  Air  Particulate  Emissions  Collected  Downwind  of  an  
Automobile  Shredding  Operation:  Implications  for  the  Environment  and  Human  Health,  MRS  
Advances  1  (2016)  DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/adv.2016.520  
52.  H.  Zhang,  L.  Zhou,  J.  Yuen,  N.  Birkner,  V.  Leppert,  P.O.  O’Day,  H.J.  Forman,  Delayed  Nrf2-­
regulated  antioxidant  gene  induction  in  response  to  silica  nanoparticles,  Free  Rad.  Bio.  Med.  
108,  311  (2017)  DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.04.002.  
53.  G.   Premshekharan,   K.   Nguyen,   H.   Zhang,   H.J.   Forman,   V.J.   Leppert,  Low   Dose  
Inflammatory  Potential  of  Silica  Particles  in  Human-­Derived  THP-­1  Macrophage  Cell  Culture  
Studies   -­   Mechanism   and   Effects   of   Particle   Size   and   Iron,  Chem.   Biol.   Interact.   272,   160  
(2017)  
54.  K.  Mercurio,  W.  Turner,  K.E.  McCloskey,  V.J.  Leppert,  A  Dynamic  Rotation  Device  for  Cell  
Attachment  in  Circular  PDMS  Microchannels,  Tissue  Eng.  Part  C:  Methods,  submitted.  
55.  K.   Mercurio,   A.   Burns,   J.I   Luna,   K.E.   McCloskey,   V.J.   Leppert,   Crazing   Pre-­Stressed  
Polystyrene   (PSP)   Sheets   for   Cell   Culture   and   Biological   Applications,   J.   of   Mat.   Sci.   C,  
submitted.  
56.  A.   Pattammattel,   V.J.   Leppert,   H.J.   Forman   and   P.O.   O’Day,   Surface   Oxidation   and   Iron  
Speciation  on  Carbon  Nanoparticles  for  Realistic  Environmental  Nanotoxicity  Assessments,  
in  preparation.  
 
INVENTION  DISCLOSURES  
1.   Kevin  Mercurio*  and  Jesus  Luna,  UC  Case  No.    2012-­619,  Crazing  Pre-­Stressed  polymer  
sheets  for  Biological  and  Cell  Culture  Applications,  dated  March  13,  2012  
2.   Kevin  Mercurio*  and  Jesus  Luna,  UC  Case  No.  2012-­703,  Multifunctional  Cell  Culture  
Platform,  dated  April  3,  2012    
3.   Kevin  Mercurio*  and  William  Turner,  UC  Case  No.  2014-­561,  Dynamic  Rotational  Device  for  
Biological  Studies,  dated  December  19,  2013        
 
GRANTS  
NSF     “ADVANCE  PLAN  IHE:  Center  for  Research,  Excellence  and  Diversity  in  Team  Science  
(CREDITS)”,   $749,623,   (Sub-­contract   from   UCSB),   Grant   #HRD-­1464064,   (10/01/15   –  
09/30/20).    UCM  PI,  UC  Merced      
NIH   “Human  Models  of  the  Nanoparticulate-­Induced  Inflammatory/Antioxidant  Axis  in  Aging”,  
University   of   Southern   California   Lead   Institution,   UC   Merced   Subcontract   $543,343,  
R01  Grant  #ES023864  (02/09/2015  -­  02/08/2020).  UCM  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NIH     “Human  Models  of  the  Nanoparticulate-­Induced  Inflammatory/Antioxidant  Axis  in  Aging”,  
$42,347  (UC  Merced  Budget  –  Subcontract  from  University  of  Southern  California),  R56  
Grant  #ES023864  (06/01/2014-­5/31/2015),  UCM  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
San   Joaquin   Valley   Air   Pollution   Control   District,   for   Study   of   SJV   Air   Particulates,   ~10K   for  
graduate  student     (07/01/2012-­06/30/2015),   Characterization   of   San   Joaquin   air  
particulates  to  guide  mitigation  measures.  Investigator,  UC  Merced  

8
 
NSF     “ADVANCE/IT   Catalyst   GROW-­STEM:     Gaining   Representation   of   Women   (GROW)   –  
Systemically   Transforming   Excellence   in   Merced   (STEM)”,   $199,962,   Grant   #HRD-­
1008044  (09/01/10-­08/31/12).  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     IGERT:   “Cellular   and   Molecular   Mechanics   and   Bionanotechnology”,   $450,626   UC  
Merced   subcontract,   Grant   #0965918     (08/01/10-­07/31/16).   Lead   institution   is   the  
University  of  Illinois.  Funding  for  2  IGERT  fellows  per  year.    UCM  PI,  UC  Merced    
NSF     “Luminescent   Solar   Concentrators   Based   on   Semiconductor   Nanorods”,   $1,318,996,  
Grant  #CHE-­0934615  (09/01/09-­08/31/14).  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     NSEC  “Center  Of  Integrated  Nanomechanical  Systems”  $12M  to  UC  Berkeley,  $525,000  
to   UC   Merced,   Grant   #EEC-­0832819   (09/01/09-­08/31/14   -­   renewal).   UCM   PI,   UC  
Merced  
NSF     “Development   of   a   Screening   Tool   for   Nanotoxicology”,   $99,923,   Grant   #CBET-­  
0854574  (07/15/09-­07/14/11),  PI,  UC  Merced  

NSF     “Rationally   design   bimetallic   nanocatalysts   for   1D   nanomaterial   synthesis”,   $263,653,  

Grant  #CBET-­0854537  (02/01/09-­01/01/14).  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     NUE   “Bridging   Education   and   Research:   Practical   Applications   of   Nanotechnology  
Grant”,  $199,926,    #EEC-­0741503  (01/01/08-­12/31/9).  Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     Instrumentation  for  Materials  Research  grant:  "IMR:  Acquisition  of  Cryogenic  Capabilities  
for   Microanalysis   of   Hard-­Soft   Nanoscale   Materials   in   the   Transmission   Electron  
Microscope",  $246,526,  #DMR-­0521685  (09/01/06-­08/31/08).  PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     Major   Research   Instrumentation   grant:   “MRI:   Acquisition   of   a   Powder   X-­ray  
Diffractometer   for   Environmental   and   Materials   Research   at   UC   Merced”,   $187,000,  
(08/01/06-­07/31/08).     Funded   X-­Ray   Diffractometer   for   UC   Merced   Imaging   and  
Microscopy  Facility.    Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
University   of   California,   Office   of   the   President,   Presidents   Postdoctoral   Fellowship   for   Lilian  
Davila,  $80K,  (07/01/2006-­6/30/2008).    Guided  research  design.  Advisor,  UC  Merced  
University   of   California,   Office   of   the   President,   Toxic   Substances   Research   &   Teaching  
Program   Lead   Campus   Grant   "Atmospheric   Aerosols   and   Health",   $1,619,980   UC  
Davis,  my  support  $120,000  (7/01/05-­6/30/2011).  Investigator,  UC  Merced  
NSF     Major   Research   Instrumentation   grant:   “Acquisition   of   a   Scanning   Electron   Microscope  
for   Environmental,   Biological,   and   Materials   Research   and   Education   at   UC   Merced”,  
$324K,  #EAR-­0420982  (7/01/05-­6/30/07).  Co-­PI.  UC  Merced    
Hewlett-­Packard,  Two-­year  contract  for  the  study  of  semiconductor  quantum  dots  with  electron  
microscopy,  $300K,  (3/17/05-­3/16/07),  PI,  UC  Merced  
Private  Gift  to  establish  the  "Foster  Family  Center  for  Engineering  Service  Learning  -­  A  National  
EPICS  Site"  at  UC  Merced,  $1.2M.    Award  announced  12/08/04  and  comprised  of  $1M  
endowment  and  $200K  in  operating  expenses  over  5  years.    Team  effort  with  University  
Advancement  and  Dean  of  Engineering.  UC  Merced  
NSF     Nanoscale   Science   and   Engineering   Center:   "Center   Of   Integrated   Nanomechanical  
Systems",   $12M,   #EEC-­0425914   (9/01/04-­8/31/09).   $525K   sub-­award   from   UC  
Berkeley.  UCM  PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     Department-­Level   Reform   of   Undergraduate   Engineering   Education   (DLR)   grant:  
"Implementing   Student   Excellence   -­   A   Unique   Opportunity,"   $100K,   #EEC-­0431972  

9
 
 (8/01/04-­7/31/06).   Funded   assessment   of   UC   Merced   Engineering   Service   Learning  
program.    Co-­PI,  UC  Merced  
NASA    Graduate  Student  Research  Fellowship  for  Rebecca  Chacon,  stipend  support  to  conduct  
research  under  my  supervision,  2004,  Advisor,  UC  Merced    
NSF     Engineering   Projects   in   Community   Service,   competitive   sub-­award   from   Purdue  
University   to   establish   UC   Merced   Engineering   Service   Learning   Program,   $112K,  
#DUE-­0231361  (2/01/03-­1/31/08).  PI,  UC  Merced  
NSF     Major   Research   Instrumentation:     "Acquisition   of   an   Atomic   Resolution   TEM   for  
Advanced   Analysis   of   Nanomaterials   in   the   Environment,   Agriculture   and   Technology",  
$1.4M,  #CTS-­0321356,  (10/01/3-­9/30/06).  Co-­PI,    UC  Davis  
Keck   Foundation   grant   to   Sonoma   State   University   (alma   mater)   for   a   new   microanalytical  
facility   to   support   a   new   engineering   M.S.   program,   $500K   (awarded   4/15/02).    
Contributed   microscopy   expertise   and   coauthored   proposal   with   Dean   of   Natural  
Sciences  Saeid  Rahimi.  UC  Davis  
NSF   Advance   Fellow:   “Electron   Microscopy   of   Nanomaterials”,   $450K,   #0137922   (4/01/02   -­  
3/31/06).  Develop  new  techniques  for  characterization  of  nanomaterials.    PI,  UC  Davis  
NSF   Nanoscale   Interdisciplinary   Research   Team:   "Applications   of   Semiconductor   Quantum  
Dots  in  Environmental  and  Cell  Biology",  $1M,  #DBI-­0102662  (7/01/01-­6/31/06).  Co-­PI.  
UC  Davis  

 
TEACHING  
Curriculum   Development,   UC   Merced   (*led   or   co-­led   development):   (1)   Materials   Science   and  
Engineering*,  (2)  Biological  Engineering*,  (3)  General  Education,  (4)  Biological  Engineering  and  
Small-­scale  Technologies  Graduate  Emphasis,  (5)  Engineering  Service  Learning  Program*.  
UC   Merced   Courses   (*led   or   co-­led   development):   Core   1:   The   World   at   Home   I*,   Core   100:  
The   World   at   Home   II*,   ENGR   045:   Introduction   to   Materials*,   MSE   095:     Lower   Division  
Undergraduate   Research,   ENGR   097/197   EPICS   –   Engineering   Service   Learning*,   MSE   110:  
Solid   State   Materials   Properties*,   MSE   113:   Characterization   of   Materials*,   MSE   195:     Upper  
Division   Undergraduate   Research,   ENGR   170:     Introduction   to   Electron   Microscopy*,   ENGR  
170L:    Introduction  to  Electron  Microscopy  Laboratory*,  BEST  210:  Structure  and  Properties  of  
Materials*,   ENGR   270:     Introduction   to   Electron   Microscopy*,   ENGR   270L:   Introduction   to  
Electron  Microscopy  Laboratory*,  BEST  292:    Group  Meeting,  QSB  292:    Group  Meeting,  BEST  
293:    Journal  Club,  BEST  295:    Graduate  Research.  
UC   Davis   Courses   (*led   or   co-­led   development):   E-­45:     Structure   and   Properties   of   Materials,  
EMS-­230:     Electron   Microscopy   Lecture*,   EMS-­230L:     Laboratory   for   Electron   Microscopy*,  
EMS-­232L:   Laboratory   for   Advanced   Transmission   Electron   Microscopy*,   California   State  
Summer  School  for  Mathematics  and  Science*.  
 
REVIEWER  SERVICES  
Journals:   ACS   Nano,   Inorganic   Chemistry,   Scripta   Materialia,   The   Journal   of   Physical  
Chemistry,   Tissue   Engineering,   Journal   of   Luminescence   Journal   of   Colloid   and   Interface  
Science,   Journal   of   Materials,   Journal   of   Physics   A,   Journal   of   Materials   Research,   Journal   of  
Physical  Chemistry  Chemical  Physics,  Analyst,  Materials  Chemistry  and  Physics,  Environmental  
Science   and   Technology,   Journal   of   Materials   Research,   Journal   of   the   Taiwan   Institute   of  
Chemical   Engineers,   Journal   of   Tissue   Engineering,   Crystal   Growth   and   Design,  

10
 
Ultramicroscopy,  Nanotechnology,  Atmospheric  Environment.  
Funding   Agencies:   National   Science   Foundation   (Panel   and   Mail-­In),   Petroleum   Research  
Foundation,  National  Center  for  Electron  Microscopy  (LBL),  Molecular  Foundry  (LBL),  Center  for  
Functional   Nanomaterials   (BNL),   Stanford   Linear   Accelerator,   UC   President’s   Postdoctoral  
Fellowship  Program  
 
SELECT  PROFESSIONAL  AND  UNIVERSITY  SERVICE    
Committees  Chaired  (Selected)  
Chair   Venture  Lab  Atwater  Facility  Advisory  Committee     2016-­pres.  
Chair   Graduate   Education,   School   of   Engineering   Strategic   Planning     2016-­2017  
Retreat  
Chair  and/or   UC   Merced   Faculty   Search   Committees   for   Chemistry,     2003-­2017  
member   Bioengineering,  Materials  Science  and  Engineering,  Adaptive  and  
Functional   Matter   (Cross-­Disciplinary   in   Natural   Sciences   and  
Engineering)  
Chair   UC  Systemwide  Coordinating  Committee  on  Graduate  Affairs     2015-­2016  
Vice-­Chair   UC  Systemwide  Coordinating  Committee  on  Graduate  Affairs     2014-­2015    
Co-­Chair   Chancellor’s  Advisory  Committee  on  the  Status  of  Women     2014-­2015,  
2008-­2010  
Chair   UC  Merced  Graduate  (and  Research)  Council     2012-­2014,  
2008-­2009  
Chair   Biological  Engineering  and  Small-­scale  Tech.  Graduate  Emphasis     2010-­2013  
Vice-­Chair   Executive  Committee,  School  of  Engineering   2009-­2010  
Vice-­Chair   Graduate  and  Research  Council   2006-­2007  
 
Committees  Served  (Selected)  
Member     Search   Committee   for   UC   Vice-­President   for   Research   and     2016  
Graduate  Studies  
Member   UC   President’s   UC   Mexico   Workgroup   on   Innovative   Energy     2015-­2016  
Materials  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Academic  Planning  Council     2015-­2016  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Academic  Council     2015-­2016  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Committee  on  Academic     2015-­2016  
Computing/Communications  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Committee  on  Agriculture  and  Natural  Resources     2014-­2016  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Advisory  Committee  on  the  Status  of  Women     2015-­2016  
Member   CCGA  Representative,  UC  Council  of  Graduate  Deans     2014-­2015  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Coordinating  Committee  on  Graduate  Affairs     2013-­2014  
Member   Senate-­Admin.  Taskforce  on  Strategic  Academic  Focusing     2013-­2014  

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Member   Academic  Honesty  Task  Force     2013-­2014  
Member   Senate  Administration  Enrollment  Management  Committee     2012-­2014  
Member   Senate  Administration  Council  on  Assessment  &  Planning     2012-­2014  
Member   Divisional  Council     2012-­2014  
Member   Graduate  Dean  Search  Committee     2012-­2013  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Coordinating  Committee  on  Graduate  Affairs     2012-­2013  
Member   Science  and  Engineering  II  Building  Committee     2005-­2013  
Member   Provost/Executive  Vice-­Chancellor  Search  Committee     2012  
Member   School  of  Natural  Sciences  Dean  Search  Committee       2011  
Member   School  of  Engineering  Dean  Search  Committee     2010  
Member   School  of  Engineering  Resources  Committee     2009-­2010  
Member   School  of  Engineering  Executive  Committee     2008-­2009  
Member   UC  Systemwide  Coordinating  Committee  on  Graduate  Affairs     2008-­2009  
Member   Committee  on  Academic  Planning  and  Resource  Allocation       2008-­2009  
Member   Divisional  Council     2008-­2009  
Member   Committee  on  Committees  (mid-­year  replacement)     2007-­2008  
Member   Rules  and  Elections     2005-­2006  
Member   UC   Systemwide   Strategy   Group   on   Civic   and   Academic     2005  
Engagement    
Member   Graduate  and  Research  Council     2004-­2006  
Member   Core  Course  Planning  Committee     2003-­2006  
Member   Holiday  Parade  Planning  Committee     2003-­2004  
 
 
 

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