INFUSING INDUSTRY EXP As the F. Alex Nason professor of materials science and director of the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center, more familiarly known as the SDLE Center, Roger H. French also holds secondary appointments in physics and macromolecular science and engineering. Relying upon industry savvy to “get things done” innovatively and in record time, French amazingly has accomplished much of what he set out to do when he joined the Case School of Engineering faculty as part of its strategic hiring initiative designed to attract proven leaders in interdisciplinary research.
Professor Roger French, center, with two of his research students
Professor Roger French has a way of getting things done, effectively and efficiently. Most likely, this effectiveness comes from his 25-year career in industry as a scientist. At DuPont, French brought products his team developed to commercial market, while spending 16 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. French arrived at Case in the summer of 2010 with several objectives. In addition to his dedicated research in material lifetime degradation and durability, French also brought a proposal ready to submit to the Department of Energy for long-range interactions for nano-scale assembly. Perhaps most impressive is the emphasis on capital improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration and developing a diversified funding stream that French transported here as well – all key reasons he stated for accepting the position. “The fact that it wasn’t just me being hired, but 10 or 15 new faculty, was a big change to the whole Case School of Engineering. It represented a nice, broad openness that could have a beneficial effect on the entire school. To me, it meant they were serious,” said French.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT Somewhat uniquely, French’s startup package included a plan for specific capital construction projects. Almost immediately, French and a team of colleagues from the Great Lakes Energy Institute procured funding from the Ohio Department of Development Third Frontier Program for his lifetime degradation science research. Since then, French had a fifth-floor corridor in the White Building renovated, including bringing in new laboratory equipment that helps his team study solar panel materials and components to make them more durable. The SDLE Center’s grand opening was Nov. 1, 2012. p. 12
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