Katherine G. Jackson

Katherine G. Jackson is an American materials scientist and chemical engineer recognized for her pioneering research in polymer physics and the application of block copolymers in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Her career has spanned influential roles in industrial research at IBM and academic leadership at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Jackson's work has been instrumental in developing novel materials and processes for next-generation microelectronics and nanotechnology.

Early life and education

Katherine G. Jackson completed her undergraduate studies in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a program renowned for its strength in materials science. She subsequently pursued her doctoral degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she conducted groundbreaking thesis research under the guidance of prominent figures in polymer science. Her graduate work focused on the fundamental thermodynamics and kinetics of polymer blends, laying a critical foundation for her future investigations into self-assembly phenomena. This formative period at MIT immersed her in the interdisciplinary culture of the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies and collaborations with national laboratories like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Career

Following her PhD, Jackson joined the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, as a research staff member. At IBM, she became a key contributor to the Semiconductor Research and Development Center, working on materials challenges related to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. She later transitioned to a leadership role within IBM Research's Science & Technology division, managing teams focused on nanofabrication and directed self-assembly. In a significant career shift, Jackson moved to academia, accepting a professorship jointly appointed in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At UCSB, she is affiliated with the prestigious Materials Research Laboratory and the California NanoSystems Institute.

Research and contributions

Jackson's primary scientific contributions are in the field of block copolymer self-assembly for lithography-free nanopatterning. Her research has elucidated the complex interplay between molecular weight, Flory–Huggins interaction parameters, and annealing conditions to achieve highly ordered nanodomains with sub-10-nanometer feature sizes. This work, often conducted in collaboration with institutions like IMEC in Belgium and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has provided a materials science pathway for extending Moore's law. She has also made significant advances in understanding ion transport in solid polymer electrolytes for applications in battery technology, publishing influential papers in journals such as *Science* and Nature Materials.

Awards and honors

In recognition of her impactful work, Katherine G. Jackson has received several distinguished awards. She was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society through its Division of Polymer Physics. She is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. During her tenure at IBM, she received the IBM Corporate Award, the company's highest technical honor. Her research has been supported by major grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences. She has served on advisory committees for the National Research Council and the Sandia National Laboratories.

Personal life

Jackson maintains a strong commitment to STEM education and increasing diversity in the physical sciences. She has been actively involved with the Society of Women Engineers and has mentored numerous students through programs at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Outside of her professional life, she is an avid supporter of the arts and is known to enjoy hiking in the Santa Ynez Mountains near her home in California.

Category:American materials scientists Category:American chemical engineers Category:University of California, Santa Barbara faculty Category:IBM people Category:Living people