Robert J. Davidson, Ph.D.

Education:

1996     Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA    Dissertation: Vector Preisach Hysteresis Models for Simulation of Recording Media.  Research Advisor: Dr. Stanley Charap   

1980     M.A., The Johns Hopkins University, Physics, Baltimore, Maryland

1977     B.S., Washington State University, Physics, Pullman, Washington

Research and Professional Experience:

Boise State University, Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2008 to Present 

Assistant Research Professor. Responsible for developing new areas of research and technology transfer to the community. Initial area of focus will be application of sensor networks to solve problems in agriculture and local industry.

Savicon, Inc., 2003 to 2007

Founder and President of Savicon Inc., a privately-owned provider of comprehensive IP surveillance solutions which Meridex acquired in November 2007. With extensive managerial expertise, built and managed all aspects of this startup ranging from project management, team development, strategy, business planning, sales and marketing, customer relations through to execution. Bootstrapped with $500K of investment to produce initial products in two high growth sectors: digital home and networked security. Gained initial sales and market validation for both.

Hewlett Packard Company, 1979 to 2003

Responsible for understanding phase change behavior of calcogenide materials proposed as the storage medium for Hewlett Packard’s Atomic Resolution Storage project. This work involved thermal, carrier transport, and device modeling together with experimental work using a special built laser system to cycle the material between phases. AFM, TEM, SEM, EDAX, and Surface Auger analysis also used to generate data to compare to simulated results. Responsible for thermal analysis of alternate ARS system using hot probe/thermal plastic media. Also responsible for alternate media studies for potential follow-on ARS systems.

• Developed 3D simulations of the recording head/media system including: the hysteretic properties of recording medium using vector combined Preisach formalism, finite element models of the write head, and micromagnetic analysis of the magnetoresistive readback sensor. Coding was done in C and Mathematica.
• Responsible for design of heads/media for Hewlett Packard’s first thin film head disk drive. • Responsible for simulation and mask layout of dual-stripe MR head at Hewlett Packard Laboratories.
• First assignment at HP was to develop new methods for measuring separation between the recording transducer and disk in operating disk drive. Developed a heterodyne interferometer system with 0.1 nm resolution and 200 KHz frequency response capable of simultaneous roll, pitch, and flying height. Responsible for optical, mechanical, and electronic design and implementation.

Data Storage Systems Center, Carnegie Mellon University,  September 1992 to June 2000.  Developed models of magnetic media for NSF sponsored Engineering Research Center in Data Storage.  Peformed supporting experimental measurements of media (vector VSM, recording test) to validate models.  Was industry representative to center for Hewlett Packard Company.

University of Idaho Dept of Electrical Engineering, January 1991 to May 1995

Adjunct Faculty Member.  Taught Electromagnetics (EE330) Spring of 1991, 1992, and 1995. Taught Finite Element Methods for Electrical Engineers (EE443) in Fall of 91.

Naval Research Laboratories, December 1977 to June 1979, Research assistant in the Space Sciences Division.  Wrote simulation of X-ray detectors and satellite kinematics for X-ray burst detection astronomy program.  Granted Secret level clearance for portion of the work.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, June to August 1977, Graduate assistant in Controlled Thermonuclear Reactor group performing measurements of high voltage power supplies for high intensity magnetic field generation experiment.