2008-2002 Independent Scholar and Consultant
• Conducted research in microwave transmission imaging of live trees and logs and the use of microwave methods for forest mensuration. Developed deisgn for simple quarter wave plates for use in microwave the X-band. Conducting mathematical studies relating forest mensuration to local stereology: the implicit role of the coarea formula in the variable plot (or relascope) method and its consequential extensions to automated forest mensuration and spatial modeling.
• Conducted research in image processing for materials analysis in the areas of mathematical morphology and stereology. Developing algorithms and MS Windows based software in the C++ language. Presented results of this research as an invited speaker at the Third International Conference of Microstructology .
• Devised mathematical models to evaluate relative thermal efficiency of building facilities, forecast future heat costs and implemented heating system control improvements leading to cost savings of 35-50%.
•
Wrote white papers,in association with the Allegheny Institute of Natural History, to solicit proposal requests from the Department of the Interior. These included the application of stereology to forest mensuration, automated forest mensuration
through machine vision and nondestructive testing of live trees.
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Wrote and edited Stereology and Stochastic Geometry a treatise on spatial inference in measurement, based on the course notes of and an incompleted book by John Hilliard, for the Springer-Verlag series on computational imaging.
• Developed manufacturing processes for the Beth El Crofter including a method for bonding glass to thick steel.
• Designed and coded from scratch the website, bethelcrofter.com (no longer extant) using html, Javascript, Perl-CGI and PHP languages.
• Continued work in musical acoustics including rebuilding and installation of a pipe organ in Blaisdell Hall of the University of Pittsburgh, Bradford in 2006.
2002- 1997 Visiting (and Adjunct) Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Engineering,
University of Pittsburgh, Bradford Bradford, PA.
• Taught courses in mathematics and mathematical aspects of engineering including engineering probability and statistics, circuit analysis, digital logic, semiconductor device physics and computer programming.
• Wrote revue articles and a book chapter related to x-ray scattering.
• Developed mathematical model of heritability in collaboration with Biology professor (M. Putterbaugh -- see publications)
• Wrote monograph on x-ray optical methods for Federal Aviation Administration.
• Developed student recruitment program.
• Coordinated curricula between campuses.
1998- 1995 Technical Consultant:
1998 General Electric Corporate Research / DOE / Northwestern University
• Evaluation of the state-of-the-art in crack propagation threshold stress analyses.
• Resulted in invited revue publication:
L. Lawson, E.Y. Chen and M. Meshii, "Near-threshold fatigue: a review", International Journal of Fatigue, 21, S15-S34 (1999).
1998-1996 Austin Air Systems, Buffalo NY.
• In charge of development of new product
hardware for air cleaning, filtration and lighting.
• Conducted research in surface enhanced air cleaning methods including photocatalysis and plasma activated catalysis.
• In charge of development of production
processes and prototype tooling for
plastic molding and metal stamping.
• Designed and tested product innovations.
• Analyzed process problems (welding and
powder coating) using SEM, EDXA, and
other methods.
• Wrote of technical documentation, marketing
support literature and U.S. patent
applications.
• Developed high intensity light source for x-ray light box illumination and point-of-sale advertising: L.Lawson, "Light Source", U.S.Patent 5,803,592 (1998) assigned to the Austin Group, Buffalo, NY.
1996 Coordinated "Cornell Corsortium" to explore stochastic aspects of combined high and low-cycle fatigue of structural materials. Applied for MURI grant with Cornell University and Northwestern University faculty.
1995 Stackpole Carbon Company, (Ferrite Division) Kane, PA. (now reorganized as Kane Magnetics Inc.)
• Analyzed problems related to time-dependent fracture and residual stress in overmolded ferrite assemblies for automobile engines.
• Wrote statistical software to track production process problems.
• Analyzed process problems using design of experiments, Shainen Tools and ANOVA.
• Applied finite element analysis (COSMOS) to ferrite pressing, sintering processes and injection molding.
1995-1989 Post-Doctoral Fellow and Research Associate. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Designed and developed x-ray backscatter ("x-ray bouncer") technique and electronics system for aircraft inspection on FAA Aging Aircraft Program.
• Apparatus and its application described in publication: L.Lawson, "Compton X-Ray Backscatter Depth Profilometry for Aircraft Corrosion Inspection ", Materials Evaluation, 53, 936-941 (1995) and others.
• Applied stochastic theory to problems related to solid mechanics of ductile composite materials including Monte Carlo Markov process model of microcracks.
• Studied fatigue and fracture of P/M and metal/ceramic composites.
• Developed an in-situ SEM fatigue stage and broadband acoustic emission imaging system having 1x10-11m resolution over 3 MHz band.
• Studied point defect involvement in thermomechanical oxidation fatigue.
• Supervised graduate and undergraduate student research.
• Won ASM Best Paper award (with student) for student's research paper.
1989 - 1986 Research Assistant and Student,
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Studied thermal fatigue processes in SMT joints (IBM "flip-chip").
• Modeled role of oxidation fatigue kinetics.
• Developed FEA and contour integral methods for modeling temperature waves.
• Devised an algorithm for generation of precise thermal waveforms.
• Built thermal wave generating system and fatigue apparatus.
1986-1983 Product Development Engineer and Manager, MIT Corporation, Fyrnetics Division, Roselle, IL
• Designed, developed and sold high frequency switching power supply products including the 12-volt 75-watt supply used by Halo Lighting.
• Designed commercial ballast products for fluorescent lighting.
• Designed and developed experimental switching HID ballasts.
• Researched thermally-activated processes affecting product reliability and propagation of electromagnetic interference in wiring raceway materials.
• Assisted development of semiconductor strain gauge products and processes.
• Set up RFI test center.
• NEMA, UL and FCC representative.
• Manager of Sales Engineering Department.
1983-1982 Senior Process Development Engineer,
Motorola Corporation, Schaumburg, IL
• Worked with manufacturing processes for piezoelectric frequency control products using wafer technology.
• In charge of frequency etching step.
• Analyzed problems related to local mode frequencies in wafers.
• Wrote statistical process control software.
1982-1977 Senior Engineer, (electro-optical) Ni-Tec Inc. (an affiliate of Zenith Corporation) Niles IL (defunct).
• Designed and built optical and electronic test
and production process equipment for
electro-optic systems and components. Supervised optical testing, e.g. MTF testing of lenses and optical noise characterization of components. Supervised reliability testing.
• Supported product development: Developed experimental vacuum tube designs; performed boundary element method electron trajectory calculations. Developed in-the-envelope residual gas analysis capability.
• Supported production: Built UHV systems and invented wide-angle high-uniformity electron gun. Did prototype lens grinding and assembly.
• Invented and developed laser-directed electric micro-arc for surface machining. ("high-vacuum EDM").
• CORM (optical radiation measurement group at NIST) representative.
• Supervisor of optical radiation technical group; received supervisor training course.
• Received letter of appreciation from US Army Night Vision Command for research in optical noise standardization.
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Evanston, IL
Post-Doctoral Studies, completed 1995
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, 1989
(Physical Metallurgy and Electronic Materials)
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 1986
CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE, Newington, CT
B.S. Physics, 1981
Book
J. Hilliard (deceased) and L.Lawson, Stereology and Stochastic Geometry, Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. This ca.500 page book deals with the mathematical theory of stereology (multi-dimensional pattern analysis) and its applications in Materials Science, Earth Science, Biology, Medicine and Physics. (2003), Springer-Verlag (2004)
Monograph
L. Lawson, X-Ray Backscattering, Unnumbered final report to the United States Federal Aviation Administration: a 125-page monograph on FAA-sponsored backscatter imaging research and its application to aircraft corrosion testing. (submitted 10/15/01, accepted 3/8/02).
Book Chapter
L. Lawson, "Backscatter Imaging", Chapter P in NDT Handbook: Radiographic Testing, third edition, (American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Columbus OH, 2003).
Journals (refereed)
H. Lawson, L. Lawson and K. Leck, "The Meaning of Animals" Sociological Viewpoints 21 (2005) 35-52 (computational linguistic analysis).
L. Lawson, "Backscatter Imaging", Materials Evaluation, 60(11) 1295-1317 an invited review feature article.
S. Wen, L. Keer, S. Vaynman and L.R. Lawson, "A Consititutive Model for a High Lead Solder", IEEE Transcations on Components and Packaging Technologies, 25 (2002) 23-31.
L.Lawson, E.Y. Chen and M. Meshii, "Near-Threshold Fatigue -- A Review " International Journal of Fatigue and presented as an invited review at the Second International Conference on Fatigue Damage of Structural Materials, Hyannis, MA. September, 1998: Int. J. Fatigue, 21 Suppl, S15-S46
L.Lawson and E.Y. Chen, "Fatigue Crack Coalescence in Discontinuously Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites: Implications for Reliability Prediction", Journal of Composites Technology and Research (ASTM) , 21, 147-152 (1999).
L.Lawson, "Evaporation Through a Capillary Allows Electrically-Controlled Rate ", Review of Scientific Instruments, 69, 3703-3704 (1998).
L.Lawson, E.Y. Chen and M.Meshii, "Microstructural Fracture in Metal Fatigue ", International Journal of Fatigue, 19 Suppl. 1,S61-67 (1997).
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Comparison of the Growth of Individual and Average(d) Microcracks in the Fatigue of Al-SiC Composites ", Metall. and Mater. Trans. A, 26A, 3163-3176 (1995).
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M.Meshii, "The Effect of (the coalescence of) Fatigue Microcracks in Rapid Catastrophic Failure in Al-SiC Composites ", Materials Science and Engineering A, A200, 192-196 (1995).
L.Lawson, "Compton X-Ray Backscatter Depth Profilometry ", Materials Evaluation, 53, 936-941 (1995).
L.Lawson and E.Chen, "Microcracks, the Hazard Function and Reliability ", A.S.T.M. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 23, 315-318 (1995).
L.Lawson, "Fatigue Stage for Quantitative Acoustic Emission Measurements ", Scanning, 17, 322-326 (1995).
M.Sasaki, L.Lawson and M.Meshii, "Low -Cycle Fatigue Properties of a SiC Whisker-Reinforced 2124 Aluminum Alloy ", Metallurgical and Materials Transactions, 25A, 2265-2274 (1994).
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "The Distribution of Fatigue Microcracks in an Aluminum Matrix Silicon Carbide Composite ", Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia, 30, 737 (1994).
L.Lawson, "Flux Maximization Techniques for Compton Backscatter Depth Profilometry ", J. X-Ray Science and Tech., 4,18 (1993).
L.Lawson, "A Model of Thermomechanical Fatigue in a Lead-Base Alloy ", J. Mater. Res., 8, 745 (1993); 8, 1758(E) (1993) erratum 8. with "Computational Aspects of a Model of Thermomechanical Fatigue in a Lead-Base Alloy ", AIP PAPS JMREEE-8-745-108.
L.Lawson and M.Meshii, "Electrical Resistivity of a Marginally-Fatigued Lead Alloy ", Scripta Metallurgica et Mater., 25, 1713-1717 (1991).
L. Lawson, "Fracture Toughness and Dimple Formation in a 6061 Aluminum Matrix Whisker Composite ", Scripta Metallurgica et Mater., 25, 1533-1536, (1991).
L. Lawson, M. E. Fine and D. Jeannott, "Thermomechanical Fatigue of a Lead Alloy " Metall. Trans. A., 25A, 1059-1070 (1991).
L.Lawson, "Thermal Cycling Apparatus for Thermomechanical Fatigue Testing ", Rev. Scient. Instrum., 58, 1942-1944 (1987).
Refereed Conference Proceedings
L.Lawson and E.Y.Chen, "Extreme-Value Distributions for Microcracks: Role of the Longest Possible Crack " in Fatigue Fracture and Residual Stresses (ASME/ PVP 373), edited by S. Rahman, P. Dong, M. Kahleeel, R. Mohan, R. Raj, R. Warke, G. Wilkowski and M. Zako (ASME Intl. , Fairfield, NJ. 1998) 77-81.
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Application of Microcrack Growth and Distributions to Improving Reliability Inspection Scheduling of Metallic Materials ", Chapter 25 in Engineering Against Fatigue, eds. J. Beynon, M. Brown, R. Smith, T. Lindley, and B. Tomkins (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1999) 243 - 251. International Conference on Engineering Against Fatigue, 17-21 March, University of Sheffield (Sheffield, UK 1997)
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Mechanisms of (the) Growth of Short Fatigue Cracks in Notched and Smooth Specimens of Al-SiC Composites " in High Performance Composites: Commonality of Phenomena, K.Chawla, ed. (TMS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 1994) 305-320.
L.Lawson, E.Y.Chen, M. Sasaki, and M.Meshii, "Fracture Toughness and its Variability in an Al-SiCw Composite " in Mechanisms and Mechanics of Composites Fracture, edited by R.B. Bhagat, S.G.Fischman and R.J. Arsenault (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1993) 65-75.
Conference Proceedings (non-refereed)
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Role of Microcracks in High Cycle Fatigue Damage of an Al-SiC Composite " High Cycle Fatigue of Structural Materials: Proceedings of the Paul Paris Symposium, W.O. Soboyejo and T.S. Srivatsan, eds. (The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, Warrendale, PA, 1998) ISBN 0 873393821 pp 581-596.
E.Y. Chen, J.C. Moulder, L. Lawson and M.Meshii, "Eddy Current Detection of Fatigue Damage in Al-SiC Composites ", Nondestructive Evaluation and Materials Properties III, P.K. Liaw, O. Buck, R. J.Arsenault, and R. E. Green, Jr., Eds., The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Warrendale, PA (1996), 73-88.
. E.Y. Chen, J.C. Moulder, L.Lawson, T. Khan and M.Meshii, "Eddy Current Detection of Fatigue Microcrack Distributions in Al-SiC Composites " in Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation vol. 15, D.O. Thompson and D. Chimenti, eds., Plenum Press (New York, 1996) 1255-1262.
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Nondestructive Evaluation of Discontinuous Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites: Requirements for New Technologies " in Composites X, Proceedings of the 10th Annual Advanced Composites Conference-Exposition (Detroit, 1994) A.S.M. International, Materials Park, Ohio.
Winner, ASM-ESD Best Academic Paper Award.
E.Y. Chen, L.Lawson and M. Meshii, "Fatigue of Discontinuous Reinforced Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites: Challenges of Non-Destructive Evaluation " in Proceedings of the International Dedicated Conference on New and Alternative Materials for Transportation Industries, I.S. A.T.A. -1994 (Aachen, Germany (1994).
L.Lawson and N. Kim, "Deconvolution in Compton Backscatter Profilometry " in Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation vol. 13, D.O. Thompson and D. Chimenti, eds., Plenum Press (New York, 1994) 1971-1978.
L.Lawson, "Measurement of Layered Corrosion with Compton Backscatter " in Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation vol. 12, D.O. Thompson and D. Chimenti, eds., Plenum Press (New York, 1993) 1971-1978.
L.Lawson, "Coherent X-Ray Imaging for Corrosion Detection: A Preliminary Assessment", in Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation vol. 11, D.O. Thompson and D. Chimenti, eds., Plenum Press (New York, 1992) 315-322.
D. Jeannott and L.Lawson, "Thermomechanical Fatigue in Microelectronic Structures ", The Morris E. Fine Symposium, P.K. Liaw, J.R. Weertman, H. Marcus and J.S.Santer, eds., TMS (Warrendale, PA 1991) 427.
L.Lawson, M.E. Fine and D. Jeannott, "Thermomechanical Fatigue of a Lead-Base Low Tin Solder " in FATIGUE 87, Proceedings of the International Conference on Fatigue Charlottesville, VA 1987 (Engineering Materials Advisory Services, Cradley Heath, UK) 1143-1152.
Educational Publications
M. Putterbaugh and L. Lawson, "Heritability " (exercise #34) in Spreadsheet Exercises in Ecology and Evolution, T. Donovan and C. Weldon eds. (Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, 2001).
L.Lawson, "Conservation of Energy in Real Fracture ", a teaching module, Journal of Materials Education , 14, No. 4, 269-282 (1992).
Light Source, U.S. Patent 5,803,592.
Unmanned Sales Center (electronic sales network, with D. Cleworth and R. Taylor.) U.S. Patent Application USSN 09,080,343. (abandoned).
Recirculating Air Cleaner (special carbon-based material, with R.Taylor and C. Johnson) USSN 60/062,611.
Underwater Acoustic Radiating Device. (broad band impedance-matching) U.S. Patent Application 70/564,352 (abandoned).
Winner of 2008 Distinguished Service Award with Helene Lawson: American Sociological Association, Section on Animals and Society – for improving the Internet computer information system, presented at the ASA Annual Conference in Boston, MA.
Grant: US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Office of Naval Research and The National Science Foundation $1000, 2005 -- for presentation of "Stereology in Measurement and Modeling: a case study" at Microstructology III at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Grant: National Science Foundation, $1000, 2001 -- for attendence at the NSF-CBMS Conference on Environmental Statistics.
Grant: US Department of Energy, through General Electric Company, $3000, 1998 -- for assistance in reviewing near-threshold fatigue.
Grant: Northwestern University, $1500, 1998 -- for a conference presentation.
Invited Review Feature, "Backscatter Imaging ", Materials Evaluation, 60 (2002) 1295-1319.
Invited Review Chapter: "Backscatter Imaging ", American Society for Nondestructive Testing Radiographic Testing Handbook, 3rd Edition. (2003).
Invited Review, International Symposium on Materials Aging and Life Management, ISOMALM 2000, Indira Ghandi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA (declined).
Invited Review given at "Fatigue Damage of Structural Materials II ", Hyannis, MA, 1998 with E.Y. Chen and M. Meshii.
Winner of Best Academic Paper Award as co-author with advisee, E. Y. Chen and faculty advisor M. Meshii ASM-ESD 10th Advanced Composites Conference, Detroit 1994 (see above).
President, Temple Beth El synagogue, Bradford, PA
Technical Webmaster, Animals and Society Section of the American Sociological Association.
Can read German and some technical French.
U.S. citizen by birth.
Updated: August 7, 2008