Faculty & Staff

Education
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, December 2002

M.A., Learning Sciences (School of Education and Social Policy), Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, December 2000

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, December 1998

B.S.E, Mechanical Engineering, and B.S., Applied Mathematics (dual degree), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, May 1995

Professional Experience

• 08/04 - current, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology
• 09/02 - 07/04, Post-doctoral Research Associate, Biologically Inspired Materials (BIMat) Center, Northwestern University.
• 09/95 - 08/99; 06/00 - 08/02, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University
• 09/99 - 09/00, Graduate Student, VaNTH ERC for Bioengineering Educational Technologies, Northwestern University.

Honors and Awards

• Harvey N. Davis Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor award (2006)
• Selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in Engineering Education
• NSF Tuition Fellowship, NSF Summer Institute Short Course on Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Nano Mechanics and Materials, Northwestern University, June 7-11, 2004.
• Searle Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching Assistant Fellow, Northwestern University (2000-2001, 2001-2002)
• Nugent Teaching Assistant Fellowship, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University (1998)
• Walter P. Murphy Fellowship, School of Engineering, Northwestern University (1995)
• Fesseden-Trott Scholarship, School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
• University Scholar, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

Areas of Research - Technical

• Characterization of nanoreinforced polymer systems
• Multiscale modeling of nano-composites and materials
• Industry-compatible nanocomposite processing techniques
• NEMS/MEMS sensors and devices
• Bioinspired/biomimetric materials
• Mechanical characterization of materials at the nanoscale
• Viscoelastic behavior of polymeric materials
• Hybrid finite element - micromechanics methods

Research Fundng

• MRI: Acquisition of an instrument for nanoscale manipulation and experimental characterization (PI, with H. Du, Y. Shi and Z. Zhu), NSF DMI-0619762, 09/01/06-08/31/09.
• Microdevice laboratory (co-PI, with S. Manoochehri (PI), K. Pochiraju and Y. Shi), US Army TACOM-ARDEC, 09/13/05-09/12/06

Areas of Research - Education

• Multimedia and asynchronous learning environments for undergraduate engineering education
• Engineering-based curricular materials for K-12 education
• Engineering outreach programs for K-12 students

Education Funding

• NUE: Virtual research experiences for undergraduates in nanotechnology (PI, with H. Du, M. Libera, H. Man, and Y. Shi), NSF ESI-0532555, 9/01/05-08/31/07.
• A framework for an online undergraduate engineering program: Planning study to determine how best to develop, implement and assess (co-PI, with C. Chassapis (PI), S. Esche, H. Hadim, R. Ubell), NSF EEC-0530626, 09/01/05-08/31/06.
• Multimedia learning modules for virtual experiential engineering and incorporation into the undergraduate curriculum (PI, with H. Man), State of NJ Department of Treasury (through Center for Innovation for Science & Engineering Education, Stevens), 05/01/05-07/31/05.
• Self-directed engineering software learning modules for engineering education (PI, with C. Chassapis), State of NJ Department of Treasury (through Center for Innovation for Science & Engineering Education, Stevens), 05/01/05-07/31/05.

Courses Taught at Stevens

• ME345 Modeling and Simulation
• NANO600 Nanoscale Science and Technology (co-taught)
• ME423/424 Senior Design Project Advisor

Book Chapters

• F.T. Fisher and L.C. Brinson (2006). “Nanomechanics of Nanoreinforced Polymers”, Handbook of Theoretical and Computational Nanotechnology, M. Reith and W. Schommers (Eds.), American Scientific Publishing.
• F.T. Fisher, D.A. Dikin, X. Chen, and R.S. Ruoff (2004). "Nanomanipulator Measurements of the Mechanics of Nanostructures and Nanocomposites", Applied Physics of Nanotubes: Fundamentals of Theory, Optics and Transport Devices, Slava V Rotkin and Shekhar Subramoney (Eds.), Springer Series in Nanoscience and Technology.

Journal Publications

• F.T. Fisher, K.C. Lee and L.C. Brinson (2006). “Mechanical modeling of non-bulk polymer interphases in nanoreinforced polymers”, manuscript in preparation.
• A. Eitan, F.T. Fisher, R. Andrews, L.C. Brinson, and L.S. Schadler (2006). "Reinforcement mechanisms in MWCNT-filled polycarbonate”, Composites Science and Technology, 66, 1159-1170.
• F. T. Fisher, A. Eitan, R, Andrews, L.C. Brinson, and L. S. Schadler (2004). "Spectral response and effective viscoelastic properties of MWNT-reinforced polycarbonate", Advanced Composites Letters, 13 (2), 105-111.
• S. Lu, D. A. Dikin, S. Zhang, F.T. Fisher, J. Lee, and R. S. Ruoff (2004). "Realization of nanoscale resolution with a micromachined thermally actuated testing stage", Review of Scientific Instruments, 75 (6), 2154-2162.
• W. Ding, A. Eitan, F.T. Fisher, X. Chen, D.A. Dikin, R. Andrews, L.C. Brinson, L.S. Schadler, and R.S. Ruoff (2003). "Direct observation of polymer sheathing in carbon nanotube-polycarbonate composites", Nano Letters 3 (11), 1593-1597.
• C. Velasco-Santos, A.L. Martinez-Hernandez, F.T. Fisher, R.S. Ruoff, and V.M. Castano (2003). "Improvement of thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes composites through chemical functionalization", Chemistry of Materials 15, 4470-4475.
• R.D. Piner, T.T. Xu, F.T. Fisher, Y. Qiao, and R.S. Ruoff (2003). "Atomic force microsopy study of clay nanoplatelets and their impurities", Langmuir 19 (19), 7995-8001
• T.T. Xu, F.T. Fisher, L.C. Brinson, and R.S. Ruoff (2003). "Bone-shaped nanomaterials for nanocomposite applications", Nano Letters 3 (8), 1135-1139.

• C. Velasco-Santos, A.L. Martinez-Hernandez, F. Fisher, R. Ruoff, and V.M. Castano (2003). "Dynamical-mechanical and thermal analysis of carbon nanotube-methyl-ethyl methaccrylate nanocomposites", Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 36, 1423-1428.
• Fisher, FT, Bradshaw, RD, and LC Brinson (2003). “Fiber waviness in nanotube-reinforced polymer composites: I. Modulus predictions using effective nanotube properties”, Composites Science and Technology, 63 (11), 1689-1703.
• Bradshaw, RD, FT Fisher, and LC Brinson (2003). “Fiber waviness in nanotube-reinforced polymer composites: II. Modelling via numerical approximation of the dilute strain concentration tensor”, Composites Science and Technology, 63 (11), 1705-1722.
• Fisher, FT, Bradshaw, RD, and LC Brinson (2002). “Effects of nanotube waviness on the modulus of nanotube-reinforced polymers”, Applied Physics Letters, 80 (24), 4647-4649.
• Fisher, FT and LC Brinson (2001). “Viscoelastic interphases in polymer matrix composites: Theoretical models and finite element analysis", Composites Science and Technology, 61, 731-748.

Conference Proceedings

• G. Mago, F.T. Fisher, and D.M. Kaylon (2006). “Effect of shearing on the crystallization behavior of poly(butylene terephthalate) and PBT nanocomposites”, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition (IMECE), November 5-10, Chicago, IL.
• FT Fisher and C Chassapis (2006). “Guided CAE software learning modules for the undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum”, 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Conference, June 18-21, Chicago, IL.
• W Ding, FT Fisher, X Chen, DA Dikin, and RS Ruoff (2004). “Nanotube-polymer Composite Characterization via Nanomanipulation Experiments”, 11th US-Japan Conference on Composite Materials, September 9-11, Yamagata, Japan.
• FT Fisher, and LC Brinson (2003). “Macroscale experimental evidence of a reduced-mobility non-bulk polymer phase in nanotube-reinforced polymers”, 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, April 7-10, Norfolk, VA.
• FT Fisher and PL Peterson (2001). “A Tool to Measure Adaptive Expertise in Biomedical Engineering Students” Multimedia Division (Session 2793) Proceedings for the 2001 ASEE Annual Conference, June 24-27, Albuquerque, NM

Institutional Service

• University Service:
  • Stevens Faculty Committee on Academic Appeals (elected, AY 07-08)
  • Nanotechnology Graduate Program Seminar Series Organizer (Summer 2006 – current)
  • Faculty Working Group on Nanotechnology Graduate Education
• School of Engineering Service:
  • Tau Beta Pi faculty advisory committee (Spring 2006 – current)
  • Pi Tau Sigma faculty co-advisor (Spring 2006 – current)
  • Office of Research Services, Focus Group, SoE representative
• Department Service:
  • Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (9/04 – current)
  • Fielding Computer Lab Coordinator (10/04 – current)

Professional Services

• Editorial Board, Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience
• Reviewed journal articles submitted for publication in: Composites Science and Technology, Nanotechnology, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Polymer, Applied Physics Letters, Carbon, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nature Materials, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, etc
• Proposal review: NSF NUE (2006), NSF CCLI (2005), NSF DMI (2005), U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
• Session organizer, “Deformation of Nanostructured Polymers and Composites”, 2006 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition (IMECE), November 5-10, 2006.
• Session organizer, “Micromechanical and Multiscale Modeling of Nanoreinforced Polymers”, 2005 American Society for Composites Annual Technical Conference, September 7-9, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
• Symposium co-organizer, “Advanced Nanocomposite Systems”, 2005 Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Conference on Mechanics and Materials (McMAT2005), June 1-3, Baton Rouge, LA.
• Conference abstract reviewal: ASEE National Conference, Chicago, IL, June 18-21, 2006; 44th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference in Norfolk, VA, April 7-10, 2003

Professional Development Activities

• NSF Summer Institute Short Course on Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Nano Mechanics and Materials, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, June 7-11 2004. (NSF Tuition Fellowship)
• Preparing Future Faculty Program, Northwestern University, June 2000

Professional Societies

• Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Member, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
• Member, Society of Engineering Science (SES)
• Member, Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM)