Eric Driscoll makes presentation at prestigious physics conference

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Eric Driscoll

LOCK HAVEN, PA (03/29/2012)(readMedia)-- Lock Haven University had a major presence when the world's leading physicists assembled in Boston, Massachusetts, February 27 - March 2, for the 2012 March meeting of the American Physical Society (APS).  One of the presenters was Eric Driscoll, a senior and a Chemistry major at Lock Haven University.

The APS March meeting is the largest physics meeting in the world. Each year since 2009, LHU nanotechnology students have been presenting their research at the APS conference. The record began in 2009 with a single LHU student presenter with Dr. Senevirathne. This year, there were 16 LHU student presenters. Dr. Marian Tzolov, associate professor of Physics, and Dr. Indrajith Senevirathne, assistant professor, directed the trip to Boston.

Eric Driscoll gave an oral presentation in the section focused on Growth and Properties of Nanoparticles and Nanowires. He presented his research titled "Competing gas phase reactions during vapor transport deposition of ZnO nanowires" which clarifies important aspects of the chemical reactions during the widely used chemical vapor transport process. This is an experimental work conducted at the nanotechnology laboratories at LHU under the supervision of Dr. Marian Tzolov, associate professor in Physics.

Dr. Tzolov explained that "chemical vapor transport was used for long time for growth of diversity of nanostructures of ZnO. Using targeted experiments we have found and proven the existence of particular chemical reactions in this practically important deposition process. Eric's presentation got very positive feedback from the audience."

This was Mr. Driscoll's second presentation of his research at an  APS March meeting. He gave a poster presentation of his initial results at the APS 2011 March meeting in Dallas, Texas. A resident of Roaring Brook Township, Pa., he is the son of William and Grace Driscoll.

Dr. Tzolov emphasized "the excellent analytical skills of Eric Driscoll and his strong inclination for research and scientific discovery." He added, " I am very happy that he was accepted in some very good Ph.Dd programs and I am confident that he will be successful no matter where he chooses to continue his studies."

Attendance at the APS March meeting typically includes more than 12,000 of the top scientists in physics and chemistry research throughout the world. Attended Nobel laureates included William Phillips (1997 Nobel Prize in Physics) at NIST and Robert Laughlin (1998 Nobel Prize in Physics) at Stanford University.

The presentation by Eric Driscoll and his colleagues is based on experimental results which the students acquired using the state-of-the-art equipment at Lock Haven University guided by the experienced faculty in the Nanotechnology program.

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.