Saxet Surface Science Staff

Gregory A. Mulhollan, Ph. D.: Owner and Principal Scientist
In October, 2002, Dr. Mulhollan founded the research, consulting and manufacturing concern Saxet Surface Science. Dr. Mulhollan has over 25 years laboratory experience including operation and design of ultra-high vacuum systems, numerous electron and optical based spectroscopies (optical magnetometry, SIMS, UPS, XPS, SEM, SEMPA, LEED, RHEED, EDX, PEEM, etc.), modeling of phenomena and processes, expertise in the design of ultra-clean environments, high field electron source design, extensive instrument interfacing experience, molecular beam epitaxy, electron and photon based electron sources and detectors, preparation of single crystal substrates and systems integration. Dr. Mulhollan received a Ph. D. (1989) and an M.A. (1987) degree in physics from William Marsh Rice University and his B.S. with high honors in physics (1984) from the University of Texas at Austin.

John Bierman: Senior Research Associate
Mr. Bierman has over 30 years of experience in research and development, cathode ray tube processes, manufacturing, lab and clean room procedures and testing. He began his involvement in the tube process/high vacuum field at Datagraphix, San Diego, CA in 1974 where he supervised the production of high resolution, high-speed cathode ray tubes for generating computer output microfilm. Mr. Bierman was responsible for extensive photocathode growth at SAIC, which included S-20 multi-alkali, KNaSb bi-alkali, CsTe and CSI phototubes. He also helped develop detectors for programs such as S-20 photocathodes for the StarLab at Lockheed Martin and CSI photocathodes for Polar Ozone and Atmospheric Monitoring for the University of Wisconsin and bi-alkali photocathodes for the Ring Laser Gyroscope for Jaycor, Missile Plume Recognition at TRW and the Hubble Space Telescope for the University of California in San Diego.

Robert Kirby, Ph. D.: Senior Scientist In April, 2008, Dr. Kirby founded his research and consulting business, Robert Kirby Consulting. Up to that time, beginning in 2004, he held the position of Head of the Surface and Materials Science Department at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Prior to that time, 1980-2004, he was a Deputy Group Leader at SLAC. He began his career at SLAC as an Engineering Physicist from 1975 to 1980. Dr. Kirby's areas of expertise include research in surface physics and surface-related materials science for forty years, expert-level knowledge of vacuum physics, x-ray photoelectron- and Auger electron spectroscopies, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, secondary electron- and atomic force microscopies, electron emission, and electron optics design. Dr. Kirby received a Ph. D. (1972) and an M.S. (1969) degree in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a B.S. degree in physics (1967) from Wisconsin State University.

Duane Smith: Senior Engineer
Initially trained in Chicago as a tool/die maker and designer, Mr. Smith worked 7 years for the CamFran Tool Company building and designing progressive dies. He later moved to Austin, TX where he initially started employment with 3M as a Sustaining Drafter, then achieving promotions first to Designer and next to Engineer within the Product Development Group of the Electronic Products Division. After working at 3M for 15 years, he went to work in 2001 for a startup company (Extreme Devices) in Austin as a Senior Design Engineer where he was responsible for everything mechanical and with moving their product line into manufacturing. In March of 2003, he started his own company, DTS Design & Manufacturing. Mr. Smith has 8 issued patents and 2 pending patents. He has designed and built everything from diamond reactors to electrical connectors to automated pig roasters. In recent years, along with owning and operating his own business, Mr. Smith has worked for 3M as a consultant, at Saxet Surface Science as a Vacuum Engineer and for Faradox Energy Storage, Inc. as an Engineer.

Pingheng Zhou: Research Scientist
Dr. Zhou received his Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics & Material Science from China in 2004, and had worked at Italy National Synchrotron Laboratory (ELETTRA) as a postdoctoral fellow, and at Louisiana State University as a research scientist. Dr. Zhou has developed multidisciplinary research achievements and accomplishments in ultrathin films, surface & interface, electronic structure, semiconductor, nanocomposite, and instrumentation development, with a list of peer-reviewed prestigious publications. Dr. Zhou has over 10 years professional laboratory experiences including operation and management of synchrotron beamline & station, assembly and operation of ultra-high vacuum systems, numerous electron and Soft X-ray spectroscopies (SEM, TEM, STM, LEED, XRD, X-ray absorption, diffraction, angle-resolved photoemission,etc.), and magnetic material characterization instrumentations (VSM, Mössbauer spectrum, SQUID MPMS). Dr. Zhou also has expertise in thin film processing & growth including Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) & Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), Thermal Evaporation, Electrochemical Deposition, E-beam Evaporation, Magnetic Sputtering Deposition and Laser Deposition, and is well-versed in data acquisition and other equipment interfacing with computers via serial line and GPIB, familiar with the Labview programming language.

Travis Hutchins: Research Assistant I
Mr. Hutchins received his B.S. in physics with special departmental honors from the University of Texas at Austin (2011). While at UT-Austin, he researched moderated positron beams at the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory with Dr. Manfred Fink. Mr. Hutchins is interested in nuclear physics and the space sciences.



Steve Bierman: Research Intern
Mr. Bierman is currently attending Austin Community College earning his A.A.S. in LAN network administration. He has several years experience in electronics including fabrication, soldering and thermal devices. As well as computer repair/upgrade and troubleshooting. He has just recently gotten into the physics and data acquisition field , but is already becoming a eager and dynamic addition to the team.