Thomas Scharf

• Ph. D., 2000, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, advisor John A. Barnard
  “Growth, Structure, and Mechanical Wear Strength of Ultra-Thin Ion Beam and Sputter Deposited Hard Coatings”
• M.S., 1997, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama,
  “Structural, Tribo-Mechanical, and Thermal Characterization of Sputtered Diamond-Like Carbon and Nitrogenated Diamond-Like Carbon Thin Films”
• B. S., 1994, Ceramic Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
  ”The Effects of Oxidation on the Strength Behavior of a-SiC Fibers” under Dr. Richard E. Tressler.

• Physical and chemical vapor deposition of ceramic and metallic thin films for moving mechanical assemblies
• Atomic layer deposition of nanocrystalline solid lubricant thin films for rolling element bearings
• Micro- & Nano-Tribology studies of solid lubricants and hard coatings
• MEMS materials and tribology
• In-situ chemical diagnostic tribology of dry and lubricated contacts using Raman spectroscopy and optical techniques
• Interfacial studies of surface engineered thin films using FIB/FESEM and HRSTEM

• 2000-2003: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Tribology Section, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
• 2003-2005: Limited Term Member of the Technical Staff, Materials Aging and Reliability Department, Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM
• 2005-present: Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
• 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014: University Summer Faculty,  Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM

Professional Affiliations

• American Ceramic Society (ACerS)
• Microanalysis Society (MAS)
• American Vacuum Society (AVS)
• Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), Board of Directors STLE

• Materials Research Facility (MRF)
• Laboratory for Moving Mechanical Assemblies (LaMMA)