Liliana Stan graduated from the University of Bucharest, Romania, with a B.S. in physics and worked for 10 years as a high school physics teacher. She enjoyed working with high school students very much, helping them to understand natural phenomena and to think critically. Her move to the United States was a big change in many aspects. Stan decided to follow a dream that she had while attending college, but could not fulfill because of the political environment of Romania at that time. She always wanted to work in research, to contribute to new discoveries.
Stan started her research career at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While working full time at LANL, she went back to school and got a M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico. As a scientist at LANL, she worked on the design, characterization and optimization of multilayered thin films for high-temperature superconducting coated conductors for electronic devices.
In 2010, she joined the Nanofabrication and Devices group in the Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne National Laboratory. Her recent research interests are centered on the development of functional structures incorporating functional oxide thin films for device fabrication and processing-microstructure-property relationship studies. She has over 50 publications in scientific journals and has been awarded six patents.
What do I do?
I study the relationships among processing, microstructure and properties of functional materials. Understanding and controlling a material’s properties at the nanoscale level is important for developing electronic devices, photonic applications, energy harvest and storage applications. My work includes designing, synthesizing and characterizing multilayered thin-film structures comprising metal, complex-oxide films and multifunctional nanocomposites using techniques such as physical vapor deposition (sputtering, ion-beam-assisted deposition, e-beam evaporation) and atomic layer deposition.
What is the best part about your job?
The best part is the feeling that my work has an impact on society, on current and future technologies. For example, some of my results in high-temperature superconductors have been transferred to large-scale production. I also enjoy interacting with people who share my passion for creating new, improved materials. My colleagues from the Center for Nanoscale Materials and the large community of users are a source of inspiration for this exciting work. It is also interesting to exchange ideas with them, understand their perspectives and team up with them for collaborative complex studies. A most rewarding part of my job is sharing knowledge with graduate students and postdocs. They will continue to improve upon everything we do.
When did you first consider pursuing a STEM degree?
I was always inclined toward math and science, but failing a physics test in high school my freshman year was the starting point. I remember thinking that physics cannot be that hard and I must demonstrate my ability to do well in that class. I discovered how interesting and mind-opening physics is and how much I love it. What started as a demonstration of skill became a passion; it was the trampoline that launched me on a career that involves science. While studying physics in college, I discovered the pleasure of doing experimental work. This desire to apply the general laws of physics to practical problems made me pursue a graduate degree in engineering. To this day, I use a combination of physics and engineering in my daily work.
Tell me about a time when it was difficult to pursue your career in STEM?
After arriving in the United States, I was unable to practice my profession for a couple of years because of visa restrictions. During that time, I volunteered at the University of New Mexico and kept in touch with the scientific environment. After obtaining my green card, I re-engaged in physics and resumed my work in a laboratory, which is an environment that I like so much. It was important to me to persevere and to continue to be involved in science.
What would you share with a student who wishes to pursue a career in your field?
After getting a degree, you are done with school, but you are never done with learning. The scientific and engineering environments are dynamic, things change around you so fast that you can never stop learning and developing skills. The result is that you have no time to get bored, which is great.
Other interests?
My career is not the only thing in my life. I am married to a scientist, but we do not discuss science after work. We enjoy attending cultural events. We have two wonderful children who are working toward their graduate degrees, our son in materials science and our daughter in neuroscience. I enjoy hiking (especially when we lived in New Mexico and on vacations) and exploring the city since moving to Chicago. I like architecture, interior design and fashion, and I try to educate myself in these areas. I like to watch movies and I attempt to see all of the award-nominated ones. I occasionally knit, especially during the winter months.