Faculty & Staff Directory

B.A., Drake University, Des Moines IA
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN

Research Interests include: Developing micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) devices for mechanical, fluidic, and optical applications.

Alan D. Raisanen, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology/Packaging Science Department.  He joined RIT in 2001 and was most recently the Technical Director for RIT’s NYSTAR IT Collaboratory.  His research currently involves developing micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) devices for mechanical, fluidic, and optical applications. Some applications include micropumps for human-implantable drug delivery or analytical lab-on-a-chip devices, dielectric devices for harnessing light pressure to provide mechanical lift analogous to an airplane’s wing, mechanical optical devices to replace the natural human eye lens with an artificial implantable prosthesis that restores the natural accommodating (focusing) ability, and electromechanically-driven micromirrors that can be used to steer multiple optical beams for telecommunications, display, and spectroscopic imaging systems. In order to make these devices practical, I am also engaged in research to characterize the fundamental mechanical behaviors of the thin film materials used to fabricate these devices. I am also involved in materials processing and device fabrication of photovoltaics and nanomaterials, specifically in developing manufacturable processes and process flows for devices using these materials. Some of these materials are being used in collaborative RIT Nanopower Research Laboratory research in photovoltaics and Lithium battery technologies. Finally, I am developing new processing tool technologies (primarily plasma deposition and etching tools) that are necessary for fabricating micromechanical devices from silicon as well as other more exotic materials. These tools require extensive work in vacuum technology, machine design, robotics, welding and machining, making them ideal vehicles for self-contained co-op studies, senior design, and multidisciplinary design projects. 

S. Manian Ramkumar, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Center for Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly

Ph.D., Binghamton University; M.E., Rochester Institute of Technology; B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, India

Campus Address: Slaughter Building (#78) 1518
Campus Telephone: 585-475-6081
Email: Ramkumar@mail.rit.edu
Research interests include:  Surface mount electronics packaging, automation, PLC controls and systems integration, web-based laboratory experimentation and control and robotics and automated systems. 

S. Manian Ramkumar, Ph.D., is a professor, Director of Center for Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly, and department chair for MMET.  He also serves as Graduate Program Chair for the M.S. degree in Manufacturing and Mechanical Systems Integration and has been at RIT since 1991.  Ramkumar’s work is focused on surface mount electronics packaging, automation, PLC controls and systems integration, web-based laboratory experimentation and control and robotics and automated systems.  His peer reviewing activity includes: 

• Microelectronics Reliability Journal
• IEEE Transactions in Electronics Packaging Manufacturing
• IEEE Transactions on Reliability
• Manufacturing Division of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
• Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (JASET)
• National Science Foundation (NSF) – Proposal Reviewer
• ASME – IDETC Conference

Editorial Activities:

• Associate Editor - IEEE Transactions in Electronics Packaging Manufacturing (2006 - Present)
• Penwell Publishing Group (SMT Magazine) (2007 - Present)

Surface Mount Technology Association

• Currently serves on the Nomination Committee for electing Board of Directors and also on the Technical Advisory Board and is President of SMTA Empire Chapter (NY State) and has served as Vice President of Technical Programs.   

Honors and Awards

• Nominated to the Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholarship Award by the Deans Council of the University (2008)
• Innovation in Teaching and Learning with Technology award for 2008
• Nominated for the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Department (2007)
• Nominated for RIT’s Principal Investigator Presidential Award from CAST (2007)
• Nominated for the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Department (2007)
• Established a fully functional process and failure analysis laboratory valued at over $2,500,000 through industry donations
• Secured over $1,000,000 in grant funding for curriculum development, applied research and equipment, from federal agencies and professional societies (NSF, NASA and SME)
• Nominated for the Eisenhart Outstanding Teaching Award (3 years)
• Exceptional Scholar Award for excellence and leadership in the area of scholarship in CAST. (May 2006)
• Served as an Endowed Chair for the College from 1997-2007
• Award of Commendation from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Region 4, for outstanding contributions to manufacturing and manufacturing engineering education, 1994.
• Second Place in the National Robotics Contest organized by SME, 1992 (Faculty Advisor for SME Student Chapter)
• Best Outgoing Mechanical Engineering Student Award for outstanding overall curricular and extra-curricular performance (1988)
• Best Mechanical Engineering Capstone Project Award (1988)