Request Expert

Expert began research in computational mechanics of fibre-reinforced composite materials through which he obtained his PhD. With this background, he explored other advanced materials like piezoelectrics. Piezoelectric materials are essential for the development of SAW sensors.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensors are micro-electro-mechanical sensors. The convert energy from electrical to mechanical and back to electrical. The sensing is performed in the mechanical phase of energy. The sensors are fabricated in a cleanroom through standard VLSI technology. The input Inter-Digital-Transducer (IDT) (made of aluminum, titanium or gold) are deposited on piezoelectric wafers (quartz, lithium niobate, PZT, etc) to enable the effect.

Expert has been actively involved in device product development since 1997. It involves concept development, literature reviews; a design process encompassing simulation and modelling, and instrumentation and testing for various applications. He actively developed SAW sensors in the USA between 1998-2001.

The innovation for SAW sensors (and hence the application of a patent) would be application driven. The focus should be on solving a problem creatively through the simplest means. The design can be as elaborate as desired. Expert has a patent for the design and development of a MEMS RF-SAW Sensor.

Expert has managed projects in a variety of industries including product development, research, infrastructure, construction, energy, astronomy & space science, etc. He appeared as expert witness (project management) for an infrastructure project that ended up in an Australian court. He is a Prince2 certified project management professional who is well versed with the PMBOK methodology of the PMI, as well. He has worked in Singapore, USA and various states and territories in Australia.

As Instrumentation Group Manager, Expert was enterprise quality and risk manager supporting a multitude of projects. He has qualitative and quantitative risk management experience. He is a qualified ISO 9001 QMS Lead Auditor and has membership with the Risk Management Institute of Australasia in connection with ISO 31000. He has managed teams of up to 30 staff in extremely risky environments e.g. demolition and high voltage energy transmission. He is a seasoned facilitator for risk management workshops.

Expert is a experienced change manager having transition various aspects of engineering business between countries including technology transfer. He is knowledgeable about intellectual property, its application and capability development built upon this.

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are structures and systems in the microns regime. At this scale, stiction due to surface tension and viscous forces are larger than inertial forces. This presents a problem for many MEMS devices. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensors are simpler in that these can be fabricated from a single mask process (i,e. NOT multi-layer process), no movable components and hence this problem never arises. Expert has not only designed SAW sensors but has fabricated them in a Class 10 cleanroom facility at the Pennsylvania State University, USA.

Nanotechnology refers to devices and structures developed in the nanometers regime. Although most SAW devices have the smallest dimension in microns, the higher the operating frequency of the SAW devices, the smaller, the smallest dimension (tens to hundreds of nanometers) would be and consequently the more difficult to develop.

New products can be developed according to the market requirements and user applications. Although traditionally used as an electrical filter in the 60s, SAW sensors are currently being used for biochemical applications. The desired application is left to the ingenuity of the developer.

The SAW device is developed through standard VLSI wafer processing. The photolithography required at least a Class 100 clean room to ensure successful photolithography and metallization. Electron beam lithography, photolithography and wet bench equipment are available in most reputable universities conduction similar research.

He has been a trainer for government and private companies in Singapore until he migrated to Australia in 2006. He has analysed and presented reports to individuals from these organizations using the neuroscience based tool, Emergenetics. He has developed a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor through design, simulation and fabrication. He has worked in a class-10 cleanroom at the Pennsylvania State University, USA for 2 years. Upon returning to Singapore, he successfully transferred the technology for development work undertaken in the USA. As a stretched target, he replicated the sensor development process and developed the sensors in Singapore. Prior to beginning this process, he provided consulting services to the Singapore government (Defence Department) on the facilities and equipment that were required for the development. [Note: He left DSO National Laboratories in 2002 because they had no interest in commercial applications of the SAW sensors.]He is currently working in a engineering consulting services company in Australia. GHD Australia has 5000 employees in 65 countries. He is providing design management consulting expertise to various clients in the area of Mining and Industry at the moment. GHD also provides expertise in Agriculture, Structures, Water, Environment, Economics, etc. Consulting services on project governance, project management, enterprise risk management and quality management including ISO 9001 audits