Professional Interests:  Analytical and experimental thermal science with applications in mechanical, optical, biological, and materials science engineering.  Specific interests include ultrashort-pulse, high-power laser interaction with biological and engineering materials, novel laser-based processing and measurement, thermal phenomena and fluid visualization in microstructures, and laser scanning microscopy technologies in biomedical applications.

Education:       State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY

                             Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, August 2001

                             Dissertation title: Thermal Aspects of Laser-Based Measurement and Ultrafast Laser Processing of Dielectric Materials

                             Dissertation advisor: Professor Jon P. Longtin

                             Major: Thermal Science and Fluid Mechanics (Concentration: Heat Transfer)

                             Minor: Mechanical Design, GPA: 3.82/4.0

                               M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, December 1998

                             Thesis title: Laser-Based Measurement of Liquid Refractive Index, Concentration, and Temperature

                             Thesis advisor: Professor Jon P. Longtin

                          Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan

                             B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, June 1992

                             Thesis title: The Effect of Buoyancy on Laminar Air Flow Past a Rectangular Cavity

                             Thesis advisor: Professor Wen-Jeng Chang

Work Experience:

7/02 – present    Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University.

8/01 – 7/02        Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

                            Host Researcher: Professor John G. White

·           Performed research in confocal and multiphoton laser-scanning microscopy.

·           Conducted lifetime and spectral image techniques for living cells and tissues.

·           Applied lifetime and spectral information to human cancer diagnosis.

·           Developed imaging system for biological specimens, including high frequency amplifier, HV power sources, and hybrid PMT.

·           Writing proposal to Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

·           Assisted in writing proposals and research reports to NIH.

6/99 – 8/01      Research Assistant, Thermal-Laser Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Stony Brook

·          Initiated research in novel non-contact techniques for measurement of liquid temperature and concentration at free surfaces and interfaces.

·          Developed laser-based methods to determine the refractive index and concentration of the stationary and flowing liquid solutions.

·          Conducted fundamental research in ultrafast laser-material interaction, including new models for femtosecond optical breakdown, determination of breakdown threshold by ultrashort laser pulses, and evaluation of energy deposition within a material.

·          Performed ultrafast laser micromachining of thermal spray patterns.  Set up and programmed all motion control, and designed optical focusing system for very fine (5 mm) spatial resolution.

·           Assisted in writing funded proposals and research reports for NSF.

1/97 – 5/99          Teaching Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Stony Brook

·           MEC 316 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I – Assisted in guiding experiments and projects and grading laboratory reports.

·           MEC 317 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory II – Assisted in guiding experiments and developing new experiment projects.  Co-developed new experimental station, including software control, instrumentation, and user interface.

3/96 – 8/96            Design Engineer, Engineering Center, Yulon (Nissan) Motor Co., LTD, Taiwan

·          Served as body design engineer of vehicle fuel system, including fuel pump, tank, hoses, and tubes.

·           Assisted in design of vehicle emblems and seats.

3/96 – 8/92            Military Officer, Marine Corps, Navy, Taiwan

·            Promoted to reserve officer in Ordnance Classes.

·            Served as Ensign Liaison Officer, Platoon Leader Officer, and Lieutenant Vice-Commander of a company.

Honors and Awards:

·       Fellowship (Teaching and Research Assistant) of Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Stony Brook           1997–2001

·       1992 CIE Student Research Paper Award (Second Place)                                                           1992

·       Full academic scholarships for undergraduate studies, Feng Chia University (6 times)           1988–1992

Professor Dennis Fan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Florida International University

EAS 3466

Miami FL 33174

e-mail: dfan@fiu.edu

Tel: 305-348-4027 Fax: 305-348-1932