Dr. Patrick Shamberger has a background in functional inorganic materials, including interests in phase transformations, crystal structure/property relationships, and thermodynamics. These have been applied to a range of problems on both natural (geological) and engineered systems. Currently, he is an assistant professor with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, College Station. Prior to this, he served as a materials research engineer for the Air Force Research Lab in the Nanoelectronic Materials Branch (AFRL/RXAN) and Thermal Sciences and Materials Branch (AFRL/RXBT). His areas of focus at AFRL were in the areas of plasma-assisted deposition processes for high-mobility nanocrystalline oxide films, and in reducing the variability of oxide-based resistance switches. Previous efforts have included development of rapid, low-temperature thermal storage based on phase change, physisorption, and chemical dissociation processes. Patrick Shamberger received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Washington in 2010, an M.S. in Geology & Geophysics from the University of Hawaii in 2004, and a B.S.E. in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Princeton University.