Profile

  • Organization
    Purdue University

  • Biography
    Tanya Faltens received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from UCLA in 2002 where she worked on the growth and characterization of non-linear optical microcrystals.
    She did some Postdoctoral research at UCLA on bio-related nanomaterials, when she became involved in nanoscience education and outreach, helping to develop some activities for the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI.)
    Dr. Faltens then spent two and a half years at the Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley, developing and delivering hands-on science activities for students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She designed and taught the first LHS summer NanoCamp for high school students in 2007.
    She then taught engineering courses at Cal Poly Pomona for nearly 6 years, and used nanoHUB simulations in her courses.
    Some of her research projects at Cal Poly Pomona included the synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles for use in wastewater remediation, and the creation of thin-film wide band-gap semiconductor structures with controlled nanoscale porosity for organic photovoltaics.
    In April, Dr. Faltens joined the nanoHUB team at Purdue University, as their Educational Content Creation Manager.