Tracey Scherban, PhD, excelled in thermal mechanics at Intel Corporation and as a noteworthy chemistry instructor

Dr. Scherban, a distinguished figure in materials science, has made significant contributions throughout her career, culminating in her role as a chemistry instructor at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon, between 2009 and 2019. Her professional journey began at Intel Corporation, where she served as the thermal mechanics group leader from 1993 to 2004. During her tenure, Dr. Scherban addressed critical challenges related to chip failures due to delamination by collaborating with Stanford University to develop a reliable technique known as four-point bending. This innovation marked a turning point in process technology development at Intel and led to the elimination of intensive review meetings, a milestone Dr. Scherban humorously regards as one of her most significant accomplishments.

Following her impactful role at Intel, Dr. Scherban transitioned into academia, first as an adjunct professor at Portland State University in 2010 and subsequently as a chemistry instructor at Portland Community College, where she remained until her retirement. Her dedication to education and mentorship has left a lasting impression on both students and colleagues.

Dr. Scherban’s academic achievements have played a pivotal role in shaping her successful career. Her educational journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Reed College in 1983 and was further enriched by postdoctoral coursework at the Laboratoire d’Ionique et Electrochimique du Solide in France. She also earned a master’s degree in solid state science in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy in materials science from Columbia University in 1991. These educational experiences provided Dr. Scherban with a strong foundation and were complemented by the inspiration she has drawn from family, friends and mentors throughout her professional tenure.

Beyond her work-related ventures, Dr. Scherban has been instrumental as the women’s chemists committee chair for the American Chemical Society in Portland, Oregon. She is dedicated to organizing events and encouraging individuals to embrace science while advocating for better representation of women as Nobel laureates. Dr. Scherban’s commitment to empowering women in science was exemplified by her organization of the Women in Science symposium, a tribute to her late friend, Elaine Nam, and previous keynote speaker, Marilyn Olmstead.

In light of her career success, Dr. Scherban has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Presidential Climate Science Grant in 2013 and several additional grants from the National Science Foundation for research at foreign centers of excellence, as well as grants from Reed College. Moreover, Dr. Scherban was recognized with several Joint Engineering Team Awards. Additionally, Dr. Scherban secured a U.S. patent for enhancing the adhesion of silicon nitride films to carbon-containing oxide films, further solidifying her expertise in material science.