Inamori School of Engineering
Alastair N. Cormack
Professor Ceramic Engineering
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| Alfred University Contact Info |
| Office Location: |
Binns-Merrill 160 |
| Department: |
Ceramic Engineering |
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| Phone: |
607.871.2422
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| Email: |
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| Education |
B.A.
University of Cambridge
Ph.D.: Chemistry
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
M.Sc.: Solid State Chemistry
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
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| Background |
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Biography
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Dr. Alastair N. Cormack, the Van Derck Frechette Professor of Ceramic Science and director of the Graduate School at Alfred University, is dean of the Inamori School of Engineering.
Dr. Cormack, who joined the AU faculty in 1985 and was promoted to the rank of professor in 1992, served as associate dean for graduate programs in the School of Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science from 1991-92, and then served a five-year term as dean, from 1992-97. He has served as director of graduate programs for the school since 1998, and served as interim dean of the School of Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science for a year prior to accepting the full-time appointment.
Considered to be among the leading researchers today in the field of computer modeling of materials, Dr. Cormack focuses on the atomic-scale physics and chemistry of materials, particularly ceramics and glass. He uses computers to model the way in which atoms are arranged in solids, and how that arrangement of atoms affects their properties. He is a frequent lecturer on the topic, invited to speak at conferences, colleges and universities around the world.
Dr. Cormack is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, the Society of Glass Technology, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Mineralogical Society (United Kingdom).
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Areas of Concentration
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We are interested in using computer-based atomistic simulations to tackle problems in inorganic solid state chemistry. Two major themes are the structure and ion transport properties of inorganic glasses, especially silica based glasses, and non-stoichiometry and defect structure in crystalline materials. In both of these, the influence of composition on reactivity depends on the atomic (“nano”) scale structure which, itself, is a function of chemistry. Both molecular dynamics and static lattice techniques are employed as appropriate.
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Current Research
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Surface reactivity of bioactive glasses
Simulation of bioactive glasses
The structure of silicate glasses containing hydroxyl groups and rare earth ions
Surface structure of silicate glasses
Nano-scale domains and defect structures in Sc-doped zirconia and Gd-doped ceria
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