STEPS Scholar Corrado Harper Successfully Defends Dissertation

STEPS Scholar Corrado Harper Successfully Defends Dissertation 

Corrado Harper, STEPS scholar, has successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation, titled “In situ, X-ray diffraction Assisted Solid-State Processing of Bulk Perovskite Oxides for Sustainable Energy and Nutrient Sustainability.” This project focused on fundamental processing science to inform future investigations of perovskite oxides in bulk powder form. His work was advised by STEPS Director and Kobe Steel Distinguished Professor of Material Science and Engineering, Dr. Jacob Jones. 

Harper received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and came to NC State University to study Materials Science and Engineering with the Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship. He was awarded an NC-STEM Policy Postgraduate Fellowship at the NC Department of Commerce’s Office of Clean Energy Economic Development through the NC Sea Grant program. 

Harper credits STEPS for introducing him  to science policy and was inspired after Dr. Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President, visited the Center. After this experience, his interest was piqued to attend the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual conference last February. These experiences lead to him applying and eventually being awarded the NC-STEM policy fellowship.  

As a STEPS scholar, Harper says he enjoyed working towards larger, more impactful scientific issues with a diverse community of experts. His main goal coming into the program was to garner more hands-on engineering experience to complement the physics background he already had. 

After his fellowship experience, Harper says, “I hope to work in international policy or international diplomacy in the context of science and technology policy.” 

Please join us in congratulating our latest PhD graduate, Dr. Corrado Harper!