Biography
Willi Volksen received his B.S. in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1972. He then joined the research group of Prof. J.C. Salamone as a Polaroid Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, completing his Ph.D. in Chemistry/Polymer Science in 1975. His doctoral dissertation was on the synthesis and characterization of zwitterionic polyelectrolytes derived from vinylimidazoles derivatized with various alkyl sultones. Dr. Volksen then accepted a one-year postdoctoral appointment at the California Institute of Technology working with Prof. Harry Gray/Dr. Alan Rembaum in the area of polymeric supports for Co, Ru and Rh based coordination catalysts. Immediately following the completion of his appointment, he remained with the group of Dr. Alan Rembaum as a Senior Chemist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA.
In 1977, he joined the Polymer Science and Technology department at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, CA as a research staff member. The first few years were spent exploring the use and potential application of fully aromatic, liquid crystalline polyesters for chip substrates and packaging application. However, with the increasing importance of high temperature polymers as dielectric insulators, the focus of his research switched to aromatic polyimides and their use in microelectronics. This work was highlighted by the development and implementation of polyimide precursors based on poly(amic alkyl esters) with improved processability resulting in two IBM Outstanding Innovation Awards as well as Research Division Award for his contributions to the study of "interdiffusion and adhesion at polyimide/polyimide interfaces". His work in the area of base-catalyzed imidization of aromatic poly(amide-alkyl esters) was recognized by the Doolittle Award by the PMSE division of the American Chemical Society. More recently, the projected need of ultra low-k dielectric insulators for back-end-of-line (BEOL) applications prompted another change in research directions with the focus on porous organosilicate materials, which is currently a very active area of polymer research with great potential for microelectronic applications. His contributions to "advances in creation of controlled nanostructures" earned him another Research Division Award.
Throughout his career Dr. Volksen has actively participated in his chosen field of study at key scientific meetings through presentations and invited lectures. He is an active member of the American Chemical Society (PMSE and POLY divisions) and currently serves on the executive committee of VLSI/ULSI Multilevel Interconnection Conference. In addition, he is the author and co-author of over 100 publications as well as 40 patents and patent publications.
