Embracing fundamentals for future success

When Craig Hillman was applying to colleges, Carnegie Mellon stood out because of the reputation of its engineering programs, with an experience meeting students solidifying his choice. Materials science first entered Hillman’s radar of disciplines to study when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. “There were a lot of questions about materials and what they could do,” recalled the 1991 graduate, “and so I took the Intro to Materials class to get a better understanding.”

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Hillman went on to receive a Ph.D. in materials science focusing on ceramics from University of California, Santa Barbara. He then took on a postdoctoral position at the University of Cambridge, where he pivoted his focus from ceramics to electronics. During his time as a research associate at the University of Maryland, he developed an interest in electronic reliability. 

“From a materials perspective, there are so many ways you can fail. That’s what’s cool to figure out, the mechanisms driving that failure,” Hillman said. Focusing on electronic reliability also gives him a chance to collaborate with a diverse range of specialists and companies from other disciplines. 

This focus on electronic reliability led him to found his own electronics consulting company, DfR Solutions. Under his company, Hillman developed software that predicts electronic reliability, which he then sold to Ansys, who he still works with today. “The software was based upon the fundamentals I learned in that first class,” Hillman recalled. While his career shifted from academia to business-related ventures, he emphasized how skills he gained from his early coursework remains relevant to his career. 

Hillman recounts three faculty members who made a significant impact on his career trajectory, Alan Cramb, Warren Garrison, and Henry Peeler. “Peeler showed us that materials could be involved in that intersectionality with technology,” Hillman said. He emphasized that receiving a degree in materials science gave him both a strong work ethic and technical engineering knowledge. Hillman recalled Garrison explaining that CMU was “giving you the tools to succeed anywhere,” and that understanding the fundamentals can enable students to solve any problem. 

As an alumnus, Hillman wants students to continue to thrive on the department's reputation and emphasis on the fundamentals. Through his engagement with the department as a volunteer and philanthropic supporter, he aims to strengthen the bonds of the MSE community and provide students with incredible opportunities. He became a member of MSE’s Alumni Advisory Councill in 2023 and within the last year, he has made matching gift donations to the Materials Science and Engineering Student Impact Fund to encourage alumni and donors to support opportunities for students both inside and outside of the classroom.