David Rolfe Email & Phone Number

Designing the next generation of deep brain stimulation technologies!

New York, New York, Us

-Led restart of Lucira engineering R&D operations under Pfizer management with a hybrid team of internal engineers and contracted resources.-Refined next-generation device concept to meet Pfizer business objectives, and took design from concept to prototype manufacturing in 7 months.-Advised operations team as subject matter expert of existing product and engineering prototypes.

Emeryville, Ca, Us

-Created product roadmap beyond the Lucira COVID/Flu test.-Worked with an interdisciplinary leadership team to develop assay menu and form factors best suited to the second generation Lucia platform, customer interests, and timelines.-Managed engineering components of RADx and CARBx grant applications to develop new platform.-Pitched Lucira’s capabilities and portfolio of technologies to potential buyers, resulting in an asset purchase from bankruptcy by Pfizer.-Managed engineering resources to continue operations during a 70% reduction in force company-wide.-Ensured that regular R&D operations continued, including CAPAs, engineering-specific IT, supply chain, and the ongoing management of the IP portfolio.

Emeryville, Ca, Us

-Spearheaded development of next generation handheld LAMP platform with expanded capabilities-Invented inexpensive mechanisms to perform complex fluid handling on a self-contained, disposable at-home testing device-Created and lead optimization of entirely novel sample preparation device-Lead integration of mechanisms into functional injection molded prototype-Coordinated the design and testing of a proof-of-principle device with members of the engineering, assay development, commercial and process development teams-Filed a provisional patent application on the device, evaluated freedom to operate and determined areas of novelty in the design-Managed a team of five on both R&D and sustaining engineering tasks-Created a CAD PDM repository system and design rules that made it possible for multiple people to develop designs simultaneously-Supervised and organized change requests to the engineering R&D team-Brought up an engineering-focused team for failure analysis-Served as product owner of the Lucira Check It COVID at home testing device for sustaining projects-Reviewed all requested deviations and change requests-Recommended regression testing that could approve proactive and reactive changes-Led efforts to improve manufacturability of the product and readiness for an automated line

Redwood City, Ca, Us

-Headed team of 5-8 people to develop Talis’s first point-of-care diagnostic consumable-Hired, trained, and managed a team ranging from technicians to senior engineers, and fostered a collaborative environment with positive employee feedback-Scaled up manufacturing, metrology and rapid prototype capabilities, including the selection and acquisition of over $1M of capital equipment-Orchestrated cartridge-oriented verification and validation activities for COVID EUA submission-Managed requirements and specifications for consumable products-Created acceptance criteria, system verification plans, and design descriptions-Initiated an R&D consumables finishing line and QC inspection for incoming consumables-Developed failure analysis processes and promoted a culture of data-based improvements to address design and manufacturing defects in initial prototypes-Ensured the transition of consumables-related data and components to meet the needs biology, instrument, manufacturing, product, and quality teams-Briefed executive team and contract manufactures on consumable risks and proposed mitigations-Advised design transfer for manual and automated production lines as subject matter expert-Created system to rapidly integrate new assays on the modular consumable system-Formulated roadmap for new products and improvements with commercial feedback-Established phase-gate documentation and reviews for design revisions-Educated coworkers on cartridge architecture through presentations and reference documents

Redwood City, Ca, Us

-Spearheaded architecture and subsystem designs for the first Talis point-of-care diagnostic consumable-Adapted benchtop RT-LAMP assay steps to an automated consumable-based format-Invented and developed novel subsystem modules, including: -A vent-less metering system based on a microfluidic RC circuit -A low-cost stir bar system capable of spinning a parylene-coated stainless-steel bar at several thousand RPM using magnetic reluctance -A retrofitted planar filtration system for removing a broad spectrum of biological contaminants -A heat-staking system to reliably melt and stake channels to seal pressurized liquids-Partnered with contract manufacturing partners to optimize designs for reliable and inexpensive manufacturing based on injection-molded polypropylene-Devised rapid prototyping techniques capable of modeling injection molded microfluidics components quickly, and at low cost-Optimized designs using finite element analysis and chemical and functional analysis of multiplexed prototypes

Redwood City, Ca, Us

Menlo Park, Ca, Us

-Performed failure analysis and other consulting services for leading consumer electronics companies including fractography, electrical testing, environmental exposure testing, and chemical analysis-Managed projects including problem definition, logistics, client communications, and budgeting-Developed novel approaches for extracting fractured materials from damaged electronics

Richmond, Ca, Us

Consulted on the creation of a brand new curriculum for the Richmond FabLab. Created lessons that allowed students to link their math and science curriculum with cutting-edge rapid prototyping techniques. Advised on the use of 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters and other techniques in an educational setting.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

MS Research in the Harsh Environment and Telemetry Systems group of the Berkeley Micromechanical Analysis and Design lab under Albert Pisano.Thesis Topic:Silicon-Carbide MEMS Flame Ionization Sensors for In-Situ Engine MeasurementsThis project seeks to construct a thermally-isolated, SiC thin-film, ionization sensor to measure the propagation speed of flames in combustion chambers. Silicon carbide has been chosen as the sensor material because it is a ceramic semiconductor with low surface energy and excellent mechanical and electrical properties at high temperatures. A MEMS planar sensor will be designed and fabricated so that it can monitor flame ionization along the combustion chamber walls despite boundary layer effects and quenching. The flame ionization data with respect to time could be used to determine flame speed and spatial flame propagation. Flame speed in internal combustion engines is a measurand of interest because it is highly sensitive to parameters such as pressure, temperature, equivalence ratio and fuel type. Ultimately this sensor could be used to create better engine feedback systems and increase combustion speed, uniformity and completeness.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

PhD Research in the Quantum Energy Systems group of the Berkeley Micromechanical Analysis and Design Lab/PRIME Lab under Albert PisanoPhD Thesis Topic: Dry-Templated High-Resolution Patterning of Conductive Metal NanoparticlesThis work takes two different approaches to patterning conductive metal nanoparticles for use in printed electronics: Advective Molding in vapor-Permeable Templates (AMPT) and Laser-Induced Direct Ablative Rapid Transport (LIDART).AMPT is a process by which nanoparticles are patterned microfluidically in a vapor-permeable polymer mold on top of a substrate of choice. Commercially available nanoparticle ink is introduced to the outside of the microfluidic mold made of poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) which is flooded with solvent. The solvent evaporates, pulling the nanoparticle ink into capillaries in the shape of the desired pattern. As the solvent continues to evaporate, the nanoparticles become close packed. Once the ink is completely dry, the polymer mold can be removed. The resulting nanoparticles are close packed into the shape of the mold. The mold can be patterned using silicon or SU-8 photopolymer. My dissertation focused on the fabrication of silver-on-LiNbO3 SAW resonators using the AMPT process using poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) fabricated from a two-layer master. Resonators with features ranging from 500nm to 1um were fabricated, with resonant frequencies as high as 13.Continued work on AMPT brought about a need for patterning at higher speeds. This work has resulted in the LIDART process. In this process, nanoparticles are patterned using pre-patterned templates of hydrophobic fluoropolymer over hydrophilic glass. When applied with a doctor blade, nanoparticles fall into glass wells in the fluoropolymer, creating a defined pattern. The pattern can be transferred onto a polymer substrate using an inexpensive fiber Nd:YAG laser. The laser first sinters the nanoparticles, then launches them to create the transferred pattern.

Berkeley, Ca, Us

Developed both experiments and materials for the laboratory component for the inaugural semester of a new version of E10: Introduction to design an analysis.Instructed approximately 120 students in three three-hour lab sections each week.Graded lab reports.

Us

Designed and tested a piezoelectric rotary drive system for resonant tuning rods in the Axion Dark Matter Experiment (ADMX).Selected and tested piezoelectric actuators for a 100 milli-Kelvin, 7 Tesla, 10-6 Torr environment.Conducted studies on heat transfer and production inside the ADMX resonance chamber.

Irvine, Ca, Us

Designed, built and tested an inexpensive, novel optical/inertial tracking device for use in diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging (DOSI) clinical applications.Tested a new multi-wavelength DOSI laser source on highly scattering samples.Built and tested new short-path length DOSI fiber optic probe for endoscopic applications.Researched methods of measuring pressure on the tip of endoscopic probes.

Claremont, Ca, Us

Researched and tested methods for the spooling and unspooling of polymer nanofibers.Directed chemical selection and the selection and development of electrospinning spooling assemblies.Electrospun polystyrene and polyethylene oxide nanofibers with a custom-built apparatus.

Researched, designed, and evaluated two methods for attaching high-end hair extensions to human hair.Developed two new product lines from conception to manufacturing procedure.Relocated existing manufacturing chain from China to the United States.Wrote comprehensive reports to direct the company leadership after the conclusion of the project.

Drafted CAD drawings for use in reports, intra-office use and litigation proceedings.Created and carried out protocol for organizing, cleaning and managing case files for archive.Accompanied and provided support to engineers while on site visits.Developed technical material for use in legal proceedings.

Ph.D, Mechanical Engineering (Mems)

Bachelor Of Science, Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

High School, Academy For Engineering And Design Technology