Sonika Robertson, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

• Providing analytical solutions (BEX, EDS, EBSD, WDS) for electron microscopes (SEM & TEM) and OmniProbe for nanoscale manipulation.

Houston, Texas, United States

• Managed a team of imaging experts and scientists for North America and assisting the direct, dealer, and agent salesforce in sales involving complex academic and industrial (e.g. aerospace, medical device, electronics.
• Commended for “ability to understand customers’ technical needs, tie those to their business needs/drivers, and truly connect with customers to establish a high level of trust”.
• Exemplified significance of applications value selling in revenue generation and in driving win rate and average value of sales through product demonstrations and creating the first of its kind applications-focused.

Houston, Texas Area

• Led >70 failure investigations spanning few dozen different downhole tools from drilling (e.g., BHA components like bits, drill collars, stabilisers, and mud-motor components), completions (e.g., line hangars, packers.
• Investigated numerous failure mechanisms, including fatigue, corrosion, and embrittlement, in a variety of ferrous alloys and non-ferrous alloys (nickel, cobalt, copper-based) and tungsten carbide-based bulk ceramics.
• Assisted new product development teams, manufacturers, & suppliers in implementation of corrective measures following failure investigations specifically in optimizing material properties & mechanical design through.
• Recognized by a partnering SLB center for “commitment to service focus, self-development, collaboration, communication, and taking initiative” for speedy and detailed analysis on a major failure involving >$1MM.
• Developed standardized procedures for failure investigations, metallography, hardness testing, & EDS analysis that considerably reduced errors, increased accuracy, and streamlined the failure investigation process.

• Independently developed research plans for investigating mechanical and chemical stability of thermoelectric modules. Led to the identification of thermoelectric material processing flaws that lowered the material.
• Demonstrated that a commonly used reactive braze alloy for half-Heusler-based thermoelectric modules does not produce stable metal/ceramic interfaces and is not suitable for long life-span thermoelectric devices.
• Specifically requested by Teledyne Technologies for high temperature mechanical characterization and by RGS Development to provide failure analysis of thermoelectric modules.
• Consulted for two Houston-based companies related to aerospace and oil & gas for corrosion analysis of failed parts.
• Assisted in development of mechanical tests for Cr3C2-NiCr high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coatings used for corrosion, wear, and abrasion resistance.
• Experienced with the maintenance, upkeep, and repair of laboratory equipment.

• Taught Applied Mathematics II for doctoral students and Materials Science for undergraduate students.

New Delhi Area, India

• Prepared zinc oxide thin films for gas sensing applications using RF magnetron sputtering.
• Characterised zinc oxide thin films using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X- ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and impedance spectroscopy.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mechanical Engineering, 3.93/4.00 (Major 4.0/4.0)

Activities and Societies: Material Advantage UH Chapter, American Society of Mechanical EngineersCoursework included • Applied Mathematics.

Master Of Science - Ms, Physics

Specialization in • Condensed Matter Physics • Nanoscale Physics • Plasma Physics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Physics

Education record