Core Research Operations Team

Dr. Casey Smith 

Director, Core Research Operations
Office: RFM 1244
Email: casey.smith@txstate.edu

Casey E. Smith received his B.A. in Physics with a minor in Geology from University of Texas At Austin, M.S. in Physics with a minor in Chemistry from Texas State University, and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas. After receiving his Ph.D., he was employed as a research engineer and program manager at SEMATECH where he worked on integration and process module development for non-planar transistors (FinFETs) and other novel CMOS compatible technologies including Nanoelectromechanical systems and tunnel transistors.  Afterwards, Dr. Smith joined the technical staff of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology where he continued to work on disruptive CMOS based technologies and oversaw the construction of custom cleanroom workspaces.  He joined Texas State University in 2013 and currently leads the Shared Research Operations technical team responsible for management of Research Service Centers that help fulfill the educational, research, and entrepreneurial mission of the University.  Dr. Smith also contributes to the development of hands-on curriculum for graduate coursework, serves on thesis and dissertation committees, and develops safety and equipment training protocols that impact a wide user base.  He is author or co-author of more than 50 refereed scientific publications and has a lifetime h-index of 22.

Dr. Joyce Harrington Anderson

Research Associate, Core Research Operations
Office: RFM 1205
Email: jha39@txstate.edu

Joyce joined the CRO staff in 2021, after completing her doctoral studies in the MSEC program here at Texas State. Her background is in mechanical and materials engineering, with a research interest in materials characterization, including electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and sample preparation tools.

Dr. Nicola Fairbairn

Scientific Instrument Technician, Core Research Operations
Office: SUPP 172
Email: n.fairbairn@txstate.edu

Leona Hazlewood, MA

Instrument Technician, Core Research Operations 
Office: SUPP 172 
Email: leona_hazlewood@txstate.edu

Leona joined the CRO Staff in December of 2024. She earned her M.A. in Chemistry from Texas State University and her B.S. in Marine Biology from Southwest Texas State University. She has a background in Xiphophorus genetics, biochemistry and fish husbandry. In addition, Leona has been an academic advisor and faculty of record in Freshman Seminar with extensive experience supporting the students and faculty of Texas State University.

Melvin Cruz

Senior Laboratory Services Technician, Core Research Operations 
Office: RFM 1242
Email: melvincruz@txstate.edu

Melvin Cruz is a graduate of Austin Community College with A.A.S. in Engineering Technology, as well as a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Technical Writing from Southwest Texas State University.  After receiving his A.A.S. degree he was employed as a Burn-In Technician for Best I.C. Labs in Austin, Texas performing burn-in testing of various types of semiconductor devices as well as board level diagnostics, monitoring, and repair.  He then moved on to be employed at AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) in Austin, Texas as a Wafer Fab Technician for the Diffusion module production line, eventually becoming a Shift Process Technician supporting all aspects of the Diffusion module various processes.  This is where he discovered his interest in semiconductor process engineering, leading him to finish his B.S. degree.  After his internship at Dupont Dow Elastomers in Freeport, Texas, Melvin worked at Severn Trent Laboratories as a Chemist and Lab Supervisor performing acid-base titrations and testing of soil and water samples for companies in Texas.  He then re-joined the semiconductor industry at Sematech in Austin, Texas as Photolithography Technician in the Litho module, before going on to work as Project Process Technician for Front End Process (FEP) module which led him to become a Shift Manager overseeing 20+ employees for 2^nd shift.  He was promoted within the company to a position as a Process Engineer for the FEP module for 4 years.  With Sematech transitioning the company to Albany, NY, he successfully transferred the CMOS and Capacitor Baseline processes to the SUNY Semiconductor facility. Afterwards, Melvin joined King Abdullah University of Science and Technology as a Laboratory Manager / Integration Engineer where he managed labs (including maintenance/repair of equipment, safety coordination, and training graduate student research group members on various equipment and processes) and oversaw the construction of the 2^nd laboratory custom workspace.  He joined Texas State University in 2020 and currently leads the Nanofabrication Research Service Center cleanroom helping to fulfill the educational, research, and entrepreneurial mission of the University.  Melvin also contributes to the development of hands-on graduate laboratory coursework and supports / develops safety and equipment training protocols.  He is co-author of 12 Conference / Journal publications.

Kelsie L Crumpton

Administrative Assistant III, Core Research Operations
Office: RFM 3205
Email: klc147@txstate.edu

Karla Pizana

Academic Budget, Core Research Operations 
Office: RFM 3211
Email: kp1180@txstate.edu