1998 Ph.D. in Physics University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN

1994 B.A. summa cum laude in Physics St. Olaf College Northfield, MN

and Mathematics

Doctoral dissertation: Studies of diffusion, homoepitaxial growth, and hydrocarbon
adsorption on Si(001) with scanning tunneling microscopy and atom tracking

Areas of expertise: Surface Science, Friction, Micro/Nano Tribology, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Nanoindentation, Quartz Crystal Microbalance

II. Professional Appointments and Teaching Experience

2005 – present Assistant Professor of Physics

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

2001 – 2005 Assistant Professor of Physics

Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA

1999 – 2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate

North Carolina State University

Advisor: Dr. Jacqueline Krim, Department of Physics

Fall 1998 Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics

St. Olaf College

Courses Taught at St. Olaf College

Fall 2007	Spring 2008
Analytical Physics III 228	Principles of Physics II 125
with laboratory	with laboratory sections
Quantum Mechanics 376	Advanced Physics Lab 385
	Electronics w/ Lab 246
Fall 2006	Spring 2007
Analytical Physics III 228	Principles of Physics II 125
with laboratory	with laboratory sections
Quantum Mechanics 376	Advanced Physics Lab 385
Fall 2005	Spring 2006
Analytical Physics III 228	Principles of Physics II 125
with laboratory	with laboratory sections
	Electronics w/ Lab 246

Courses Taught at Grinnell College

Fall 2003	Spring 2004
Tutorial – discussion & writing	General Physics 132
Electronics w/ Lab 220	Advanced Laboratory 462
Fall 2002	Spring 2003
General Physics 131	General Physics 132
Electronics w/ Lab 220	Advanced Laboratory 462
Fall 2001	Spring 2002
General Physics 131	General Physics 132
Physics Lab 131	Physics Lab 132
	Special Topics 295
	Advanced Laboratory 462

III. Professional Activity

Grants and Fellowships Awarded

2008 National Science Foundation. Research grant. Multi-institution collaborative proposal with colleagues at Luther College and Auburn University. B. Borovsky (Lead PI), E. Flater(Co-PI), and W.R. Ashurst. RUI: Collaborative Research: The Molecular Origins of Friction - A study across velocity regimes of phosphonate monolayers on alternative MEMS-type surfaces. $200,000. 2009 - 2011

2004 Grinnell College - Jack and Lucile Harris Faculty Fellowship. Faculty release time award judged by internal and external reviewers. Provided a leave from teaching for one academic year to conduct scholarly research. B. Borovsky, The Molecular Origins of Friction: Alkanethiol Monolayers Studied with Combined Nanoindentation and Quartz Crystal Microbalance. Salary and $6000 budget for supplies and travel. 2004-2005

2002 National Science Foundation. Research grant. Major Research Instrumentation award for Research at Undergraduate Institutions (MRI-RUI). B. Borovsky, Acquisition of a Nanoindenter for Molecular-Level Studies of Friction at Grinnell College. $82,944. 2002-2005

2002 Research Corporation, Tucson, AZ. Research grant. Cottrell College Science Award. B. Borovsky, Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Sample Chamber for Studies of the Molecular Origins of Friction in the High-Speed Regime. $41,400. 2002-2004

Publications * denotes undergraduate researcher

Refereed journal articles published

2007 Observation of microslip dynamics at high-speed microcontacts, Brian Borovsky, Adam Booth*, and Erin Manlove*, Applied Physics Letters 91, 114101 (2007).

2001 Measuring nanomechanical properties of a dynamic contact using an indenter probe and quartz crystal microbalance, B. Borovsky, J. Krim, S. A. Syed Asif, and K. J. Wahl, Journal of Applied Physics 90, 6391 (2001).

2000 Scanning tunneling microscope measurements of the amplitude of vibration of a quartz crystal oscillator, B. Borovsky, B. Mason, and J. Krim, Journal of Applied Physics 88, 4017 (2000).

1999 Piecewise diffusion of the silicon dimer, B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, and E. Ganz, Physical Review B 59, 1598 (1999).

1999 Scanning tunneling microscope studies of boron-doped Si(001)" J.F. Nielsen, H.J. Im, J.P. Pelz, M. Krueger, B. Borovsky, and E. Ganz, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A 17, 1670 (1999).

1998 Scanning tunneling microscopy study of the adsorption of toluene on Si(001), B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, and E. Ganz, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B 17, 7 (1999).

1998 Metastable adsorption of benzene on the Si(001) surface, B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, and E. Ganz, Physical Review B 57, R4269 (1998).

1997 Diffusion of the Silicon Dimer on Si(001): New Possibilities at 450 K, B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, and E. Ganz, Physical Review Letters 78, 4229 (1997).

1997 Diffusion of adsorbed Si dimers on Si(001), M. Krueger, B. Borovsky, and E. Ganz, Surface Science 385, 146 (1997).

1995 Si(001) Step Dynamics, C. Pearson, B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, R. Curtis, and E. Ganz, Physical Review Letters 74, 2710 (1995).

1995 Hot scanning tunneling microscope study of B type step edges and small silicon islands on Si(001), C. Pearson, M. Krueger, R. Curtis, B. Borovsky, X. Shi, and E. Ganz, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A 13, 1506 (1995).

1998 The nuclear electric quadrupole moment of ⁶Li, J. Cederberg, D. Olson, J. Larson, G. Rakness, K. Jarausch, J. Schmidt, B. Borovsky, P. Larson, and B. Nelson, Physical Review A 57, 2539 (1998).

1996 The electric dipole moment and hyperfine interactions of KOH, J. Cederberg, D. Olson, D. Rioux, T. Dillemuth, B. Borovsky, J. Larson, S. Cheah, M. Carlson, and M. Stohler, Journal of Chemical Physics 105, 3361 (1996).

Conference proceedings

2002 Scanning Tunneling Microscope-Quartz Crystal Microbalance Studies of “Real World” and Model Lubricants, J. Krim, M. Abdelmaksoud, B. Borovsky, and S. M. Winder, in Dynamics and Friction in Submicrometer Confining Systems, ACS Symposium Series, vol. 882, pp. 1-18, 2004.

2000 STM-QCM studies of vapor phase lubricants, B. Borovsky, M. Abdelmaksoud and J. Krim, in Proceedings of the Nanotribology Workshop, Gaithersburg, MD, 2000.

1998 Metastable structures in the initial stages of Si homoepitaxy, B. Borovsky, M. Krueger, and E. Ganz, in Surface Review and Letters 5, 1053 (1998).

Popular Media

2000 Postdoctoral research on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) lubrication featured in cover story of Science News, July 22, 2000: “Little Engines that Couldn’t,” by Peter Weiss. Article for a general audience that highlighted the work of several research groups in this area.

Contributed Presentations / Abstracts * denotes undergraduate researcher

2008 High-speed microtribology with a combined nanoindenter and quartz microbalance: From fundamentals to applications, B. Borovsky, A. Booth*, and E. Manlove*, Gordon Conference on Tribology, Colby College, Maine, July 2008.

2006 Observations of microslip in realistic microscopic contacts with combined nanoindentation and quartz microbalance, B. Borovsky and A. Booth*, 53^rd International Symposium of AVS - The Science & Technology Society, San Francisco, CA, Oct. 2006.

2006 Observations of microslip in realistic microscopic contacts with combined nanoindentation and quartz microbalance, B. Borovsky and A. Booth*, Gordon Conference on Tribology, Colby College, Maine, June 2006.

2005 Measuring interfacial friction and structural detail with combined quartz microbalance and nanoindentation, B. Borovsky and A. Booth*, Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society, Boston, MA, Nov. 2005.

2005 Combined nanoindenter and quartz microbalance studies of realistic tribological contacts and ultrathin lubricant films, B. Borovsky and A. Booth*, 52^nd International Symposium of AVS - The Science & Technology Society, Boston, MA, Oct. 2005.

2001 Combined Nanoindenter and Quartz Crystal Microbalance Studies of Realistic Tribological Contact, Brian Borovsky, Jacqueline Krim, S. A. Syed Asif, and Kathryn Wahl, 48^th Int. Symposium of AVS - The Science & Technology Society, San Francisco, CA, 2001.

2001 Lubrication mechanisms of tricresylphosphate, TCP, on Cr and Fe surfaces at elevated temperatures: An atomic-scale view, Abdelmaksoud M, Borovsky B, Krim J, American Chemical Society, April 2001.

2000 Viewing a Moving Surface Contact - An STM-QCM Study of Vapor Phase Films on Metal Surfaces, Brian Borovsky, Mohamed Abdelmaksoud, and Jacqueline Krim, 47^th National Symposium of the American Vacuum Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2000.

1999 Combined Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Scanning Probe Microscope Studies of Vapor-Deposited Films on Metal Surfaces, Brian Borovsky, Mohammed Abdelmaksoud, and Jacqueline Krim, 46^thNational Symposium of the American Vacuum Society, Seattle, Washington, 1999.

1998 An atomic view of benzene on the Si(001) surface, Brian Borovsky, Michael Krueger, and Eric Ganz, American Physical Society March Meeting, Los Angeles, California, 1998.

1996 The Stealth Dimer, Brian Borovsky, Michael Krueger, and Eric Ganz, 43^rd National Symposium of the American Vacuum Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1996.

Invited Presentations (off-campus) on Research and Teaching Topics

2008 The Origins of Friction: Micro/nanoscale studies of high speed sliding contacts with a combined nanoindenter and quartz microbalance. A colloquium presentation to the Luther College Physics Department (April 2008)

2004 Friction on the Atomic Scale: Revealing the Hidden Structure of Interfaces. An invited colloquium presentation to the Iowa State University Mechanical Engineering Department (March 2004)

2003 Getting your class involved using individual response technology. An invited presentation at the Midwest Instructional Technology Center symposium on innovations in science teaching, DePauw University (May 2003)

2002 Friction on the Atomic Scale: Revealing the Hidden Structure of Interfaces. An invited colloquium presentation to the St. Olaf College Physics Department, given while I was a faculty member at Grinnell College (October 2002)

Student Research Projects Mentored at St. Olaf College

2008 Summer Cullen O’Neill ’09 Daniel Pluth ‘09

2007 Interim Erin Manlove ‘07

2007 Summer Cullen O’Neill ’09 Daniel Pluth ‘09

2006 Summer Erin Manlove ’07

2005 Summer Erin Manlove ‘07

Student Research Projects Mentored at Grinnell College

2003 Summer Sandra Sowah ‘05

2002 Summer Adam Booth ’04 Sandra Sowah ‘05

Presentations by Student Researchers (other than posters and brief talks on campus)

2008 Cullen O’Neill: Nanoscale Friction Research: Micromachines and Beyond. Colloquium presentation to the St. Olaf College Physics Department. May 7, 2008.

2005 Erin Manlove: An investigation of ultra thin lubricant films with integrated nanoindentation and quartz crystal microbalance. Poster presentation at the PEW Undergraduate Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO. November 2005.

Service to the Profession

· External peer-reviewer of four grant proposals and five journal articles (2001 – 2008)

Faculty Development Activities

· Attended the NITLE Moodle Users Workshop. Denver, Colorado (October 2007)

· Attended the PEW Midstates Science and Mathematics Consortium Workshop on Interdisciplinary Science Education. St. Olaf College (February 2007)

· Attended the PEW Nanotechnology Workshop. Lawrence University (March 2004)

· Attended the American Association of Physics Teachers Workshop for New Physics and Astronomy Faculty. Washington, DC (November 2003)

Major Curriculum Development

· Member of the Science Conversation development group. The “Sci-Con” is a proposed year-long integrated sequence of three courses, intended to explore the development of modern science and its interactions with philosophy, religion, and society. It is designed as a general education program for sophomores from across the college. I have participated actively in the meetings and work of the development group, which was formed in the Fall of 2006 and continues to the present.

· Proposed and acquired new teaching workstations (NI-ELVIS) and computers for the electronics course, Physics 246. This was a collaborative effort with Dr. Jason Engbrecht. The revised course includes analog, digital, and computer interfacing. (Spring 2008)

· Restructured the advanced lab Physics 385 to provide more scheduled time per experiment and to require formal reports. Added two new experiments: Modern Interferometry and Magnetic Force and Torque. (Spring 07-08)

· Completely revised Analytical Physics III (Physics 228) by introducing a new textbook, Matter and Interactions by Chabay and Sherwood, and new experiments. This text uses ideas from recent physics education research to update the introductory physics curriculum. The coursework involves context-rich problems, computer simulation exercises and projects, and hands-on experiments on fundamental concepts in electricity and magnetism, as well as exams and quizzes. (Fall 2005)

· At Grinnell College, created and taught a first-year tutorial using great books in Western intellectual history to teach college-level reading, discussion, and writing. Also developed a discussion-based special topics course on contemporary ideas in physics. This course discussed developments in physics from the point of view of Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions. (2001 – 2003)

Professional Memberships

· American Physical Society

· American Association of Physics Teachers

· Council on Undergraduate Research

· AVS – The Science and Technology Society

Academic Honors

· Fellow, Graduate School, University of Minnesota, 1994-95

· Phi Kappa Phi, elected 1995

· Phi Beta Kappa, elected 1993

IV. College Activities (St. Olaf College only)

College Committees

· Member of Faculty Development / Faculty Life Committee (Fall 2007 – present)

· Science Building Dedication Committee (Interim 2008 – present)

· Phi Beta Kappa, Vice president (2007-2008), members-in-course committee (2006-2007)

· IDOCS committee member (Spring 2007)

· CEPC special courses subcommittee member (2005-2007)

· Fulbright Faculty Committee member (Fall 2006)

Service to the college community

· Philosophy faculty search committee (Spring 2008 and Fall 2008)

· Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts (CILA) Learning Community participant: The Uses and Effectiveness of Personal Response Systems (2008-2009)

· Buntrock Scholars interviewer (Spring 2006, 2007)

· Week One discussion leader for “First Class” of incoming first-year students (Fall 2006)

· Faculty Panel member for admissions recruiting events (Five times during 2005-2008)

Physics department duties and activities

· Departmental colloquium series organizer (Spring 2007, 2008)

· Revised the lab manuals for Physics 228 and Physics 125, and advised students hired to assist with this project (Summer 2007)

· New science building. Helped design spaces, furniture, and details of several rooms of the building in a series of meetings and email discussions. (Fall 2005 – Spring 2008)

On-campus presentations

· CILA lunch presenter: The Conversation Programs at St. Olaf: Science Conversation (Spring 2008), Teaching with Technology Poster Session (Fall 2007), Using Visuals and Film in the Classroom (Fall 2007)

Micro/Nano Friction at St. Olaf College: Recent Results, Reaching Out

· . A colloquium presentation to the St. Olaf College Physics Department (December 2007)

Studying Friction at the Atomic Level

· . A colloquium presentation to the St. Olaf College Physics Department (October 2005)

· Good Vibrations: Using Oscillatory Motion to Study the Fundamentals of Friction. A colloquium presentation to the St. Olaf College Physics Department (November 2004)

V. Community Service

· Numerous public performances as a brass musician and soloist with local music organizations, especially the Sheldon Theater Brass Band (1995 – 1998, 2005 – present) and Ameriikan Poijat, a Finnish-American brass septet (1991 – present)

· Hurricane Katrina clean-up volunteer during Spring Break week in 2007