Hard-working team keeps complex cleanroom running

 

MechSE’s Micro-Nano Mechanical Systems (MNMS) Laboratory is run by a small but mighty crew. The team consists of Glennys Mensing and Joe Maduzia. 

 

The pair are far outnumbered by machines and users, but they divide and conquer, using their experience and organization skills to manage the work.

 

The MNMS Lab, better known as the cleanroom, is on the second floor of the Mechanical Engineering Building. It’s designed for research in the design and fabrication of small-scale mechanical systems. 

Mensing trains users and ensures researchers get the most out of their experience. 

 

With a PhD in physics, she brings extensive knowledge of physical chemistry and microfabrication to the table. 

 

“It is some fairly complicated technology and new students don’t have a lot of background in it,” said Tungchao Julia Lu Professor Placid Ferreira, director of the MNMS Lab. “In order to get their research moving, to get them started and help them achieve their goals, they need somebody who knows a lot of the processes and the capabilities.”

 

Mensing also teaches a course in microfabrication theory and practice, run out of the cleanroom, for incoming graduate students and graduating seniors.

 

“She has the ability and patience to work with people who sometimes really don’t have much knowledge,” Ferreira said. “She helps them get there.”

 

On top of juggling all the users of the cleanroom, Mensing sets up the methods of operations for the machines so they can get the best results depending on what materials they’re using. 

 

This helps Maduzia on the equipment side of things, which is where much of his energy is spent. 

 

He keeps the cleanroom running and makes sure all the equipment, much of which is bought used, is ready for all the diverse research that comes in and out every day. 

 

“You have a large diversity of complex equipment there, that is very finicky in many cases,” Ferreira said. “He’s extremely well-organized and takes lots of care, attention to detail, the ability to make sure he sees these things that most people would glaze over—but he notices things that you wouldn’t notice.” 

 

While Mensing and Maduzia have their specialties, the only way the cleanroom works is when they work together. 

 

“They meet in the middle when it comes to equipment and equipment operations,” Ferreira said. “Maduzia gets much, much more involved in the hardware and the cleanroom operations and Glennys gets much more involved in the users.”