Darin S. Olson

Darin S. Olson

---

CTO, Development, Research Scientist, and Engineer with 20 years high technology experience who has developed unique nanotube electronic devices and processes, 5 semiconductor production tools, and has been awarded 5 patents. Has produced as an individual contributor and as a team leader. Technologist with both research and practical industrial experience in electronic components, semiconductor equipment, and process development, including deposition, wafer fabrication, packaging, and device physics. Excellent at explaining difficult technical concepts in non-technical terms, able to present to the customers, investors, VC's, and boards, with sales, marketing, research, and manufacturing.

Founder and Director of Technology at Crystal Solar

January 2008 - July 2009

Responsible for the development of proprietary processes, metrology, and equipment in order to drive crystal silicon solar cells to grid parity costs.

Manager, Process Engineering at Nanoconduction

December 2004 - June 2006

Brought up first carbon nanotube reactor and first carbon nanotube process. Drastically improved equipment availability and uptime through redesign of reactor components for higher operating temperatures. Maximum operating temperature was increase from 400 C to over 1,000 C. Transitioned carbon nanotube production from laboratory to regular production. Served as in-house expert on carbon nanotubes and semiconductor processing. Recruited and retained top semiconductor process engineers and equipment engineers and technicians. Managed up to six individuals. Presented to VC, Board, and potential VC's. Efforts contributed to funding of round B.

Manager, Process Engineering; Manufacturing Manager at Nanomix

July 2002 - November 2004

Manager of Process and Process Engineers. Duties were to develop the specifications, process, tool set, devices, and characterization of new nanotube electronic sensors. Transitioned lithography from e-beam to optical, and from 4" wafers to 6" wafers. Specified, designed, and delivered the first sensor packaging. Implemented standard process development, process control, and yield management. Efforts contributed to the funding of round B and C.

Applications Lab Manager at Applied Materials

May 2000 - July 2002

Applications Lab Manager, reporting to Director of Marketing. Worked with marketing, engineering, and sales to develop and position a new E-beam inspection tool (Odyssey) and develop new inspection applications for crucial defects and layers. Served as member of critical sales team which, in two weeks, reversed a major customers decision and cause a major competitor's tool to be shipped back. Served as in house expert on customer's processes and critical defects.

Marketing Manager at Schlumberger Technology

April 2000 - December 2001

Division was purchased by AMAT.

Technologist at Novellus

March 1994 - May 2000

Project operations manager for the development of MOCVD, PECVD, and HDP films and equipment, interacted with customers and drove many programs and vendor negotiations to successful conclusion. Focused on the application, deposition, and characterization of low k materials, and their integration in copper damascene and dual damascene. Individually developed, demonstrated, and tested the feasibility of a novel low k HDP (high density plasma) CVD gap fill film from concept to customer demos. Developed and demonstrated the feasibility of a PECVD (Plasma Enhanced CVD) low k material from a novel precursor. Designed and conducted equipment and process development on a Ta2O5 deposition system. Designed and built Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) MOCVD manual and cluster tools. Supervised 10 technicians and 5 engineers and consultants. Managed the CE marking process for two tools.

Research Scientist at Lockheed

November 1992 - March 1994

Ph.D. Candidate at Stanford University

September 1987 - September 1992

Ph.D. research on diamond thin films for Prof. Stig B. Hagstrom, Prof. Mike Kelly.

NSF visiting Fellow at National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials (NIRIM)

June 1991 - August 1991

Researched the growth of diamond films on nickel substrates in microwave plasma reaction chambers at the National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials. Eighth group, NIRIM.

Engineer at Boeing Aerospace

June 1984 - August 1987

Conducted EXAFS and XANES research at SSRL, used intense X-ray radiation and safety interlock systems. Developed high-performance motion detection algorithm, demonstrated performance, validated sensor modeling, and documented mosaic sensor algorithm work. Developed large scale DF Pulsed Laser working with high voltages, toxic and explosive gases, and intense laser radiation. Researched the failure modes of single crystal CaF2 laser windows resulting in relaxed window requirements and a 50% decrease in window cost.

Researcher at MIT

September 1985 - June 1986

Processed ceramic powders by CW CO2 laser. Designed, assembled, and tested a HeNe laser scatter/extinction characterization tool and validated gas dynamic theory of flow.

CTO and Co-founder at Production Nano

August 2006

CTO and Co-founder of Production Nano dedicated to putting Nanotechnology in Production. For more information please see ProductionNano.com

Consultant at Venture Capital

June 2006

Consultant on Technology and IP evaluation generally during due diligence period. Consulting on Process and Equipment development and evaluation of unique processes and equipment. Technologies evaluated have included the areas of; thin film processes, e-beam inspection, e-beam direct writing, magnetic film processes, solar processes, wafer and reel to reel film equipment.

Philanthropist at Micro Loan

June 2006

Continual renewal of fabric which helps societies grow through micro loans. For more information please look at Kiva.org.

Stanford University

1987 – 1992

Ph.D.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

1983 – 1987

S.B.

Concentration: Materials Science and Engineering

Bellevue High School

1979 – 1983