Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at Noon | 490 Cory Hall
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James Stölken, Ph.D.
Vice President, Device and Process Engineering
Atomic Machines
Host: Jon Candelaria
ABSTRACT
The Matter Compiler is a modular, AI-driven, fully autonomous real-time digital manufacturing platform capable of designing and fabricating complex 3D micromachines using arbitrarily extensible material and process libraries. It pioneers a revolutionary approach to building advanced devices beyond the constraints of semiconductor fabs—ushering in the era of MEMS 2.0. A hallmark achievement is the Micro-Power Relay: a compact, high-current device with ultra-low resistance, rapid switching, and unparalleled energy efficiency, unlocking transformative potential in energy systems and data centers. By seamlessly integrating diverse materials and processes, the platform offers unprecedented opportunities for collaborative innovation in future device design and process development, pushing the boundaries of microfabrication and advanced manufacturing.
BIO
James Stölken is the Vice President for Device and Process Engineering at Atomic Machines, where he leads all device design, process development, and automation efforts to deliver cutting-edge process nodes for the Matter Compiler, a transformative AI-driven manufacturing platform. Under his leadership, the Devices team has grown from 5 to nearly 60 members, delivering market-defining technologies such as the micropower relay, for which he is a co-author on several enabling patents.
Dr. Stölken brings over 39 years of technical expertise, including 25 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he contributed to nuclear stockpile stewardship, hypersonics, and directed energy systems. A materials scientist with a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara and a B.S. (Honors) from UC Berkeley, he has authored 60 peer-reviewed publications and presented at 80 major conferences. His work spans micro-plasticity, laser-material interactions, and grain-boundary engineering.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Stölken’s leadership and technical accomplishments have earned him numerous awards, including Missile Defense and LLNL Service Awards, U.S. Navy Citations, and UC Berkeley’s Materials Department Citation.
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