SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization based in Menlo Park, Calif., today announced that Eric Pearson, PhD, has been promoted to vice president of its Physical Sciences Div. The division pursues research on high-temperature materials, applied mechanics, molecular and solid-state physics, physical chemistry and catalysis, MEMs (microelectromechanical systems), vacuum microelectronics, sustainable energy sources, coatings, electro-optic systems, and chemical and biochemical sensors. Since joining SRI in 1989 as a materials scientist, Pearson has held several leadership roles within SRI, including director of the Physical Electronics Laboratory and most recently, director of the Applied Physical Sciences Laboratory. His technical background includes the electromagnetic, optical, and infrared properties of materials; visible and infrared coatings; thin-film nucleation and growth; classical statistical mechanics; nonimaging optics; nonlinear optical materials and devices; and optical signal processing. Prior to joining SRI, Pearson was a materials development scientist in the Office of Research, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He has a BS in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS and PhD, also in materials science, from Stanford University. He holds two patents and has been published in refereed journals and government reports on topics ranging from statistical mechanics and silicon surfaces and defects to the electromagnetic properties of materials.