Kimberly Turner

Institute Role
Member of Buildings & Design Solutions Group

Role in Affiliated Centers
Member of the Center for Control, Dynamical Systems and Computation

Research
The focus of Prof. Kimberly Turner's group is in understanding the physics of microscale devices from experimental dynamic motion behavior of the system. They design, model, analyze and experimentally characterize the dynamics of various MEMS devices.

Present research involves understanding the non-linear and parametric dynamics of MEMS devices and in utilizing the unique properties of such dynamics in small scale to implement novel designs for various applications like switches, sensors and filters.

Biography
Dr. Turner's interests involve many areas of microsystems, especially dynamics and characterization, and applications utilizing interesting dynamics. In 1994 she earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. She received her Ph.D. (1999) in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University, where she did primarily MEMS-based work. She joined the department of Mechanical & Environmental Engineering at UCSB in August 1999, where she is continuing her research in the areas of MEMS and nanosystems. Her research group consists of 6 Ph.D. students, 3 undergraduate researchers and a postdoc. She has written over 80 peer-reviewed articles. She is a member of many professional societies, and is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award, the UCSB Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, the MTU Outstanding Young Alumni Award, a member of the Michigan Technological University Presidential Alumnae Council, and is General Chair for the 2010 Americas Workshop on Solid-State Sensors & Actuators. Dr. Turner leads a balanced life, and her hobbies include dog showing and bicycle riding/racing. She is the 2009 Cat 3 CA State Criterium Champion.