Mark Somerville

Mark Somerville is a distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Physics Emeritus at Olin College of Engineering.1 He joined Olin College after serving as an Assistant Professor of Physics at Vassar College from 1998.1

Education and Academic Background

Dr. Somerville has an impressive educational background:

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT
• M.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT
• M.A. in Physics (first class honors) from Oxford University
• B.S. in Electrical Engineering (highest honors) from the University of Texas at Austin
• B.A. in Liberal Arts (special honors, English concentration) from the University of Texas at Austin1

His academic achievements include prestigious awards such as the Joint Services Electronics Program Doctoral and Post Doctoral Fellowship, the Office of Naval Research Graduate Fellowship, and the Rhodes Scholarship.1

Research and Expertise

Dr. Somerville's technical research primarily focuses on:

• Physics of semiconductor devices
• Development of novel measurement techniques for failure mechanisms in various devices
• High Electron Mobility Transistors
• Artificial Muscles1

Contributions to Engineering Education

Beyond his technical research, Dr. Somerville has made significant contributions to engineering education:

• Collaborated with institutions like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and TU-Delft to promote change in engineering education
• Applied collaborative design techniques to curriculum revision processes
• Worked closely with Olin faculty to develop the Olin Collaboratory's Summer Institute, which attracts engineering educators worldwide1

Dr. Somerville's multifaceted background in both engineering and liberal arts, combined with his extensive research experience and commitment to educational innovation, makes him a valuable asset to Olin College of Engineering and the broader field of engineering education.