Dr. Deidre Hirschfeld

SOCORRO, N.M., May 2000 - New Mexico Tech presented its Distinguished Teaching Award for 2000 to Dr. Deidre Hirschfeld, associate professor of materials and metallurgical engineering. The award was announced at the university's commencement ceremonies on May 13.

Dr. Hirschfeld came to New Mexico Tech in 1997 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), where she had earned her Ph.D. and served on the faculty. She earned her bachelor's degree at Carnegie Mellon University and her master's of applied science at the University of British Columbia.

Students who nominated Dr. Hirschfeld for the award mentioned her excellent rapport with students. One student wrote, "She is easily approachable outside of class and is always willing to help where questions arise." Another said, "She strives to get every student who wants one a scholarship, job, or a chance for a further education." Other students said she had urged them to apply for scholarships, internships, and summer jobs, and used her contacts in industry to help secure these.

Students also said that Dr. Hirschfeld made an effort to incorporate statistics, engineering economics, and experimental design into their curriculum. She also used her extensive contacts in industry to arrange sponsored senior design projects and field trips.

Dr. Hirschfeld worked in the steel industry as a process metallurgist for about five years, between getting her master's degree and her Ph.D. She says, "Initially, I worked in 'Big Steel,' the traditional steel industry, doing research and development and quality control. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I decided that mini mills were where the action was, so I worked there. I enjoyed it, but there was no technical challenge, so I decided to fulfill a longtime dream by getting a Ph.D. and becoming a college professor."

The dream seems to have panned out for her. "Tech students are fantastic!" Hirschfeld says. "They're interested and want to learn, so they make it easy to teach."

Describing her approach to teaching, Dr. Hirschfeld said, "I talk with practicing engineers a lot, and try to incorporate their suggestions. I worked to include more statistics and design in courses because that's what engineers told me they need for their work. I try to give students practical, non-textbook advice. I think it's important to prepare students for the real world."

One student's nomination concluded, "We are ever forced to stretch and grow; and in the process we discover we had skills and strengths we never suspected were there. Dr. Hirschfeld knew, and helped us find them."

In addition to her teaching, Dr. Hirschfeld works hard at her own research, much of it conducted with students. She has received three patents and has published over 20 articles on the processing of ceramic materials.

Some of her research at Virginia Tech included: development of new low expansion ceramics and advanced composites; development of cost effective processing of exhaust port liners for Caterpillar; evaluation of ceramic materials for combustion chambers of advanced armament for the United States Army; investigation of corrosion- resistant coatings for heat exchangers for the DoE Fossil Energy Program; and the development of economical coatings to enhance the strength and wear properties of products for Caterpillar.

At New Mexico Tech, Dr. Hirschfeld has pursued her interest in the economical processing of advanced ceramics and composites. She is working with Sandia National Labs on free-form fabrication of ceramics by computer-controlled deposition of ceramic slurries - a process called Robocasting - and on functionally gradient materials. Dr. Hirschfeld and her students have significantly advanced the technology of Robocasting by modifying the process so that finished components can be produced in less than 24 hours. Dr. Hirschfeld has recently begun research on functionally gradient metal-ceramic. She is also working with Sandia on the production of micro electromechanical systems such as "chem lab on a chip" devices. In addition, she has been investigating the production of high-purity ceramics. She has been developing and evaluating materials suitable for use as permanent markers for the DoE Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM. Dr. Hirschfeld also provides experimental quantities of ceramic powders to industries in New Mexico and across the United States.