# Cayla Harvey

> Materials Engineer| Characterization | Failure Analysis | Microscopy

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/caylaharvey

Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering

- Materials Scientist/Engineer with 6 years of experience in analytical electron microscopy, mechanical testing, failure analysis. Specifically for metals, alloys, and thin films. 

-Currently working in semiconductor industry on magnetic recording devices.

- Highly proficient in failure analysis and characterization using SEM/STEM-EDS, dual-beam FIB-SEM, TEM sample preparation, 3D reconstruction.

- Led tool maintenance and new user training for basic and advanced characterization techniques including SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD, nanoindentation, in-situ testing

- Expert in analytical reports, 3D data visualization, metrology and reliability data interpretation

- Strong communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills

## Work Experience
### Materials Engineer - Product Design @ Apple
Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
Materials engineer in metals and alloys product development
- Working as a contractor for Apple

### Materials Engineer @ Headway Technologies
Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area
Work with the design, process engineering, and manufacturing teams to deliver comprehensive failure analysis reports on magnetic recording devices and materials.
•	Failure Analysis -elemental composition using SEM/TEM EDS, XRD
•	SEM/FIB dualbeam microscopy
         --improved FIB/SEM procedures for 25% time savings and quality increase
         --write SOP for sample prep, maintenance, and troubleshooting
         --responsible for tool maintenance and training
•	Regularly problem solve in real time to fix microscopy issues and analysis techniques 
•	Manage a high volume of projects

### Doctoral Studies @ University of Nevada, Reno
Jan 2018 – Jan 2022 | Reno, Nevada Area
Microstructure-Processing-Property investigation of oxide dispersion strengthened steels of 4 candidate alloys for nuclear reactor applications. Funded by a Department of Energy Fellowship.
- Determine best candidate alloy based on properties before and after ion irradiation using microstructure analysis and mechanical testing 

Experimental work: Microscopy (SEM, EBSD, FIB), Mechanical Testing (compression, tensile, nano-indentation), statistical data analysis
 o Oral presentations: TMS Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (March 2020) and Anaheim, CA (March 2022)

Past Projects:
•	Thin film deposition (PVD, ALD): microstructure and mechanical property analysis of Mg films

### Undergraduate Independent Research @ University of Nevada, Reno
Jan 2016 – Jan 2018
Nanomechanical behavior testing and microstructural analysis of Zr and Ti using EBSD and Nanoindentation
         o Invited talk: Gordan Research Seminar (GRS), University of New Hampshire (July 2019)
         o Oral presentation: TMS Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX (March 2019)

### Visiting Student @ Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jan 2020 – Jan 2022 | Los Alamos, New Mexico
Conducted research regularly at the lab for doctoral studies from 2019-2022
-SEM, FIB, EBSD, nano-mechanical testing, nano-indentation
-Research on steels, Zr, Ti

### Visiting Scientist, EMPA Switzerland @ Empa
Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | Thun, Switzerland
Conducted PhD research at EMPA-Thun in the Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures from August-December 2019.

### Research Internship at TU Dresden @ Technische Universität Dresden
Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Dresden Area, Germany
Fabrication of sensors involved electron beam lithography, UV lithography, soft lithography, spin-coating, and dry etching. 
Internship in the Materials Science and Nanotechnology department at TU Dresden. Research project fabricated and tested nanoscale impedance based microfluidic sensors using gold nanowires for biological detection.

### Engineering Intern @ Click Bond
Jan 2015 – Jan 2015 | Carson City, Nevada
Summers 2015 and 2016
Main Project: Troubleshoot issues with epoxy acrylic adhesive used in bonding applications
•	Conducted tests and authored technical reports concerning: rheology, viscosity, reaction kinetics, adhesive chemistry, adhesive bond strength, and surface energy
•	Worked interdepartmentally to achieve goals


## Education
### Doctor of Philosophy - PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno

### Bachelor of Science - BS in Materials Science and Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/caylaharvey

---
Source: https://flows.cv/caylaharvey
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/caylaharvey/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13