Rob Stone

Talk Title

Starting FAST to Be Impact Ready for Oregon

Description of Talk

We built a regional innovation engine proposal focused on AI and semiconductors “The Oregon Way” and became a finalist for the current cohort of engine applicants. I’ll describe some of the ways we worked to engage stakeholders and speak to the investment in time and resources it takes to build a regional coalition.

Biography

Dr. Rob Stone is the Senior Advisor to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Oregon State University (OSU) and is the interim CEO and PI for the Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST), a current NSF Engine finalist.  He also serves as the Executive Director of the Impact Studio, a part of the Office of the Provost where internal and external teams develop and launch bold initiatives that advance OSU’s strategic plan and improve its financial strength.  Stone also holds the rank of Professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (MIME) at OSU and Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.  He previously served as the Division Director of the Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division at the National Science Foundation from 2018-2022.  Stone was the Head of the School of MIME from 2011-2015 where he hired 22 new faculty and managed a student enrollment increase of over 200% in the School’s professional school and graduate programs. Previously, while at the University of Missouri-Rolla, he created the design-focused Interdisciplinary Engineering degree program, served as Director of the interdisciplinary Student Design and Experiential Learning Center (2004-2008) overseeing the design competition activities of ten teams and the Center’s experiential learning initiative.  Dr. Stone’s research interests include design theories and methodologies, specifically techniques for automated conceptual design.  Prior to initiating his graduate work, Stone worked in the Missions Operation Directorate of NASA-Johnson Space Center as a Space Shuttle Flight Controller for the Guidance, Navigation and Control Section.  Stone completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.