John Venables

John Venables

Founding Director,
Department of Physics
Other ASU affiliations
Emeritus Professor, Emeritus College
  • john.venables@asu.edu
  • Phone: 480-965-0355
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  • PSB 470 TEMPE, AZ 85287-1504
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Biography Research Teaching Public Work
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Long Bio

John Venables initial background is in electron microscopy of materials (as a doctoral student at Cambridge and at Illinois (UIUC) as a post-doc). He then moved to Sussex University, among the first few cohorts of lecturers (assistant professors). He was promoted to reader (associate professor), full professor and in due course dean of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Emeritus Professor. Among other service, he started the collaborative Science and Europe Program that I then led for 10 years, alongside my research group.

He visited ASU first at conferences in the area of surface physics and surface microscopy at the invitation of Professor John Cowley. He came initially on contract as a designer of the so-called Midas project, and then as a part-time professor of physics. This is all now 30 years ago. He actually retired from his tenured post in 2008. He was rehired increasingly part-time in connection with the PSM in Nanoscience, for which he is the founding program director.

Venables also plays music for real (viola and violin). He has been proud to list his playing memberships of regional standard Orchestras and Chamber Music groups both in Arizona and in the U.K. as Community Service for ASU.

Education
  • Ph.D. with P.B. Hirsch and M.J.Whelan, Cambridge 1961
  • B.A. Natural Sciences (Physics), Cambridge 1958 
  • Engineering apprentice with AEI, Manchester,1954-55
  • Secondary education at Manchester Grammar School, 1947-54 
CV
Curriculum Vitae
Publications
  • J. Degraffenreid and J.A. Venables. Heteroepitaxial Modeling on Strained Surfaces using a Mean Field Approach. Materials Research Society Online Proceedings (2009).
  • M.R. McKay, J.A. Venables and J. Drucker. Kinetic frustration of Ostwald ripening in Ge/Si(100) hut ensembles. Solid State Communications (2009).
  • M.R. McKay, J.A. Venables and J. Drucker. Kinetically suppressed Ostwald Ripening of Ge/Si(100) hut clusters. Physical Review Letters (2008).
  • L Bruch, R Diehl, John Venables. Progress in the measurement and modeling of physisorbed layers. Reviews of Modern Physics (2007).
  • Ramon Grima, James Degraffenreid, John Venables. Mean-field theory of nucleation and growth on strained surfaces. Physical Review B (2007).
  • John Venables, J DeGraffenreid, D Kay, P Yang. Time-dependent annealing and deposition on substrates with repulsive interactions. Physical Review B (2006).
  • John Venables, L Giordano, J Harding. Nucleation and growth on defect sites: experiment-theory comparison for Pd/MgO(001). J. Phys. Condensed Matter (2006).
  • John Venables, Gary Hembree, Jeffery Drucker, Peter Crozier, M Scheinfein. The MIDAS project at ASU: John Cowley's vision and practical results. Journal of Electron Microscopy (2005).
  • John Venables, J Liu. High spatial resolution studies of surfaces and small particles using electron beam techniques. Journal of Electron Spectroscopy (2005).
  • John Venables, P Yang. Diffusion in potential fields: time-dependent capture on radial and rectangular substrates. Materials Research Society Online Proceedings (2005).
  • P Yang, John Venables. Time-dependent fields on rectangular substrates: modeling anisotropic diffusion and growth. Materials Research Society Online Proceedings (2005).
  • B Li, W Swiech, John Venables, J Zuo. A LEEM study of bamboo-like growth of Ag crystals on Si(001) surfaces. Surface Science (2004).
  • C Ratsch, John Venables. Nucleation theory and the early stages of thin film growth. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology (2003).
  • John Venables, H Brune, J Drucker. Time-dependent capture numbers with repulsive pair interactions: Cu/Cu(111) and Ge/Si(001). Materials Research Soc. Proceedings (2003).
  • John Venables, P Bennett, H Brune, J Drucker, J Harding. Selected nucleation and controlled growth: quantum dots on metal, insulator and semiconductor surfaces. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London (2003).
  • Venables, John A. Introduction to Surface and Thin Film Processes. (2000).
Research Activity
  • Venables,John A*. HIGH RESOLUTION STUDIES OF SURFACE PROCESSES IN EXPITAXIAL. NSF(5/1/1990 - 10/31/1993).
Teaching Website URL
Teaching Website
Presentations
  • Venables, John A (2009-2015) Several invited Confernce Talks, Chairmanshipe and mixed Research/ Teaching occasions in the LCN (London), Europe and Arizona, but not published in the regular literature, but available through the web sites (if they still exist)
  • Venables, John. Welcome to the Graduate Students: PhD, MS and PSM. Nanoscale Science Seminar, Arizona State University (Sep 2009).
  • Venables, John, with Degraffenreid, J. Heteroepitaxial Modeling on Strained Surfaces using a Mean Field Approach. Surface Kinetics International Conference, University of Utah (Mar 2009).
  • Venables, John with McKay, M.R. and Drucker, J. Modeling Facet Nucleation and Growth of Hut Clusters on Ge/Si(001). Surface Kinetics International Conference, University of Utah (Mar 2009).
  • Venables, John, with Degraffenreid, J and Grima, R. Heteroepitaxial Modeling on Strained Surfaces using a Mean Field Approach. Materials Research Society Fall meeting (Dec 2008).
  • Venables, John. Modeling Facet Nucleation and Growth of Hut Clusters on Ge/Si(001). Materials Research Society Fall meeting (Dec 2008).
  • Venables, John. Time-dependent models of deposition and annealing on substrates. Institute of Physics EMAG meeting (Jun 2008).
  • Venables, John. Surface Processes at the Nanoscale: how crystals meet the outside world. Department Seminar, University College London (Jun 2008).
  • Venables, John. Surface Processes at the Nanoscale: how crystals meet the outside world. Department Seminar, UCLA, Los Angeles (Apr 2008).
  • Venables, John. Time-dependent models of deposition and annealing on substrates. Group Research Seminar, UCLA, Los Angeles (Apr 2008).
  • Venables, John. Time-dependent models of deposition and annealing on substrates. Department Seminar, University College London (Oct 2006).
  • Venables, John, Grima, R, Kay, D, DeGraffenried, J, Yang, P. Time-dependent deposition and annealing on substrates with repulsive interactions. Atomically Controlled Interfaces and Nanostructures, 13th International Congress on Thin Films (Jun 2005).
  • Venables, John. Nucleation and Growth on Defect Sites: Why are metal interactions on ionic crystal surfaces so controversial?. International meeting for Professor Marshall Stoneham (Jun 2005).
  • Venables, John. Online studies at ASU. Departmental Review (Feb 2005).
  • Venables, John. Posters: the aim of the game. Graduate Student Training (Jun 2004).
  • Venables, John, Yang, P. Time-dependent diffusion fields and capture on rectangualr substrates. European Materials Research Society (Spring meeting) (May 2004).
  • Venables, John, Yang, P. Effects of repulsive interactions on nucleation and growth on surfaces. Materials Research Society (Spring meeting) (Apr 2004).
  • Venables, John, Yang, P. Time-dependent diffusion fields and capture on rectangular substrates. American Physical Society (March Meeting) (Mar 2004).
  • Yang, P, Venables, John. Time-dependent fields on rectangular substrates: modeling anisotropic diffusion and growth. Materials Research Society (Fall meeting)
  • Venables, John. Time-Dependent Capture Numbers with Repusive Pair Interactions: Cu/Cu(111) & Ge/Si(001). Gordon Research Conference: Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms
  • Venables, John, Yang, P. Diffusion in potential fields: time-dependent capture on radial & rectangular substrates. Materials Research Society (Fall meeting)
Honors / Awards

Comité de Direction, CNRS Laboratoire CRMC2, Université Aix-Marseille (1974-1986); CNRS Laboratoire Maurice Letort, Nancy (1989-1992); Fachbeirat, Fritz-Haber Institut der Max-Planck Gesellschaft, West Berlin (1981-1990). Fellowship, Japan Society for promotion of Science (1986). Review of Condensed Matter Physics in Australia (1992). Doctor Honoris Causa, Université de la Mediterannée (2001). Fellowship, American Physical Society (2002).

Editorships

Vice-Chair, Gordon Research Conference: Epitaxial Thin Films and Interfaces (1995), founding Co-Chair, Gordon Research Conference: Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms (1997), plus several smaller meetings. Editorial Boards: J. Phys. F (1979-81), Ultramicroscopy (1980-1995), Scanning (1984-2006), J. Phys. D (1995-2005), Divisional Associate Editor, Physical Review Letters (2000-05).

Professional Associations

Institute of Physics, American Physical Society, Microscopy Society of America, European Physical Society, British Association for Crystal Growth, Materials Research Society, Royal Microscopical Society, Royal Society of Arts Manufacture and Commerce, Association of Chamber Music Players (ACMP); Playing member, Symphony of the Southwest (Arizona) and Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra (RTWSO, UK).

Graduate Faculties / Mentoring History

Founder of the Science and Europe Program (1975) at Sussex University, and directed it for ten years with over 300 graduates. 26 doctoral and 10 masters theses have been directed to completion. Lead Graduate Advisor in the Physics Department at ASU (2001-07). Member of Graduate Faculty in Materials at ASU (1985-2016) Most recently (2007-present) Founding Program Director at ASU for the Professional Science Master's (PSM) degree in Nanoscience, which currently (December 2016) has 60 Alumni and ~20 Current students.

Work History

1985-2016: Professor of Physics, Arizona State University (typically 50% academic year, now Emeritus since 2016); 1988-present: Professor of Physics, University of Sussex (Honorary since 1995, Emeritus since 2011); 2008-present: Honorary Visiting Professor, University College London, in the London Center for Nanotechnology (UCL-LCN).

Service
  • Program Director, PSM in Nanoscience (2008-2012), now involved to a lesser extent as Founding Program Director and Professor Emeritus
  • Graduate Program Committee, Lead Graduate Advisor (2001 - 2007)
  • Internal Awards Committee, member (2001 - 2007)
  • Gordon Research Conference: Thin Film and Crystal Growth Mechanisms, Past Chair, Email contact, Speaker, Discussion Leader (1997 - 2013)
  • Unofficial Web team/ Computer committee, Developer, Updates, etc (1995 - Present)
  • Scanning, Editorial Advisory Board Member (1990 - 2006)
  • Symphony of the Southwest, formerly Mesa Symphony Orchestra, Playing member (1986 - Present)
  • NSF, EPSRC(UK), Reviewer (1964 - 2008)
  • Other Journals and Grant funding bodies, Reviewer and Board member (1964 - 2010)
  • Physical Review Letters (American Institute of Physics), Divisional Advisory Editor (2000 - 2005)
  • PER Search Committee, Member/ Presenter (2004 - 2005)
  • Graduate Recruitment (Tiger) Team, member (2004)
  • Internal Awards Committee, member (2004)
  • Unofficial Web team, Developer, Updates, etc (2004)
Expertise Areas
Nanoscience and Material Physics
Materials Science
Nanoscience
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