Awardee Interviews | Biography: Rudy Wojtecki

Rudy Wojtecki

Rudy Wojtecki, IBM Research, “For outstanding contributions towards the future of computing through the application of supramolecular and dynamic covalent chemistries in the design of surfaces for area selective depositions”
 
Rudy Wojtecki is a Principal Research Staff Member, and Manager of Electronic Materials and Process Technology at IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California where he leads efforts on Atomic Layer Depositions for Device Development and Smart Packaging Materials. Rudy also manages the R&D of a Joint Venture commercializing the chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate.

His research on the development of reactive inhibitor chemistry for area selective depositions generated internal collaborations with IBM Semiconductor Research where he translated a process from coupon demonstrations to pre-production 300 mm wafers to address overlay errors at advanced technology nodes. In this space, his efforts improved defectivity and yield of electrical test macros at an aggressive 32nm pitch. More recent efforts have been concentrated on the development of patternable monolayers, which combined with atomic layer deposition develop an image to enable high value processes for interconnects. His group employs a variety of tools & processes that include - organic synthesis, electron beam lithography and atomic layer deposition. Rudy has (co)-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, more than 130 patents/patent applications, and more than 40 invited talks and colloquiums including at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2020 and IBM’s Think2019 conference describing the Fundamentals of Quantum Computing.        

Engagement with the scientific community is one that Rudy strongly demonstrates through his service on the External Advisory Boards for the Cornell University Nanofab and University of Chicago Materials Research Science and Engineering Center where he provides recommendations and feedback on a rapidly evolving technology landscape.  Furthermore, he worked in support of planning committees for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Young Investigator’s Symposium in 2020, the National Academy of Science’s DMMI Quantum Technologies Workshop in 2019 and served as Chair of the Area Selective Deposition Workshop in 2022.  

Rudy’s work has been recognized by both IBM and externally by Chemical and Engineering News’ – Talented-12, boundary breaking young scientists in 2020, the distinction of IBM Master Inventor and the PMSE – ACS Young Investigator’s Award in 2015.  

He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2013 with a Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science & Engineering under Stuart J. Rowan and the support of a NASA GSRP fellowship.  His graduate research focused on the synthesis of mechanically interlocked polymers.  Rudy joined IBM as an engineer and promoted to research staff member in 2015.  In 2020 he was promoted to Principal Research Staff Member and soon thereafter to his current management position.