Research Interests Dr. Vinci joined the Lehigh University faculty in 1998, and serves as Director of the Mechanical Behavior Lab in the Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (CAMN). His research is focused on the processing and mechanical behavior of thin films and small-scale structures for microelectronics and MEMS applications, and on the processing of nanopatterned sapphire substrates for LED growth. He is also interested in the mechanical behavior of natural tissue. Teaching Interests Mechanical Behavior of Materials and Thermodynamics of Materials are the current foci of Dr. Vinci’s teaching portfolio. He has also taught courses on thin film processing and mechanics, introductory materials science and engineering, introduction to engineering practices (designing, then casting golf balls and golf clubs), engineering for non-engineers, computational methods for materials engineers, and musical instrument engineering. He is very interested in novel engineering teaching methods, and has contributed to the creation of the Integrated Degree Engineering Arts & Sciences (IDEAS) program, the Engineering Minor for Non-Engineers, and Lehigh’s current first-year engineering curriculum (Introduction to Engineering, and Applied Engineering Computer Methods). He has played a role in the development of the national NISE NanoDays outreach program, and has served as a presenter or consultant for several television programs aired by PBS NOVA. He has also had the great pleasure of presenting numerous demonstrations of materials engineering principles and applications to visitors at the Da Vinci Discovery Center and to students and teachers at area schools. Honors and Awards Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching, Lehigh Class of 1961 Professorship (2004-2006), Lehigh P.C. Rossin Professorship (2001-2003), P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Teaching Excellence Award, ASM International Bradley Stoughton Award for Young Teachers, Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer (PA Alpha Chapter), ASM Lehigh Valley Chapter Outstanding Young Member Award, Gilbert E. Doan Award given by graduating Materials Science and Engineering seniors, Lehigh University Junior Award for Distinguished Teaching, NSF New Century Scholar, NSF CAREER Award Dr. Vinci is coauthor of the book “Deformation and Fracture Mechanics of Engineering Materials, 5e”, R. W. Hertzberg, R. P. Vinci, J. L. Hertzberg, Wiley (Hoboken, NJ), 2012.

Materials Science