Michael Plews
About Michael Plews
Michael Plews is a Staff Engineer in Validation Operations at Form Energy, with a strong background in materials science and chemical safety. He has held various engineering and research positions at QuantumScape, the University of Illinois, and Berkeley Lab, specializing in the synthesis of nanocrystals and advanced characterization techniques.
Work at Form Energy
Michael Plews currently serves as a Staff Engineer in Validation Operations at Form Energy, a position he has held since 2024. He works on-site in Berkeley, California. His role involves validating engineering processes and ensuring the reliability of operations within the company.
Previous Experience at QuantumScape
Prior to his current role, Michael Plews worked at QuantumScape in various capacities. He was a Principal Member of Technical Staff from 2021 to 2023 and later served as Director of Yield & Reliability Engineering from 2023 to 2024. He also held the position of Senior Member of Technical Staff from 2019 to 2021, all based in the San Jose and San Francisco Bay Area.
Education and Expertise
Michael Plews has a strong educational background in chemistry. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Illinois Chicago, where he studied from 2013 to 2018. He also holds a Master in Chemistry (MChem w/ Hons) from The University of Manchester, which he completed from 2009 to 2013. His expertise includes advanced characterization techniques, chemical safety, and the synthesis of nanocrystals.
Research and Teaching Experience
Michael Plews has extensive research and teaching experience. He worked as a Graduate Researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2013 to 2018 and served as a Chemistry Teaching Assistant from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Berkeley Lab from 2018 to 2019 and an Undergraduate Researcher at both the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and The University of Manchester.
Technical Skills and Specializations
Michael Plews specializes in various technical skills relevant to materials science and engineering. He is proficient in advanced characterization techniques such as X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). He also utilizes software tools like Python, LaTeX, and Matlab for scientific computing and data analysis, and has experience with FreeCAD for engineering design.