Meet The Fellows
learn more about the class of ’13
GO INSIDE THE INVENTIVE MIND
Follow along as we share the passion and anecdotes of IBMers who helped send people to the moon, hatched trillions of barcodes, launched the computer industry and then even taught one to play Jeopardy! They’re just some of the innovations we’ve been working on to build a smarter planet.
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Big Brains. Small Films.
IBM Fellow Chandu Visweswariah on the innovation checklist.
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In what was called the “smallest publicity stunt ever,” IBM Fellow Don Eigler arranged atoms to spell the letters “IBM” in 1989. This innovation marked the first time we could move individual atoms—a huge innovation for really small science.
Big Brains. Small Films.
IBM Fellow John Ponzo on knowing when to zag.
![Name: Heike RielHails From: Zurich, SwitzerlandWorking On: Building AMOLED displays using nanowiresFun Fact: Once worked as a furniture maker’s apprentice
Q. What is your approach to problem solving?In the lab, you’re focused on the problem right in front of you, and sometimes that doesn’t solve a problem. So, I take my mind off the problem by going for a run. My subconscious keeps working on the problem. And inevitably, while I’m out running, the solution hits me. By running, it’s almost like I’m letting my brain work independently, without me getting in the way.
[[MORE]]Q. How did meeting established inventors early in your career inspire you?I not only admired their work, but I could actually talk to them – and they talked to me like a normal person! I still love how IBM fosters this environment of discovery. Even as a student, you will be asked for your opinion.
Q. Did your background making furniture have an impact on your work? If so, how?For two years, I learned how to use all manner of different tools, and the difference in the quality of tools. This is true for the tools to work in nanotechnology, too. You can have great ideas to make nice designs, but until you know your material, master your tools and understand the underlying mechanisms of the technology, you will not be able to make a masterpiece.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/efc158f71f193081fe8b32b8b900d40b/tumblr_mknyryVJIq1s141c3o1_r1_250.png)
Name: Heike Riel
Hails From: Zurich, Switzerland
Working On: Building AMOLED displays using nanowires
Fun Fact: Once worked as a furniture maker’s apprentice
Q. What is your approach to problem solving?
In the lab, you’re focused on the problem right in front of you, and sometimes that doesn’t solve a problem. So, I take my mind off the problem by going for a run. My subconscious keeps working on the problem. And inevitably, while I’m out running, the solution hits me. By running, it’s almost like I’m letting my brain work independently, without me getting in the way.
![Name: Jason McGeeHails From: North CarolinaWorking On: Architecting problem-solving softwareFun Fact: Rides motorcycles and is an active blogger and tweeter
Q. Where do you get your best ideas?There’s always eureka moments when you have been brewing on something for a while and it clicks, but on the whole, it’s an evolution. I’ve been working in this space for a while and you start to see patterns and gaps that would make something orders of magnitude better. You get a lot of inspiration from others.
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Q. How does IBM’s history of innovation inspire you? We don’t talk about it much, but that IBM legacy permeates all of our technical teams. There’s an expectation for excellence that motivates people to do their very best.Q. You started out writing software. Now you lead a global team of 250 developers working on the PureApplication System. How do you make the leap from “doer” to leader? Early in your career, you own code, you are developing software that you are shipping. As you grow to a more technical leadership, your focus is more on architecture and design and leading the team. You have more diverse demands on your time. I’ve tried to stay very hands-on – working on protyping, for example, so I’m keeping fairly close to the code. I also spend a great deal of my time now with clients. It’s both expected and it’s essential to doing your job well. I’ve always focused on delivering capability to customers. To do that, you have to spend time with them, understand their problems. It’s pretty critical part of my job — even if it does result in lots of travel.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/3cabc8fa8fd95b27171a394beffdcb84/tumblr_mkouof1kcz1s141c3o1_r3_250.png)
Name: Jason McGee
Hails From: North Carolina
Working On: Architecting problem-solving software
Fun Fact: Rides motorcycles and is an active blogger and tweeter
Q. Where do you get your best ideas?
There’s always eureka moments when you have been brewing on something for a while and it clicks, but on the whole, it’s an evolution. I’ve been working in this space for a while and you start to see patterns and gaps that would make something orders of magnitude better. You get a lot of inspiration from others.
Big Brains. Small Films.
IBM Fellow Monty Denneau on mentors.
![Name: Monty DenneauHails From: Westchester, NYWorking On: Building a faster supercomputerFun Fact: Always works out ideas on pencil and paper first
Q. Any advice for aspiring Fellows?Surround yourself with a network of the smartest and most dedicated colleagues you can find. Being around a lot of such people, who might very well be smarter than you, will go a long way toward helping you be part of greater things.
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Q. What’s your first project as a Fellow?Almost all current machines are limited by their ability to move data between chips. So, I’m working with some colleagues on using a new chip packaging technology that hasn’t really gotten off the ground. But if it works, I think it can revolutionize the way we build systems. While others are working on ways to stack up small numbers of microprocessor die, this new technology makes it possible to put 50-100 die right next to each other.
Q. How do ideas come to you?I tend to follow a common pattern. I’ll be working hard on a program and somehow stumble on some unrelated but intriguing idea or problem. A prudent person would just say “no” to this new thing, but more often than not, I can’t resist the urge to work on the new enterprise. I work really hard, but very often reach the limit of my ability and drop from exhaustion. Then, a funny thing happens. I’ll suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and the solution for the first problem will be right there in front of me.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/4a532aab726a4f3aa7eaf0f6296cfc43/tumblr_mkouf6XvJ91s141c3o1_r3_250.png)
Name: Monty Denneau
Hails From: Westchester, NY
Working On: Building a faster supercomputer
Fun Fact: Always works out ideas on pencil and paper first
Q. Any advice for aspiring Fellows?
Surround yourself with a network of the smartest and most dedicated colleagues you can find. Being around a lot of such people, who might very well be smarter than you, will go a long way toward helping you be part of greater things.
![Name: Chandu VisweswariahHails From: BangaloreWorking On: Testing the limits of chip designFun Fact: Lives in a zero carbon footprint home
Q. What big advances do you foresee ahead in your field?Microelectronics will change form factor and become ubiquitous. What we call “chips” today will be stacked in interesting three-dimensional configurations, worn on the human body, swallowed, or painted on streets or walls.[[MORE]]Q. What are your dreams for the future? I would like to make my carbon footprint truly zero. I’ve been mentoring a senior at Yorktown High School who is doing an exceptional sustainability project that won herna semifinalist berth in the Intel Science Talent Search competition. I want to get more students excited about sustainability. I feel pretty strongly that we are treading on this planet too heavily. Some of things we’re doing will take a long time to reverse. We need to make amends.Q. What made you decide to join IBM?I was looking at the inventors of FORTRAN, the tunneling microscope, the disk drive … all these legends and I thought, ‘”Wow, they worked here.” It just blew my mind.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/0b8cff3016ccaaff0f5a1796dc5de864/tumblr_mkouydeKM81s141c3o1_r2_250.png)
Name: Chandu Visweswariah
Hails From: Bangalore
Working On: Testing the limits of chip design
Fun Fact: Lives in a zero carbon footprint home
Q. What big advances do you foresee ahead in your field?
Microelectronics will change form factor and become ubiquitous. What we call “chips” today will be stacked in interesting three-dimensional configurations, worn on the human body, swallowed, or painted on streets or walls.
![Name: Neil BartlettHails From: LondonWorking On: Analyzing risk with specialized softwareFun Fact: Speaks English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Thai & Russian
Q. What are some of your interests? I love learning lots of different things. I can talk a bit of math, a bit of physics. I love learning new languages. I play a lot of instruments, none particularly well. My wife would tell you I have too many Interests.[[MORE]]Q. What do you look for when you’re hiring?One is, are they social? They don’t need to be superbly outgoing and the life of the party, but developing things is a social activity. You have to be able to communicate well.Q. What’s the last book you read, what’s on the playlist?Just finished reading “Seasons in the Sun” – a four-part trilogy on the history of England. I’m a vinyl person, so I put on records. I’m a bit retro that way. I’m a big fan of string quartets, but I listen to everything from heavy rock to folk music. If I go digital, I’ll go more modern – The Black Keys, Acoustic Alchemy.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/b2dc4b21d9046bd5f2a914fda472e7ce/tumblr_mkoouzA8811s141c3o1_r1_250.png)
Name: Neil Bartlett
Hails From: London
Working On: Analyzing risk with specialized software
Fun Fact: Speaks English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Thai & Russian
Q. What are some of your interests?
I love learning lots of different things. I can talk a bit of math, a bit of physics. I love learning new languages. I play a lot of instruments, none particularly well. My wife would tell you I have too many Interests.
They’ve been called brainiac, genius, wizard. And now, IBM Fellow.
Join our Tumblr-style toast to the newly minted class of ’13, on the 50th anniversary of the Fellows program.
Launched in 1963, just 246 individuals have earned the title of IBM Fellow for their achievements in technology, science, engineering and research. It’s quite the elite group, with a unique role—to lead IBMers as they tackle the world’s most challenging problems and continue laying the foundation for a smarter planet.
