As Vice President of Special Programs, Eric Pearson partners with SRI International’s research divisions to identify and develop new, cross-divisional R&D opportunities for clients. He leads efforts to enhance collaboration across SRI and with industry and academic partners for near-term programs and long-term strategic initiatives. Pearson also provides oversight and coordination for SRI’s sensitive programs for the U.S. government in support of national security missions.

Pearson joined SRI International in 1989 as a materials scientist and later became director of SRI’s Physical Electronics Laboratory. He then served as director of the Applied Physical Sciences Laboratory until being named vice president of the Physical Sciences Division in 2007. As a division vice president, he was responsible for developing and leading R&D programs in materials and chemical synthesis, microfabrication, and molecular and optical physics, and for addressing important needs in national defense, sustainable energy and biomedical diagnostics markets. His technical background includes the electromagnetic, optical and infrared properties of materials; visible and infrared coatings; thin-film nucleation and growth; classical statistical mechanics; and nonimaging optics.

Prior to joining SRI, Pearson was a materials development scientist in the Office of Research, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He has a B.S. from MIT and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Stanford University, all in materials science. He has been published in refereed journals and government reports on topics ranging from statistical mechanics and silicon surfaces and defects to the electromagnetic properties of materials. He holds two issued patents.

Pearson received a Defense Meritorious Service Medal from the U.S. Air Force in 1989 and was named an SRI Fellow in 1996.