Rachel Byer has joined Fornax Advanced Materials as the director of materials science, bringing with her a wealth of experience in research and development, as well as materials characterization. In her new role, Byer will focus on advanced material development, accelerating material AI capabilities, and identifying market opportunities.
John Havermann, president and CEO of Fornax-AM, expressed excitement about Byer joining the team, highlighting her academic credentials and diverse experience in applying materials science across various markets. Byer’s career includes roles as a contributor, project manager, and laboratory manager, where she used analytical techniques, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to characterize materials.
Byer holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering from Virginia Tech, as well as a Bachelor of Science in physics from Bucknell University. Fornax-AM is a company that specializes in providing customers with lightweight, high-density products made from advanced alloys, metallics, and ceramic composite materials. The company’s products support the missions of departments such as Energy and Defense, NASA, and other players in the aerospace and defense community.