Robert O’Leary
Biography
Robert O’Leary
Education
BS | Chemical Engineering | Drexel University
Industrial Experience
Greener Tweed - 3 Years
Dow Chemical – 13 Years
Owens Corning Science and Technology – 24 Years
Overview
How would you describe your typical workday?
My focus is on asphalt as it is used in shingles and paving. I do a lot of fundamental work to try to understand how the rheological agents within asphalt work. Some of my work has tied the electrochemical behavior (charge density) of asphaltenes to the rheology of asphalt and asphalt coating. I am also focused on the characteristics of calcium carbonate filler that affect the rheology of filled asphalt coating.
How do you use rheology in your day-to day work?
Most of the work I do is with Brookfield rheometers and TA DSR rheometers.I use statistical packages like JMP and machine learning to try to correlate asphalt and filler variables to the rheology of the filled coating.I also use those tools to correlate rheology to the shingle characteristics such as glass mat wetting.
What inspired you to become a scientist and/or pursue a career in your specific field?
I come from a family of engineers. I always had a passion for finding out how things worked and developing solutions to problems.
When did you decide to pursue a career in industry?
I was always planning to have a career in industry. I decided on Chemical Engineering my sophomore year in college. I have spent my 40-year career working on chemical and materials challenges.
What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
I feel that the 39 patents that I have been awarded are an affirmation of my accomplishments in my technical field. It is also rewarding to see a concept that I developed turn into a product or a plant improvement. It is also satisfying to be able to help younger scientists solve complex problems.
How has involvement with The Society of Rheology helped shape your career?
I joined SOR to get a different perspective on rheology. The industry consultants that I have used were more practically oriented. I find SOR to be more theoretically oriented. SOR gives me a different perspective on solving the complex problems that asphalt present.
After completing formal education, what is one new skill set that you developed/acquired that has been critical for your career?
A scientist must have patience and a mind open to other world views. It is also important to be able to translate your technical ideas to non-technical leadership.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
It is critical to be able to translate your technical ideas to non-technical leadership. If you can’t do this, you will always be pushing a boulder up hill.
What advice would you give to students considering graduate school?
I would strongly advise going to graduate school if you want a career in R&D. If you don’t you will spend a lot of time as a technician.
Looking towards the future, what are you most excited about in your career and/or science?
I am excited about how AI can accelerate technology development. In the short time that I have been using AI I can see how it makes my research faster and easier.
If you could meet and have lunch with one scientist (past or present), who would it be and why?
I think I would find Michael Faraday very interesting to talk to. He is a man that came from nothing, had no formal education and became one of the great scientists in history. Faraday was lucky that he had a benefactor that supported his career. It makes me wonder how many Faradays are out there but will never get a chance to realize their potential because of their socioeconomic situation.
Mentorship
How has mentorship impacted your career?
I’ve never had a mentor, but I have been a technical mentor to many young scientists. Mentoring is a two-way street. I give technical advice to mentees, but I also receive information on new analytical and modeling techniques. These are insights that I would not necessarily arrive at on my own.
From the mentor perspective, what advice would you give to others serving as mentors?
Sharpen your listening skills. I meet so many people that want to fill the room with the sound of their voice when they should just sit back and listen.
From the mentee perspective, what advice would you give to mentees?
I always tell my mentees to build a good toolbox of skills so that you become the go-to scientist for big problems. I try to get my mentees to build a brand that reflects their strengths.
I also advise my mentees to do their own lab work when doing new experiments.The scientist will see what the technician may not.
Collaborations
What advice would you give to individuals that are either starting and/or leading collaborations between companies?
Make sure you have addressed all legal issues. Have all the NDAs, JDAs and any other documents agreed upon by both parties. Collaborations often fail through misunderstandings of ownership. If you have a novel idea going into the relationship, make sure that a patent application is submitted before collaboration begins.
For hiring managers
When is the optimum time to start looking for jobs during graduate school?
I would encourage graduate students to intern or co-op in a field of interest. This gives the student an idea of how companies work, what will be required of them and if they have a passion for that field.
Internship will also help you build a network in industry when you start your job search.