Iuliana Cernătescu
East Hartford
Summary
Accomplished Sr. Technical Fellow at Pratt & Whitney with expertise in materials characterization and strategic leadership. Proven track record in driving cross-functional collaboration and mentoring teams, while managing budgets exceeding $15M. Successfully developed critical characterization technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering partnerships to advance organizational capabilities.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Technical Fellow, Material Characterization
Pratt & Whitney
East Hartford
01.2022 - Current
- Led materials characterization discipline, driving technical and strategic initiatives.
- Aligned and integrated material characterization processes with various P&W organizations.
- Acted as internal expert on materials characterization within P&W.
- Established external partnerships to enhance capabilities and broaden expertise.
- Identified and championed critical characterization technologies, developing strategic implementation plans.
- Mentored and trained talent while contributing to succession planning efforts.
- Executed technology development projects, ensuring successful implementation across teams.
Associate Director, OME Repair Program Management
Pratt & Whitney
East Hartford
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Provided strategic and financial leadership for OME repair programs (F119, F100, TF33).
- Oversaw all program deliverables for repairs and tooling associated with OME.
- Drove cross-organizational alignment to enhance collaboration across teams.
- Planned and tracked communications with internal and external customers on repair activities.
- Managed proposals, contracts, and budgets exceeding $15 million, ensuring earned value and efficiency.
- Directed technical oversight for a team of over 50 engineers during projects.
- Identified and supported emerging technologies to enhance repair program capabilities.
- Conducted comprehensive reviews of repair programs, including roadmaps and technology evaluations.
Associate Director, Material Characterization
Pratt & Whitney
East Hartford
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Directed a team of 17+ engineers and technicians managing budget exceeding $3 million.
- Established strategic vision for group and laboratory, prioritizing talent and partnership development.
- Expanded characterization team to meet business needs and strengthen university collaborations.
- Identified essential tools while formalizing partnerships with universities, national labs, and vendors.
- Planned and executed characterization projects to improve operational efficiency.
- Mentored engineers across teams, fostering professional growth and skill enhancement.
- Ensured compliance with environmental health and safety protocols through targeted training initiatives.
Materials Characterization Discipline Chief
Pratt & Whitney
East Hartford
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Established and formalized materials characterization discipline and developed strategic initiatives.
- Integrated materials characterization with other disciplines within P&W to enhance collaboration.
- Mentored practitioners within and outside discipline, fostering professional growth and knowledge sharing.
- Led budgeting efforts for various programs related to material characterization.
- Served as technical lead for AFRL MAI governmental contract exceeding $1.5 million.
- Initiated and drove development of new characterization technologies, ensuring successful implementation into production.
- Identified and incorporated new characterization capabilities, including Raman, SAXS, and XCT.
X-Rays Characterization Subject Matter Expert
Pratt & Whitney
East Hartford
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Developed and implemented methods for material characterization across departments.
- Provided technical support in materials characterization to various P&W departments.
- Executed budget planning for $1.5 million upgrade of P&W X-ray diffraction laboratory.
- Planned and led multiple material characterization development projects.
- Advanced development of diffraction and residual stress measurement tools.
- Designed experiments for data collection and analysis in X-ray analytical field, including line profile analysis and texture measurement.
- Utilized various synchrotron and neutron methods, including Rietveld refinement and SAXS.
Principal Scientist, Sr. Applications Scientist
PANalytical
MA
01.2005 - 01.2011
- Applications scientist semiconductor sector - develop courses and trainings for various applications (HRXRD, GIXRD, XRR, in-plane diffraction, system & optics alignment, data collection & analysis); develop & teach courses, train customers; Benchmarking and market analysis
- Applications development - X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Line Profile Analysis, Texture Analysis, Residual Stress, Rietveld Refinement, SAXS, PDF, HRXRD, XRR, HTXRD, xCT etc.
- Identify new measurement configurations requirements, develop and deploy strategic plan for bringing into market of new capabilities, establish strategic partnerships and collaborations
- Technical supervision of applications laboratory personnel and activities
- Organized scientific workshops/conferences in advanced characterization methods
- Developed training material and runs applications trainings
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Planning and executing characterization of engineering materials to enhance project outcomes.
- Established operational XRD facility at MSE Georgia Tech with over $2 million investment.
- Designed instrument scheduling plan alongside web-based tools for improved accessibility.
- Developed and instructed XRD course material, including SOPs for facility usage.
- Mentored undergraduate and graduate students, fostering skill development and academic growth.
R&D Scientist
Proto Manufacturing
Canada
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Residual stress measurement methods development
- Develop cold work measurement application
- Customer support, measurement, data analysis and reporting
Research Assistant
Eotvos Lorand University
Hungary
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Run XRD experiments, develop data and algorithm for XRD data modeling
- Teach and mentor undergraduate students
Education
Post-Doctoral Fellow - Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, USA01.2005
Ph.D. - Physics, Materials and Solid State Physics
Eötvös Loránd University of Science
Budapest, Hungary01.2003
BS. MSc. - Physics, Teacher of Physics
Eötvös Loránd University of Science
Budapest, Hungary01.1999
Skills
- Materials characterization
- Technology development
- Technical leadership
- People, Program, and Budget Management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Team building, mentoring, and coaching
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Data analysis
- Effective communication
Publications Presentations Patents
25+ presentations & publications, 15+ patents & patent applications
Conferences Sessions And Workshop Organizer
- RTX Mechanical, Materials and Structures Technology Network Symposium, 2024
- RTX & University Material Characterization workshop, 2023
- Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Conference - Residual Stress 101 short course Instructor, 2022
- Denver X-Ray Conference, 2014, Organizer & Instructor: Workshop on LINE PROFILE ANALYSIS
- Industrial Applications of X-Ray Diffraction at MRS, 2011
- Denver X-Ray Conference, 2011, Organizer & Instructor: Workshop on Materials Characterization by Combining X-ray Analytical with 3D X-ray Imaging
- X-Ray Scattering Methods for Characterization of Nanomaterials at MRS, 2010
- X-Ray Scattering Methods for Characterization of Advanced Materials Workshop at MRS, 2009
Awards
- Elected Member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (2025)
- CT Women of Innovation Finalist 2024 - Research Innovation and Leadership
- P&W Leadership Award 2024 - F135 R1 Root Cause Corrective Action Team
- P&W Engineering Extraordinary Workforce Award 2020 - Material Characterization Technical Leadership
- P&W Leadership Award 2019 - PW1100G MGBX IDG -Gear Tiger Team
- CT Women of Innovation Finalist 2018 - Corporate Innovation and Leadership Large Business
- P&W MPE Special Award 2015 - Development/Application of industrial residual stress tools and processes
- P&W MPE Special Award 2013 - Development/Application of industrial texture analysis tools
Other
- Fluent oral/written in English
- Romanian
- Hungarian
- Basic conversational level in French
Professional Activities
- Reviewer for the NRC Research Associateship Programs 2026
- Review board member (2023) for Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Material Measurement Laboratory (MML)
- Past reviewer: Journal of American Ceramic Society; Journal of Materials Research; Metallurgical & Materials Transactions A; Journal of Engineering Materials & Technology, Powder Diffraction Journal
- Member of The International Center for Diffraction Data (ICDD), ASM International, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
- APS Science Review (2012-2020) Advanced Photon Source BM11
- Review board member (2017) for Oak Ridge National Laboratory Industrial Program
- ORNL Science Review (2019 - present) - ORNL Science Review Committee
Timeline
Sr. Technical Fellow, Material Characterization
Pratt & Whitney
01.2022 - Current
Associate Director, OME Repair Program Management
Pratt & Whitney
01.2020 - 01.2022
Associate Director, Material Characterization
Pratt & Whitney
01.2017 - 01.2020
Materials Characterization Discipline Chief
Pratt & Whitney
01.2015 - 01.2017
X-Rays Characterization Subject Matter Expert
Pratt & Whitney
01.2011 - 01.2015
Principal Scientist, Sr. Applications Scientist
PANalytical
01.2005 - 01.2011
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Georgia Institute of Technology
01.2003 - 01.2005
R&D Scientist
Proto Manufacturing
01.2002 - 01.2003
Research Assistant
Eotvos Lorand University
01.1999 - 01.2002
Post-Doctoral Fellow - Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ph.D. - Physics, Materials and Solid State Physics
Eötvös Loránd University of Science
BS. MSc. - Physics, Teacher of Physics
Eötvös Loránd University of Science