Welcome!

Welcome to my website!  My name is Marriner Merrill, and I am a researcher at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the multifunctional materials branch.  My research is focused in developing new methods to process and characterize multi-scale and/or multifunctional materials and surfaces, particularly those involving multiple phases (traditional solid, liquid, elastomers, etc.).  Processing methods focus on controlling macro-scale parameters to drive specific nano-scale morphologies.  This recently featured the development of spin-spray Layer by Layer Self Assembly (SSLbL).  Current work also focuses on investigation of surface energy and adhesion at both the nano and the macro scale.

I recently completed a 1-year postdoc here, and before that received a  PhD from Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, advised by Dr. C.T. Sun.
If you are looking for our family site, that is sites.google.com/site/ctmerrill/

Bldg. 28 / Office 215C
Materials Science & Technology, Code 6354
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375
                                     work: (202)404-1531 / marriner.merrill@nrl.navy.mil


RECENT NEWS (updated Mar 2012):
  • February 2012 - Disabled most of the website until I can get it back up to date!  Meanwhile, feel free to contact me (above) with any specific questions.
  • February 2011 - Recipient of the Jerome and Isabella Karle Fellowship at NRL
  • February 2011 - Hired as a researcher at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
  • January, 2010 - Began work as an ASEE postdoc at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
  • August, 2009 - Notified that we received "Best Paper Award" for our paper at the 23rd Annual American Society for Composites Technical Conference in Memphis, TN (Fall 2008):  Merrill, Sun. "Nanostructure/Strain Resistance in Nanolaminates Containing Carbon Nanofibers and Carbon Nanotubes"
  • June, 2009 - Currently teaching the AAE 352 'Aerospace Structural Analysis' course.  The course website is here.
  • May, 2009 - Spoke at Purdue's Commencement!
    • I provided the 'class response' for Purdue's 207th commencement ceremony, May 16, 2009.  I was the speaker for the division that included  the Colleges of Engineering, Education, and the School of Veterinary Medicine.
    • May 26, 2009.  I just posted the annotated text (includes references).  It is located here. 

  • April, 2009 - Successfully defended & deposited my Dissertation!

  • April, 2009 - Chosen as AAE's Outstanding Graduate Student for 2009!



Marriner Merrill - Disambiguation:
My name is an uncommon one, but an old family name, so there are actually multiple Marriner Merrill's out there - as weird as that may sound.  Marriner W. Merrill (after whom we are all named) was a great man and I've always been honored to bear his name.  Because of his very large posterity and prominence in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most internet hits are in regards to him - the safe one there is to look at the date, since he died in 1906.  I do have a nephew (2 years old) named Marriner, and I'm sure that there are a few others that are closer to my age.

I do love genealogy, and I'm always happy to hear of relatives!  I'm descended from Marriner Wood Merrill & Maria Kingsbury through Joseph F. Merrill (then Eugene...)
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