Professor, Engineering
hollansk@jmu.edu
Contact Info
Education
- Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia in 2004
- M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia in 2003
- B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) from James Madison University in 2000
Specializations and Research Interests
Optoelectronic systems for optical interrogation, gas detection, and fault detection; Sensors and electronics systems; Mathematical algorithms for pattern recognition and automated decision making; Renewable and sustainable energy technologies
Experience
Professor Holland joined the JMU Department of Engineering in 2009. A former JMU Duke and ISAT graduate, he is excited to be a part of this transformative engineering program. He is also the Associate Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship.
As a graduate student at the University of Virginia, Holland managed a multi-year, multi-disciplinary undergraduate student design project resulting in the successful design, construction, testing, and launch of two NASA suborbital rocket payloads, each carrying a unique, student designed remote sensing instrumentation suite.
For his Ph.D. work, he designed, prototyped, tested, and demonstrated the capabilities of a low-cost, room temperature infrared detector based gas detection system.
Prior to joining the JMU engineering faculty, he served as the Vice President of Research and Development for Avir Sensors, LLC. in Charlottesville, VA. At Avir Sensors, Holland coordinated the research, product design and development, and technical aspects of product commercialization of gas detection products for life safety applications. In this capacity, he has guided all aspects of engineering design and development, from idea to product realization and commercialization. Because of this, he has a strong interest in encouraging and promoting entrepreneurship.
Holland’s current research interests include sustainable and renewable energy technologies, non-destructive and stand-off detection technologies for wind and solar plant health assessment, and optoelectronic sensor development.
