Courtney Thornberry
Profile
Courtney is an Engineering Doctorate student at the University of Warwick, sponsored by the CAD, PLM and SLM software company, PTC. Her research addresses the changing landscape for manufacturers and products in regards to the connectedness to the product for both the consumer and the manufacturer. Technology now allows for data to be collected in real time from a product in use, such as a car. This ability to collect and understand the usage of a product allows for opportunities in predicting failures, solidifying customer loyalty and accessing new areas of potential value creation. This data has the potential to show new models for aftermarket service that manufacturers can access for their customers. Her project will run from January 2012 to January 2016.
Initially looking at collaboration of companies, open sourcing and open innovation, Courtney's project has evolved to look at issues with service and manufactured goods. She has been involved with the WMG Catapult centre.
Courtney has been involved in several areas of research over the past few years, ranging from astrophysics to thin film photovoltaics to alkaline fuel cells. She got her undergraduate degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, USA, majoring in Physics. Most recently, she earned her Master's in Technology, doing research on fuel cells for Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI). While at IUPUI, she did research on the Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (AAEMFC), looking at catalyst material and electrode fabrication methods. While at IUPUI, she was also very interested in the areas of management and efficiency optimization. She worked as an intern for the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy on ways to optimize the center. She is especially passionate about renewable energy and sustainability, two key factors in the evolution of society that will require efficient and organized collaboration.
In her spare time, Courtney enjoys being an IGGY mentor, running marathons, riding motorcycles and helping out with teaching at WMG.
