Paul W. Brazis, Jr., PhD

Nearly 20 years ago, Dr. Paul Brazis came to UL Solutions and was charged with strengthening our electrical research and development infrastructure to advance our safety science capabilities, testing methodologies, laboratory infrastructure and more.

Today, as a leader on UL Solutions’ Innovation and Applied R&D (R&D) team, he’s more driven than ever to empower our customers’ efforts to push technological frontiers by developing new services and test methods in response to evolving market needs.

His leadership, combined with his team’s expertise, is focused on research across electrical, mechanical, and physics-based disciplines, and other areas including electrical systems, physics, and metallurgy. Paul’s team, like the entire R&D division, takes on projects that cannot be served by UL Solutions’ existing offerings.

Paul’s decades of academic and professional work have given him a holistic view of potential challenges and how to solve them. His groundbreaking contributions, along with his extensive experience, have earned him status of Corporate Fellow in the William Henry Merrill Society, which formally recognizes those who have made significant and sustained contributions to advancing safety science across the UL enterprise. Fewer than 50 employees in the company’s 130-year history have earned this recognition.

Academic and professional dedication

After earning undergraduate and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Northwestern University, Paul completed his Ph.D. thesis work focused on quantum electronic devices, thermoelectric materials, and electrical and thermal measurement/characterization. Following his decade of academic pursuit, Paul had a lengthy stint at Motorola, Inc, where he specialized in manufacturing process R&D, including the development of novel printed organic and inorganic semiconductor circuitry, novel very high-density nonvolatile memory assemblies, and the application of new nanomaterials for manufacturing applications. He also authored several government research proposals, resulting in more than $3 million (USD) in funding and was awarded 14 patents during his tenure.

Electrical R&D leadership at UL Solutions

Paul joined UL Solutions in 2008 and has been awarded three additional patents (additional patents pending); has overseen a wide range of R&D projects and early in his tenure participated in an investigation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) addressing battery safety on the 787 Dreamliner. Paul also assisted with a Samsung-initiated investigation to uncover the cause of battery explosions in its Note 7 mobile phone model.

He stewards cross-functional teams to advance electrical safety through technical evolution and supports the crucial work of standards development by UL Solutions Principal Engineers. Some of these projects have included arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) for residential and photovoltaic installations, solid-state lighting, photovoltaic and other alternative energy systems, smart meters and power distribution infrastructure, and wireless power transmission. To support the rapid growth in the data center industry, Paul is currently collaborating with his UL Solutions colleagues to address emerging safety concerns. He is also on the pulse of other developing issues such as the safety of non-certified and counterfeit consumer electronic products, emerging hazards related to electric shock, and human perception of complex waveforms and various DC sources.

When customers come to UL Solutions with challenges outside the scope of current certification standards, Paul and his team work in concert with global account managers, internal experts, and customers to rise to the challenges presented by electrical complexity throughout the product development life cycle. This may result in the creation of all-new services that become part of our global portfolio, advancing the idea that R&D directly translates into revenue growth and innovation delivery.

As a leader, he encourages his team to develop and maintain expertise in specialized areas, supporting evolving consumer demands and industry standards. While Paul’s focus is on electrical and mechanical work, his team offers complementary skills in various areas of testing, including:

• Electrical arcing
• Electropathology/electric Shock
• Medium- and high-voltage (MV/HV) cable
• Mechanical and thermal injury
• Metallurgy and corrosion
• Power distribution
• Consumer products
• DC power and systems
• Test equipment and methods
• Wiring

Leadership with lasting impact

Paul remains keenly focused on strengthening the R&D group’s reputation as a celebrated incubator for talent, with several team members now in core roles in other UL Solutions business units. He has worked diligently to create an adept group that has a strong foundation of knowledge as well as a curious spirit. Many of his mentees have moved into other areas of UL Solutions where they serve customers with technical and professional excellence.

Paul has participated in the UL Global Leadership Program and the MIT Technical Leadership Development Program. He also serves on the UL Solutions Patent Review Board where he helps review patent disclosures and advises legal and business leadership on IP strategy.

“An engineer or scientist needs to experience and savor art, foreign language and even popular culture to be an effective technical leader, and to build a love of life. These passions will show through and enhance one’s technical work, making it more meaningful and useful.” — Paul Brazis

Professional affiliations

• MIT Technical Leadership Development Program (2022)
• UL Global Leadership Program (2012)
• Lean Sigma/Six Sigma Green Belt (2010)
• Member, UL Solutions Patent Committee (2021 - Present)
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC 113 for Nanotechnology (2007); Lead delegate for the United States Delegation, December 2007 Plenary, Singapore; member of TC 113 Roadmapping Committee
• iNEMI Printed Electronics Roadmap Team, sub-section lead (2006-2008)
• Senior member of IEEE, December 2005
• Vice Chair for Standards IEEE 1620-2004™, 1620-2008™, 1620.1-2006™ and 1650-2006™ (2004-2008)
• Team leader, IEEE Nanoelectronics Standards Roadmap (NESR); Liaison of IEEE-SA to IEC TC 113 on Nanotechnology (2006-2008)
• Technical Secretary, IEEE Nanotechnology Study Group (2006-2007)
• IEEE Standards Association (2002-2008)
• Program co-chair, International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (iMAPS) annual Printing an Intelligent Future Workshop (2002-2004)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (1991-Present)

Honors and awards

• Corporate Fellow, UL William Henry Merrill Society (Class of 2019)
• UL Solutions Mark of Excellence Award
  • 2021 – Launch of new service for field-based commissioning tests for high-voltage cable and successful market penetration
  • 2016 – Development of UL 2272, the Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices (Hoverboards)
  • 2014 – Boeing 787 Dreamliner Battery investigation for the NTSB
• Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, UL LLC (2012)
• Motorola Distinguished Innovator (2008)
• IEEE Standards Board Award, IEEE Standards Association (Three awards: 2007, 2006, and 2004)
• Global Standards Impact Award (Level 3), Motorola Inc. (Four awards: 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004)
• Outstanding Performance in Global Standards Activities (Level 2), Motorola Inc. (2003)

Connect with Paul Brazis

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