Kiva Ford is the Scientific Glassblower at the University of Pittsburgh, where he designs, fabricates, and repairs specialized scientific glass apparatus for researchers across the University and external collaborators. With decades of experience in scientific glassblowing, he specializes in the fabrication of custom equipment in both borosilicate and fused quartz, ranging from precision laboratory glassware to complex high-vacuum systems and one-of-a-kind research apparatus.
Throughout his career, Ford has worked closely with scientists to develop custom instrumentation that enables cutting-edge research in chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, and materials science. His work has included the fabrication of components for experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (CERN), specialized optical cells for dark matter research, custom apparatus for radiation science, and innovative glass equipment supporting cancer research. By translating research concepts into functional laboratory equipment, he helps bridge the gap between scientific ideas and experimental reality.
Ford is recognized for combining exceptional technical craftsmanship with practical problem-solving and enjoys collaborating with researchers to develop creative solutions for challenging experimental applications. Whether repairing a single piece of laboratory glassware or designing an entirely new instrument, his goal is to provide reliable, high-quality equipment that advances scientific discovery.