Current Students

Cheolmin Ahn

Cheolmin Ahn

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Advanced Thermal Management for Metal Molds.

B.S. in Marine Equipment Engineering from National Korea Maritime and Ocean University
M.S. in Material Engineering from National Korea Maritime and Ocean University

Kate Ainger

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Lorenzo Valdevit

Research Focus: Understanding the role of topological disorder in structural metamaterials, with emphasis on shell spinodal architected materials.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Trieste 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Trieste

Amirhosein Azizi Amirabad

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Shen Dillon

Research Focus: Materials Characterization, Interface Science, and In-situ Microscopy.

B.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering from IKIU, Iran 
M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran

Robert Anton

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Iryna Zenyuk

Research Focus: Investigation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells for transportation applications.

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Virginia

Sakshi Bajpai

Sakshi Bajpai

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian 

Research Focus: Effect of Processing Phenomena and Kinetics on the Evolution of Microstructure in High Entropy Alloys.

B.T. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur

Marquez Balingit

Marquez Balingit

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman 

Research Focus: Improving functional properties of thin film electrodes for energy storage applications such as supercapacitors. Interested in exploring how to integrate biomass-derived materials into energy storage devices to minimize carbon footprint.  

B.S in Nanoengineering from University of California, San Diego

Calvin H. Belcher

Calvin H. Belcher

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian 

Research Focus: Processing and Synthesis of Magnetic Metal Alloys.

B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Eshana J. Bethur

Eshana J. Bethur

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Studying the structure-property relationship of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters to understand how these materials can be tuned for various nanotechnology applications.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Rutgers University

Jordan Brown

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Shen Dillon

Research Focus: Studying factors that enhance the deformation of materials interfaces.

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration focus in manufacturing from the Illustrious, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University

Yu-Lun Chang

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Elizabeth Lee

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology from National Taipei University of Technology

Isabella Chu

Isabella Chu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Lorenzo Valdevit 

Research Focus: Synthesis of metal/ceramic composites with spinodal topology via bijel templated materials. 

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona

Tingwei Deng

Tingwei Deng

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Jered Haun

Research Focus: Nano materials, biomedical and fluorescent diagnosis.

B.E. in Poly Materials and Engineering from South China University of Technology
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University

Chaojie Du

Chaojie Du

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Xiaoqing Pan 

Research Focus: Atomic structure of the ferroelectric materials.

B.E. in Material Science and Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Matthew David (Matt) Foong

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Daniel Mumm

Research Focus: Investigating oxidation behavior of refractory metal alloys to inform the development of protective coatings for them.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Alyse R. Gonthier

Alyse R. Gonthier

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisors: Ali Mohraz and Elliot Botvinick

Research Focus: Use of morphologically unique bijel-templated materials in subcutaneous biomedical devices and study the impact of those materials on cell response, physically and computationally.

B.S. in BioEngineering/Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Berkeley

Sierra-Elainna J. Gross

Sierra-Elainna J. Gross

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Ali Mohraz

Research Focus: Energy storage technologies and the effects of morphology and chemistry on performance.

B.E. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Huiming Guo

Huiming Guo

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Thesis Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus: Electrode/electrolyte interface mechanism of all solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with electrochemical analysis and advanced TEM technique.

B.E. in Materials Chemistry from Changzhou University

Francisco Guzman

Francisco Guzman

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Xiaoqing Pan

Research Focus:

B.S. in Applied Physics from California State University, San Bernardino

Sang Yoon (David) Han

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: 

Research Focus: 

B.S. in NanoEngineering from University of California, San Diego

Ethan J. Heffernan

Ethan J. Heffernan

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Shane Ardo

Research Focus: Designing porous materials to convert alternating electronic polarization into net ionic transport for water desalination.

B.A. in Physics from Occidental College

Hector Pascual Herrero

Hector Pascual Herrero

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Regina Ragan

Research Focus: Investigating new nanogap chemistries for biosensor applications.

B.S. in Engineering Physics from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Esther Hessong

Esther Hessong

Degree Objective: Ph.D. 
Advisor: Timothy Rupert

Research Focus: Tailoring the internal structure of amorphous complexions.

B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Berkeley

Meagan Elyce Hill

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Regina Ragan

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Science Engineering from University of California, Riverside

Raquel Fierro Jaime

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Ultrasonic treatment of molten metals for casting.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Riverside

Muhyeon Jeong

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: SungWoo Nam

Research Focus: A study on Semiconductor Materials and Properties.

B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Kyunghee University

Samantha Kwan

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Ali Mohraz

Research Focus: Use of bijel-templated materials in the body as a way to mitigate the foreign body response to biomedical implants.

B.S. in Bioengineering/Materials Science & Engineering from University of California, Berkeley

Daisy Kamp

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Elizabeth M. Y. Lee

Research Focus: Computational materials science, chemical reactions and dynamics of polymer-metal interfaces.

B.S. in Materials Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Geemin Kim

Geemin Kim

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Matt Law 

Research Focus: Designing quantum dot superlattice structure through surface chemistry and structure analysis.

B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Inha University, Incheon
M.S. in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering from Inha University, Incheon

Hauna Krekemeyer

Hauna Krekemeyer

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Jered Haun

Research Focus: Develop a comprehensive breast cancer diagnostic imaging library utilizing nanotech probes and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM).

B.S. in Nano Engineering from University of California, San Diego

Jihyun Lee

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: SungWoo Nam

Research Focus: Designing mechanically coupled properties in low-dimensional materials for sensor devices.

B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering from Pusan National University 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Pusan National University

Edward Li

Edward Li

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Timothy Rupert 

Research Focus: Structure and mechanics of linear complexions.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University

Yanhe Li

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Huolin Xin

Research Focus: Lithium-ion battery.

B.S. in Physics from University of California, Irvine 
M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University

Zhaoxu Li

Zhaoxu Li

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Kumar Wickramasinghe

Research Focus: In situ detection and measurement of biomolecules using photo-induced force microscopy.

Bachelor of Medicine from Chongqing Medical University

I-Hsin Lin

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Discovery and development of near-infrared DNA-stabilized silver clusters for bioimaging.

B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Taipei Medical University

Panyiming Liu

Panyiming Liu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Alon Gorodetsky

Research Focus: Bioinspired large-area thermoregulatory and camouflage composites.

B.E. in Polymer Materials and Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology
B.S. in Materials Physics from University of Science and Technology of China

Yi Liu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Timothy Rupert

Research Focus: Structure and mechanics of linear complexions.

B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Jinan 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, San Diego

Xiner (Lucy) Lu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Kai He

Research Focus: Studying structural and chemical evolution of metallic nanoparticles using in situ transmission electron microscopy.

B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from Southern University of Science and Technology 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Clemson University

Kentaro Fujimoto Lunn

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Investigation into castable high strength and high conductivity aluminum alloys.

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona 
M.S. in Materials Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona

Elliot Makhani

Elliot Makhani

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Jered Haun

Research Focus: I am interested in nanoparticle adhesion dynamics simulation research. By tweaking a verifiable set of parameters including but not limited to antibody type, size and shape of nanoparticles, variable bond strength using molecular shock absorbers, and internalization rate into cells, Active Multifunctional Nanoparticles (AMNs) become superselective drug carrier and diagnostic agents unique to each disease.

B.S. in Applied Physics from University of California, Santa Cruz

Sebastian Andrew Marroquin

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Regina Ragan

Research Focus: Designing biosensors for measuring bacterial stress response to toxins and viruses in water.

B.S. in Chemistry - Material Science from California State University, Long Beach

Naomy Marrufo

Naomy Marrufo

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Allon Hochbaum

Research Focus: Electronic properties of conductive protein nanowires.

B.S. in Physics from California State University, Long Beach

Anteater Placeholder

Jenny Martinez

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus:

B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona

Peter M. Mastracco

Peter M. Mastracco

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Use of Machine Learning for the Predictive Design of Materials.

B.S. in Physics from SUNY at Binghamton

Kathleen Matsumoto-Elliott

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: 

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Seyed Tohid Rajael Moosavy

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Kai He

Research Focus: In situ TEM for quantum materials.

B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from Arizona State University 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Arizona State University

Ivette Minettzi Morales

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus: Developing functional and effective clean energy materials for large scale applications. 

B.S. in Material Science Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Justin T. Mulvey

Justin T. Mulvey

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Joe Patterson

Research Focus:

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Davis

Andrew Nguyen

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: Design of fiber-reinforced polymer composites using bio-inspired helicoidal architectures.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Peter Nguyen

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: 

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Riverside

Adrian Francisco Duran Ornelas

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: Interfacial ultrastructural designs in tough biological composites.

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Ethan Peng

Ethan Peng

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Alon Gorodetsky

Research Focus: Scale-up synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for organic electronic applications.

B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Irvine

Roberto Rivera

Roberto Rivera

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: My research focus is on utilizing electrospun nanowires to provide metal/ metal oxide nanoparticle growth within a carbon matrix for high-capacity anodes in lithium-ion batteries.

B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Santa Cruz

Kaili Rong

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: 

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Chemistry from Taiyuan University of Technology

Anna Gonzalez Rosell

Anna Gonzalez Rosell

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Structure and photophysical properties of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters.

B.S. in Chemistry from Universitat Ramon Llull

Ezra Sarmiento

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: Biomineralization in early stage chiton teeth; uncovering the precursors and pathways that lead to various microstructures and phases found in fully mature teeth.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Anthea Segger

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Structure-property relationship of DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters and their applications for efficient energy transfer.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Sirisak Singsen

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Elizabeth M. Y. Lee

Research Focus: Engineering the formation of quantum qubit spin in defect semiconductor: a computational modeling.

B.S. in Physics from Khon Kaen University, Thailand 
M.S. in Physics from Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand

Shri Shankar

Shrivatsav Shankar

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Researching novel composition ranges for Al alloys that prioritize increased amounts of secondary materials to cast an alloy that meets the performance metrics of primary Al alloys.

B.S. in Material Science & Engineering from University of California, Riverside

Joni Spencer

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Elizabeth Lee

Research Focus: Theoretical investigation into water-splitting reactions at IrO2 surface interfaces and Li+ ion transport in polymer-ceramic solid-state electrolytes.

B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematical Sciences from Florida International University

Shikai Sun

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Iryna Zenyuk

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Irvine

Chao Hsuan (Joseph) Sung

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Sydney To

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Elizabeth Lee

Research Focus: Nitrogen Vacancy Center in Diamond.

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona

Zhaokun Wang

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Xiaoqing Pan

Research Focus: High entropy solid electrolytes.

B.E. in Microelectronics Science and Engineering from Southern University of Science and Technology

Zifeng Wang

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Xizheng Wang

Research Focus: 

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Jinan

Anteater Placeholder

Jenna L. Wardini

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus: Correlating structure and electrical behavior in electroceramics with in situ transmission electron microscopy.

B.S. in Physics from Oregon State University
M.S. in Chemistry from University of Oregon

Jack G. Webster

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: High thermal and electrical conductivity aluminum alloy development.

B.S. in Chemical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona

Tia Wilson

Tia Wilson

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Shen Dillon

Research Focus: Controlling the self-assembly of nanoparticles inside amphiphilic block-copolymer colloids for the purpose of creating materials that exhibit new optical properties.

B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering from University of Southern Mississippi

Bin Xing

Bin Xing

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisors: Penghui Cao and William Bowman

Research Focus: Understanding the role of defects in governing the functional and mechanical properties of materials.

B.E. in Nuclear Engineering & Technology from Wuhan University

ShengQuan Xuan

ShengQuan Xuan

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus: Fuel cell, battery, or any sustainable energy technology using various instruments.

B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Munho Yang

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Shane Ardo

Research Focus: Fabrication and characterization of ion-conducting polymeric materials for bipolar membranes and oceanic carbon capture.

B.S in Industrial Chemistry from Pukyong National University 
M.S in Industrial Chemistry from Pukyong National University

Eric Yoshida

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Kai He

Research Focus: Understanding interfaces of solid-state electrolytes using electron microscopy.

B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Santa Barbara 
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara

Aotian Zhang

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Xizheng Wang

Research Focus: Efficient H2 production by photocatalytic water splitting under UV over nanosheet TiO2 and Interface Modification of Solid-state Lithium-sulfur Batteries.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Hubei University