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

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

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

Justin Cortez

Justin Cortez

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Julie Schoenung 

Research Focus: Processing-structure-property relationships of High Entropy Oxides, with specific focus on mechanical behavior.

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

Cameron M. Crook

Cameron M. Crook

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Lorenzo Valdevit

Research Focus: Scalable Nanomanufacturing, Mechanical Metamaterials, and Effects of Oxidation on Cold Spray Powders.

B.E. in Robotics and Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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

Salma A. El-Azab

Salma A. El-Azab

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Julie Schoenung

Research Focus: Additive manufacturing of WC-Co via laser engineered net shaping.

B.S. in Materials Engineering from Purdue University - West Lafayette

Brandon Fields

Brandon Fields

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisors: Lorenzo Valdevit and Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Additive manufacturing of metals for energy absorption applications.

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

Xin Fu

Xin Fu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Albert Yee

Research Focus: Development of sustained drug delivery system for ocular diseases.

B.E. in Macromolecule Materials & Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology
M.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, San Diego

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

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

Chloe Groome

Chloe Groome

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Regina Ragan

Research Focus: Investigating the effects of molecular-scale electronic and magnetic fields on chemical reactions supported by engineered surfaces for sensing and catalysis applications.

B.S. in Physics from University of California, Los Angeles

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

Taige Hao

Taige Hao

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: Currently focused bi-continuous particle synthesis and impact resistant coatings.

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

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

Ying Huang

Ying Huang

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Iryna Zenyuk

Research Focus: X-ray imaging on battery, Platinum group metal-free catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction.

B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from South China University of Technology
M.S. in Materials Science & NanoEngineering from Rice University

Kaustubh B. Khedekar

Kaustubh B. Khedekar

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Iryna Zenyuk

Research Focus: Durability of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells for automotive applications.

B.E. in Polymer Engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune University

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

Tom Lee

Tom Lee

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Xiaoqing Pan

Research Focus: Study of Lithium/Sodium-ion battery anode materials.

B.S. in Chemical Biology from University of California, Berkeley
M.S. in Material Science & NanoEngineering from Rice 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

Anteater Placeholder

Kengyuan Li

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor:

Research Focus:

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

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

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

Alvin Ly

Alvin Ly

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Plamen Atanassov

Research Focus: Advanced Platinum-based Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

B.S. in Geology/Paleobiology from University of California, Los Angeles

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

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

Arturo A. Meza

Arturo A. Meza

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Julie Schoenung

Research Focus: High entropy ceramics, with emphasis on the electrical properties and its potential applications in energy conversion and storage devices.

B.S. in Electronic Technology Engineering from Universidad de Sonora
M.S. in Nanotechnology from Universidad de Sonora

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

Anteater Placeholder

Jacob Norman

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Julie Schoenung

Research Focus:

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

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

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

Nhi Vu-Y Quach

Nhi Vu-Y Quach

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Yoonjin Won

Research Focus: Defects in thin films and the effect of fluid flow through these defects.

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

Malak Rafik

Malak Rafik

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Stacy Copp

Research Focus: Stabilize DNA-silver nanoclusters in physiological conditions for drug delivery and imaging applications.

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Denver

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

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

Jie Shen

Jie Shen

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: James Earthman

Research Focus: Finite Element Analysis.

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

Taiki Shirai

Taiki Shirai

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Diran Apelian

Research Focus: Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM).

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

Baiyu Sun

Baiyu Sun

Degree Objective: M.S.
Advisor: Xiaoqing Pan

Research Focus:

B.E. in Nanomaterials and Technology from Minzu University of China

Raphael P. Thiraux

Raphael P. Thiraux

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Lorenzo Vadevit

Research Focus: Direct Ink Writing of ceramic and ceramic matrix composite architected materials.

B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Grenoble INP-PHELMA
M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Grenoble INP-PHELMA

Anteater Placeholder

Vivek Tyagi

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisors: Douglas Tobias and Regina Ragan

Research Focus:

B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from University of Washington

Hasti Vahidi

Hasti Vahidi

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: William Bowman

Research Focus: Understanding the interfacial behavior of electroceramic materials for energy applications using advanced electron microscopy techniques.

B.S. in Materials Engineering - Ceramics from Iran University of Science and Technology

Taifeng Wang

Taifeng Wang

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: David Kisailus

Research Focus: Biomineralization of iron oxide in mollusk teeth.

B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Zhejiang University of Technology
M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from University of California, Riverside

Xinbo Wang

Xinbo Wang

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Mo Li

Research Focus: Novel infrastructure materials, digital construction and materials characterization.

B.E. in Material Science and Engineering from South China University of technology
M.S. in Material Science from Rice University

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

Hong Wei

Hong Wei

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Regina Ragan

Research Focus: Nanofabrication and biosensing.

B.S. in Electronic Science and Technology from Inner Mongolia University

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

Kehang Yu

Kehang Yu

Degree Objective: Ph.D.
Advisor: Julie Schoenung

Research Focus: Deformation twinning on Mg and Mg alloys using electron microscopy and molecular dynamics.

B.S. in Material Physics from Fudan University