Starting in January 2026, Dr. Day will join Vanderbilt University as an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. His research group will explore quantum materials using advanced optoelectronic techniques, expanding Vanderbilt’s strengths at the intersection of photonics, materials science, and quantum technology.
Dr. Day graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.A. in physics and mathematics. He went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, working in Professor Steven Cundiff’s nonlinear spectroscopy group, where he developed expertise in ultrafast optical methods and coherent spectroscopy. Following his doctoral work, Dr. Day completed an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg, Germany. There, he worked with Professor James McIver, advancing cutting-edge research on light–matter interactions in quantum materials.
At Vanderbilt, the Day Lab will investigate the fundamental optical and electronic properties of novel quantum systems. By combining ultrafast optics, device engineering, and spectroscopy, the group aims to uncover physical mechanisms that could lead to transformative quantum and optoelectronic technologies. We are excited to welcome Dr. Day to Vanderbilt and VINSE, and we look forward to the groundbreaking discoveries his group will bring to our community.
Contact: matthew.w.day@vanderbilt.edu