Janell Lees

Learn more about Dr. Ndukaife and his research group.The Ndukaife group develops optical nanotweezers and nanophotonic structures for trapping, manipulation , imaging and spectroscopy of nanoscale extracellular vesicles and particles to unravel their heterogeneity and functional roles in health and diseases. The team also investigates novel nanophotonic structures and metasurfaces… Read More

Eric Skaar, PhD, MPH, director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, has been awarded the 2025 National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology for his pioneering research at the intersection of nutrition and infectious diseases. His work focuses on the host-pathogen battle for essential metals… Read More

Dr. Sokrates Pantelides has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Zhongguancun Award for International Cooperation. This Science and Technology Award, presented annually by the City of Beijing, recognizes outstanding foreign individuals who have made significant contributions to international scientific and technological collaboration with Beijing-based organizations and experts. Congratulations to… Read More

Start the year with exciting updates from VINSE! Director Sharon Weiss shares highlights including a new NSF grant for an electron beam lithography tool and a renovation of the cleanroom for ancient DNA research. Key Highlights: Ancient DNA Lab: Launching in late 2025, this new lab will advance research on… Read More

Nathaniel Karom Graduate Student, Physics and Astronomy Weiss Research Group My first experience at Vanderbilt was as an undergraduate student through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Under faculty mentorship, I was tasked with employing Density Function Theory (DFT) to investigate how atomic displacement affects the electrical… Read More

Dr. Bashiyar Almarwani Department of Biology Tennessee State University My research journey has been deeply rooted in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in infectious diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. The alarming rise of drug-resistant bacteria has underscored the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents, while the… Read More

Guodong Zhu Graduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering Ndukaife Research Group Nanophotonics explores how light interacts with matter at the nanoscale. By engineering periodic nanostructures—such as metamaterials, metasurfaces, and photonic crystals — we can precisely control propagation and confinement of light. These capabilities enable highly sensitive biosensing, advanced… Read More

Vivian Nwosu Madueke Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Silvera Batista Research Group Most natural processes occur under conditions that are not in thermodynamic equilibrium but constantly experience flows of energy and matter. For instance, microorganisms survive by responding to dissipative chemical energies such as food in their environment… Read More

Dr. Wellington Pham, professor of radiology and biomedical engineering, has been recognized as a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow, an honor reserved for the most accomplished academic innovators.  Pham’s groundbreaking work involves the innovative integration of medicinal chemistry with advanced biomarker imaging techniques, which play a crucial role in… Read More

VINSE is offering a hands-on Microelectronics Short Course this summer, providing attendees the opportunity to gain fundamental knowledge in microelectronics. This immersive course is open to everyone—no prior experience is required. Space is limited, so be sure to preregister early to secure your spot! Registration is not limited to… Read More