Josh Caldwell

2D materials are a relatively new class of materials that can exhibit unique behavior because of their finite thickness. Classic processing approaches, like the Scotch™ tape method, take advantage of the weak Van der Waals forces between the layers, enabling the separation and deposition of 2D sheets onto a variety… Read More

Emma Bartelsen Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Caldwell Research Group I was inspired to pursue research in nanophotonics after taking Introduction to Spectroscopic Methods with my advisor, Dr. Joshua Caldwell. Learning how light–matter interactions allow us to probe materials, manipulate light, and develop technologies for sensing, communications,… Read More

Congratulations to all the students who presented at the 2026 VINSE Undergraduate Research Symposium! Our undergraduate researchers shared what they accomplished during their individual research projects at Vanderbilt University over the past ten weeks. The symposium, which was held in collaboration with the Chemical Biology/Chemistry NSF-REU and VUSE Summer Research… Read More

(A) Energy diagram depicting coupling between the propagated polariton evanescent mode and the targeted vibrational bond mode in PMMA. (B) Basic schematic of a Fabry–Perot cavity. (C) Schematic of the cavity design used, which includes a silicon substrate coated with a layer of gold, topped with a layer of PMMA… Read More

Emmanuel Dabuo Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Caldwell Research Group Before coming to Vanderbilt, Emmanuel was convinced his research would center on 2D materials, particularly graphene, for solar energy applications. That changed during a rotation in Prof. Caldwell’s lab, where he was introduced to defect characterization in… Read More

Congratulations to Emma Bartelsen and the team members in the Caldwell lab. Emma’s paper published in ACS Photonics “Multiresonant Nondispersive Infrared Gas Sensing: Breaking the Selectivity and Sensitivity Trade-Off,” has been selected as a VINSE Spotlight publication. This work demonstrates a new approach to non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) gas sensing using… Read More

We are proud to welcome our 2026 cohort of summer interns, marking the 15th year of the NSF REU program alongside the continued growth of the Summer Tech Crew, established in 2016. Together, these programs provide students with hands-on research and facility experience that supports innovation in nanoscale science and… Read More

Xiaomeng Zhang, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scholar, Mechanical Engineering Deyu Li Research Group and Josh Caldwell Research Group My current research was inspired by the mentorship of several exceptional advisors who shaped my perspective on science. Working with Professor Jason Valentine, I discovered how light-matter interactions can be harnessed through… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Sajal Islam, Interdisciplinary Materials Science *under the supervision of Ron Schrimpf and Josh Caldwell “Enhancing Reliability in Ga₂O₃, GaN and SiC Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices through Structural Design Improvement and Radiation Effects Analysis” 12.16.25 | 11:00 am | ISDE Conference Room | Zoom Wide bandgap semiconductor technologies,… Read More

On October 13, 2025, the VINSE Fall Faculty Celebration took place to honor and celebrate the remarkable achievements of our community. This annual event not only highlighted individual accomplishments but also fostered a sense of camaraderie among colleagues. WELCOME TO VINSE Andrea Locke | Bryant Spreine… Read More