Materials Science

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Aditha Senarath, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Program *under the supervision of Josh Caldwell and Ron Schrimpf “GaN for Space and Power Electronics: Radiation Effects Study and Development of a Nano-Optical Probe for Characterization” 07.11.25 | 9:00 am | FGH 132  | Zoom For decades, the semiconductor… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Kellen Arnold, Interdisciplinary Materials Science    *Under the supervision of Sharon Weiss “Integrated Photonics for Intense Light-matter Interaction and Applications in Aerospace” 05.20.25 | 12:30PM | ESB 044 | Zoom: 965 0203 9030 Passcode: 069821 Over the last several decades, the technological revolution into a digital… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Ryan Kowalski, Interdisciplinary Materials Science    *Under the supervision of Josh Caldwell and Richard Haglund  “Infrared Light at the Nanoscale: Confinement and Spectroscopy”  04.25.25 | 10:30AM | Buttrick Hall 206 | Zoom: 942 8904 4051 Passcode: 450959 Conventional optical microscopy and spectroscopy are limited by the diffraction… Read More

Jojo Pearson, a swimmer and Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Materials Science at Vanderbilt, is conducting cutting-edge research in tissue engineering that could significantly impact the fight against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Her work, led with advisor Leon Bellan, focuses on neurovascular coupling, exploring how stem cell models could improve… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Matthew Galazzo, Interdisciplinary Materials Science *under the direction of David Cliffel and Kane Jennings “Photosystem I:  Biohybrid Devices and Reduction Catalysts for CO2” 12.10.24  |  8:00AM |  Buttrick Hall 206 This dissertation presents the use of Photosystem I (PSI) in proof-of-concept solar redox flow… Read More

During my initial year at Vanderbilt, I participated in several research rotations, which provided me with exposure to various aspects of materials science and engineering. These rotations were crucial in helping me identify my specific research interests and in developing a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. This experience allowed me… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Elena Kovalik, Interdisciplinary Materials Science *under the direction of Jason Valentine “Electrochemically Actuated Metasurfaces for Low-Power Nanophotonic and Energy Storage Devices” 08.09.24  |  11:00AM |  044 Engineering Science Building In an age of ubiquitous access to information, metamaterials offer a solution to a wide range of information display… Read More

DISSERTATION DEFENSE Nicholas ‘Cal’ Craven, Interdisciplinary Materials Science *under the direction of Clare McCabe “Reproducibility in Molecular Simulation: Approaches for the Screening Studies of Patchy Nanoparticles and Switchable Monolayer Films” 07.24.24  |  10:00AM CDT  |  044 Engineering Science Building |  Zoom Molecular simulation is a growing branch of scientific study in… Read More

Three engineering graduate students in the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering/Interdisciplinary Materials Science program are 2024 recipients of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports students who are pursuing full-time, research-based graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering or… Read More

Sajal Islam is a 2024 recipient of Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Anchor Award for Research Excellence. The Anchor Awards recognize graduate student leaders across the university. Sajal is dedicated to investigating the impact of radiation on wideband gap semiconductors, focusing particularly on SiC, GaN, and GaO. His research delves into… Read More