People

Kayla Nguyen is a post-doctoral researcher in the MatSE department. Kayla holds a PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Applied Engineering Physics from Cornell University. Her thesis explores "New Imaging Capabilities enabled by the Electron Microscopy Pixel Array Detector (EMPAD)". At UIUC, her research utilizes 4D-STEM to image magnetic spin domains in antiferromagnets.
See Kayla's TED talk on electron detectors here!
Office: MRL/Supercon 3013
E-mail: kxn at illinois dot edu

Yichao Zhang is a post-doctoral researcher in the MatSE department. Yichao holds a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota. Her thesis focuses on "Nanoscale Coherent-Acoustic-Phonon Dynamics in Molybdenum Disulfide Using Ultrafast Electron Microscopy". Yichao's current research explores 2D heterostructures using atomic-resolution imaging.
Office: MRL/Supercon 3012
E-mail: ychzhang at illinois dot edu

Chia-Hao Lee is a PhD student in the MatSE department. Chia-Hao holds a BS and MS in Materials Science and Engineering from National Taiwan University. His research explores the structure-property relationship in 2D materials through STEM and machine learning.
Joined in Fall 2017.
Office: MRL/Supercon 3012
E-mail: chiahao3 at illinois dot edu

Sang Hyun (Justin) Bae is a PhD student in the MatSE department. Sang Hyun holds a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
Joined in Fall 2018.
Office: MRL Supercon 3012
E-mail: shbae2 at illinois dot edu

Priti Kharel is a PhD student in the Chemistry department. Priti holds a BA in chemistry from Hamilton College. Her research utilizes electron microscopy and image processing to atomically-resolve small molecules.
Joined in Fall 2018.
Office: MRL Supercon 3013
E-mail: pkharel2 at illinois dot edu

Jeffrey Huang is a PhD student in the MatSE department. Jeffrey holds a BS in Applied Physics from Cornell University. His research uses selected area electron diffraction and 4D-STEM to study antiferromagnetic materials.
Joined in Fall 2019.
Office: MRL/Supercon 3012
E-mail: jhuan100 at illinois dot edu

Gillian Nolan is a PhD student in the MatSE department. Gillian holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research explores the intersection between materials simulation and atomic-resolution imaging.
Joined in Fall 2020.
Office: MRL/Supercon 3013
E-mail: gnolan2 at illinois dot edu

Rahim Raja is a PhD student in the MatSE department. Rahim holds a BS in Molecular Engineering and BA in Physics from University of Chicago. He uses 4D STEM, ultra-fast electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy to study the unique properties of 2D interfaces .
Joined in Fall 2022.
Office: MRL/Supercon 3012
E-mail: rahimr2 at illinois dot edu

Graduate

Dr. Edmund Han - Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, 2022
Dissertation: Atomic-scale studies of bending in two-dimensional materials using transmission electron microscopy
Present: Senior Engineer at Seagate Technology

Dr. Blanka Janicek - Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, 2021
Dissertation: Probing small organic molecules at the angstrom-scale in the scanning transmission electron microscope
Present: Post-doctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Chuqiao (Joe) Shi - M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, 2020
Present: Ph.D. student at Rice University

Undergraduate

Amanda Loutris - Class of 2022, Materials Science and Engineering

Rachel Lawless - Class of 2020, Materials Science and Engineering
Present: Ph.D. student at Georgia Institute of Technology

Jane Park - Class of 2020, Materials Science and Engineering
Present: Ph.D. student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Shunya Namiki - Class of 2020, Materials Science and Engineering
Present: Process Engineer, TSMC