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Sheng ShenView profile

Professor

• Nanophotonics
• Nanoscale Energy Transport and Conversion
• Advanced Manufacturing
• +7 more

Sheng Shen is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) , with courtesy appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering . He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Minor in Electrical Engineering) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , and his B.S. and M.S. from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China. Prior to joining CMU in 2011, he conducted postdoctoral research at UC-Berkeley . Education: Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2010) B.S. & M.S., Power Engineering & Engineering Thermophysics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2000 & 2003) Research interests include nanophotonics , nanoscale energy transport and conversion , nanofabrication , and advanced manufacturing , with applications in thermal management , light sources and devices , thermal emission control , solar energy conversion , infrared sensing , and multifunctional materials . His work leverages interdisciplinary expertise in thermal and optical measurements , material synthesis , device fabrication , and theoretical modeling . Recent publications highlight advancements in infrared radiation control , thermal interface materials , metasurface engineering , and graphene-based nanosystems . His scientific awards include: NSF CAREER Award DARPA Director's Fellowship DARPA Young Faculty Award Elsevier/JQSRT Raymond Viskanta Award CMU Dean's Early Career Fellowship Philomathia Foundation Research Fellowship Hewlett-Packard Best Paper Award Best Paper Award, Julius Springer Forum Advising spans Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers in nanoscale energy systems, with alumni contributing to solar energy conversion , infrared sensing , and flexible electronics . His lab receives funding from ARL, DARPA, DOE, DTRA, NASA, NSF, and ONR , and recently secured a DURIP award for instrumentation.

• Integrated Optics
• Silicon Photonics
• Semiconductor Lasers
• +3 more

Professor Marc Sorel is a faculty member in the Department of Electronic & Nanoscale Engineering at the University of Glasgow's School of Engineering. He holds a PhD from Università di Pavia (1999) and joined the Optoelectronics Research Group at Glasgow in 1998 with a Rotary Foundation fellowship. Appointed Lecturer in 2002 and Senior Lecturer in 2008, he is now a Professor specializing in integrated optics, silicon photonics, and semiconductor lasers. His research focuses on applications like quantum technology, mid-infrared optoelectronics, and nonlinear photonics. Notable projects include silicon nitride optical phased arrays and rubidium-based atomic systems. He leads a team advancing chip-scale sensors and photonic integrated circuits. Collaborations with institutions like the Quantum Technology Hub highlight his industry engagement. Research interests span semiconductor ring lasers, ultrashort pulse lasers, and coupled ring resonators on silicon-on-insulator platforms. His work integrates materials science (e.g., alumina/silicon nitride) with quantum and optical engineering innovations. Over 300 publications and presentations at conferences like CLEO and ECOC reflect his global impact. Current efforts emphasize mid-infrared sensing, cold atom systems, and high-precision laser development. His lab develops photonic components for atomic trapping, quantum communication, and biomedical sensing. Recent advancements include sub-kHz linewidth lasers and low-loss waveguides. Funding from UK Research and Innovation supports his exploration of next-generation photonic technologies.

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Photovoltaics
• +4 more

Professor Thomas Bein is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) , where he leads the Functional Nanosystems research group. His work focuses on synthesizing and characterizing nanostructured materials with applications in energy, catalysis, and biomedical delivery. Mesoporous nanoparticles for drug delivery Semiconductor nano-morphologies for photovoltaics Photoelectrochemical water splitting Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) Electroactive networks His research emphasizes atomic-scale control of material architectures using self-assembly, hydrogen bonding, and covalent interactions, enabling precise tuning of electronic, optical, and catalytic properties. A review of his recent publications reveals cutting-edge investigations into covalent organic frameworks (COFs), perovskite-inspired solar materials, and functional nanoparticle systems. Key trends include optimizing energy conversion efficiency, enhancing stability in optoelectronic devices, and exploring bio-compatible nanocarriers for targeted therapies. Professor Bein’s group actively contributes to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering, with ongoing collaborations in solar energy, sustainable materials, and nanomedicine.

CHEN WeiView profile

Professor

• 2D Materials Engineering
• Interface-Controlled Nanocatalysis
• Organic Electronics
• +3 more

Professor CHEN Wei (National University of Singapore) holds the Provost's Chair Professorship (2023-2026) and serves as Vice-Dean (Research) with joint appointments in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. His research focuses on molecular-scale interface engineering for 2D materials-based devices and interface-controlled nanocatalysis in energy/environmental applications. PhD in Material Science, NUS (2004) Lee Kuan Yew Research Fellow (2006-2008) Established Surface and Interface Lab (2009) Director, NUS Research Institute (Fuzhou) His work on 2D optoelectronic memory (Nat. Comm. 2018), Kagome lattice design (Nano Lett. 2020), and single-atom catalysis (Nat. Comm. 2021) has been recognized by multiple high-impact publications and the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher status (2017-2021). Awards include the NRF Investigatorship (2023) , Mitsui Chemicals-SNIC Industry Award (2020) , and Singapore Young Scientist Award (2012) . Grants from NUS, Singapore MOE, CREATE/CRP programs, and A*STAR support his exploration of interface engineering for neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient nanocatalysts . Current projects include monolayer blue phosphorus synthesis and solid electrolyte interphase engineering for lithium batteries.

• Density Functional Theory
• Quantum Chemistry
• Solar Cells
• +4 more

Matteo Cagnoni is a Researcher at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET) of Politecnico di Torino . His research focuses on Density Functional Theory , Quantum Chemistry , and Thermoelectric Materials for Solar Cells . He is actively involved in the European Union’s MIRACLE project , developing photonic meta-concrete for radiative cooling solutions. Research Interests: Development of cement-based radiative coolers for solar cell thermal management Computational discovery of intermediate-band solar cell materials Electronic properties of semiconductors and insulators Teaching: Electronic transport in crystalline and organic semiconductors Advanced experimental physics Scientific Contributions: Matteo has published extensively on radiative cooling, perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, and thermoelectric materials. His work spans journals like Nature Communications , Advanced Functional Materials , and Progress in Photovoltaics , with a focus on simulation engineering , photonic devices , and energy-efficient materials . Labs & Collaborations: He works within the Microwave and Optoelectronics Group (MOG) at DET, collaborating with international institutions on EU-funded projects.

Cherie KaganView profile

Professor

• Nanostructured materials
• Colloidal nanocrystals
• Quantum dots
• +7 more

Cherie Kagan serves as the Stephen J. Angello Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, holding primary appointment in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering within the School of Engineering and Applied Science, with secondary appointments in Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering. Her interdisciplinary research bridges chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering to develop novel functional materials and devices that integrate optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and thermal properties. Professor Kagan's research group combines the flexibility of chemical synthesis and bottom-up assembly with top-down fabrication techniques to design innovative nanomaterials. They employ advanced characterization methods including spatially- and temporally-resolved optical spectroscopies, AC/DC electrical measurements, electrochemistry, and various microscopy techniques. Her recent work demonstrates particular strength in colloidal nanocrystals and quantum dots for applications in quantum information science, sensing technologies, and energy conversion devices. Scientific Recognition Induction to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2025) IEEE Fellow (2024) for contributions to colloidal nanocrystals and their integration in optical and electronic devices George H. Heilmeier Faculty Award for Excellence in Engineering (2024-25) Humboldt Research Award Fellowship (2024) MRS Fellow for distinguished research accomplishments in materials science National Academy of Inventors Fellow for innovation in nanomaterials Professor Kagan actively mentors PhD students across multiple departments, with recent graduates including Gary Chen, Chavez Lawrence, and Shobhita Kramadhati. Her research is supported by significant grants including the IoT4Ag project focused on precision agriculture sensing systems. She maintains active collaborations with Nobel Laureate Moungi Bawendi, her former PhD advisor at MIT, and works with institutions including the Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids through her Humboldt Fellowship. The Kagan Research Group operates comprehensive facilities for nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, and device fabrication, combining expertise across chemistry, physics, and engineering disciplines. Current team members include PhD students from Electrical and Systems Engineering and Chemistry departments, postdoctoral researchers like Anamika Singh and Akhila Mallavarapu, and undergraduate researchers supported through programs like CURF.

• Nanophotonics
• Quantum Dots
• Optoelectronic Materials
• +2 more

Dr. Rajesh Bera is a Research Fellow at ICFO's Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials group specializing in quantum-confined nanostructures. His research examines ultrafast carrier dynamics, excitonic properties, and optoelectronic applications of nanomaterials including quantum dots, nanoplatelets, and hybrid nanostructures. Current investigations focus on intraband transitions in doped nanocrystals, orientation-dependent excitonic behavior in 2D materials, and charge transfer mechanisms in heterostructure devices. Work bridges fundamental photophysics with applications in photodetection, sensing, and energy conversion. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in time-resolved spectroscopy of quantum materials, nanomaterial synthesis via colloidal chemistry, and rational design of optoelectronic devices. Continually develops novel characterization methods to probe ultrafast processes at nanoscale interfaces.

Aleksei ZheltikovView profile

Professor

• Biophysics
• Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics
• Medical Optics
• +3 more

Aleksei Zheltikov is a University Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University's Department of Physics and Astronomy. He holds dual affiliations with the International Laser Center and Physics Department of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, and the Russian Quantum Center. His research focuses on ultrafast nonlinear optics and biophotonics, addressing applications in imaging, laser filamentation, and strong-field physics. Zheltikov earned his PhD (1990) and Doctor of Science (1999) degrees from Moscow State University, becoming a full professor there in 2000 before joining Texas A&M in 2010. He leads a research team including Xinghua Liu and Ajithamithra Dharmasiri. Recipient of prestigious awards including the Russian Federation State Prize (1997), Lamb Award (2010), and Kurchatov Prize (2014), his work bridges fundamental optics research with medical diagnostics and quantum technologies. Key contributions include developing laser filament-based imaging techniques and advancing Raman scattering-based frequency conversion methods in hollow-core fibers.

• Machine Learning
• Physics-Informed Machine Learning
• Interpretable Machine Learning
• +3 more

Yan Liu is a full professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California (USC), serving as Director of the USC Machine Learning Center within the Viterbi School of Engineering. He holds courtesy appointments in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering and the Quantitative and Computational Biology Department. Before joining USC in 2010, he was a research staff member at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on machine learning for time series, physics-informed AI, and interpretable models, with applications in healthcare, sustainability, and social media. Notable projects include developing AI for surgical training, analyzing misinformation on social platforms, and predicting cancer treatment outcomes. He has held leadership roles in top conferences like ICLR and ACM KDD, and serves as Associate Editor-in-Chief of TPAMI and Board Member of ICLR. Education: Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University Affiliations: USC Machine Learning Center, Viterbi School of Engineering Service: General Chair (ICLR 2023, ACM KDD 2020), Program Chair roles across multiple conferences His lab, the Melady Group, emphasizes foundational ML advancements and interdisciplinary applications. Recent work includes physics-aware neural networks and time-series foundation models.

Goran MashanovichView profile

Professor

• Silicon Photonics
• Photonics Integrated Circuits
• Sensors
• +2 more

Professor Goran Mashanovich is a leading academic in silicon photonics at the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) , Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. With a Dipl. Ing. and MSc from the University of Belgrade and a PhD from the University of Surrey, he serves as head of the ORC's Mid-IR silicon photonics group. His expertise spans passive and active photonic devices in silicon and germanium for communication and sensing systems. Education: Dipl. Ing. in Optoelectronics, University of Belgrade MSc in Optoelectronics, University of Belgrade PhD in Silicon Photonics, University of Surrey MSc in Innovative Teaching, University of Surrey His research focuses on Silicon Photonics , Photonics Integrated Circuits , and Sensor Development , particularly in mid-infrared applications. His recent publications demonstrate advancements in waveguide engineering, perovskite integration, and nonlinear optical effects optimization through computational methods. As Principal Investigator on grants exceeding £20 million from EPSRC and industry partners, his collaborative projects include MISSION (mid-infrared healthcare sensors), CORNERSTONE 2.5 , and PIXEurope . He also contributes to global education initiatives as a visiting professor at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

Yongmin LiuView profile

Professor

• Nano Optics
• Nanomaterials Engineering
• Plasmonics
• +5 more

Yongmin Liu is a Professor in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering at Northeastern University, and a member of the Cross-College Magnetics Center. He holds a PhD in Applied Science and Technology from UC Berkeley (2009), with earlier degrees from Nanjing University. His research focuses on nano-optics, metamaterials, plasmonics, and their applications in optical devices and systems. His interdisciplinary work bridges engineering, physics, and AI, with notable contributions to metasurface design and optical neural networks. Education: PhD, Applied Science and Technology, UC Berkeley (2009) M.S. and B.S., Physics, Nanjing University (2003, 2000) Research Interests: Nano-optics, nanoscale materials engineering, metamaterials, plasmonics, and applied physics. His group develops novel optical materials and devices for applications like super-resolution imaging, efficient light harvesting, and biomedical detection. Recent projects include AI-driven photonic materials design and meta-optical neural networks. Key Achievements: Recipient of the Søren Buus Outstanding Research Award (2024) NSF CAREER Award (2017) and ONR Young Investigator Award (2016) Elected SPIE Fellow (2023) and Optica Fellow (2023) Lab & Collaborations: Head of the Yongmin Liu Research Group, collaborating with institutions like Georgia Tech and Purdue University. Recent grants include a $1.5M NSF DMREF grant for AI-driven photonic materials and a $468K NSF grant for meta-optical neural networks.

Nonappa NonappaView profile

Associate Professor

• Nanochemistry
• Material Chemistry
• Biobased Optics and Photonics
• +7 more

Nonappa Nonappa is an Associate Professor (tenure track) in Nanochemistry at Tampere University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences since 2020. With a multidisciplinary background spanning organic chemistry, supramolecular systems, nanoparticle self-assembly, and advanced electron microscopy, he leads research at the intersection of materials science and biomedical applications. PhD in Organic Chemistry (IISc Bangalore, 2008) Docent in Soft Matter Microscopy (Aalto University, 2017) Executive MBA (Quantic School, 2020) Research focuses on bio-based optical materials using nanocellulose for sustainable photonics, breast cancer models via lab-on-a-chip systems, and precision nanomaterials through tailored self-assembly mechanisms. His team develops 3D extracellular matrices for cancer tissue culture and plasmonic nanodevices for photonic applications. Recent publications highlight gold/silver nanocluster assemblies (43+ citations in 2021-2025), electron tomography for structural analysis, and metastasis modeling systems. Key awards include Italy's Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale (2018) and Aalto University's Docent title (2017).

Jeehwan KimView profile

Associate Professor

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Electronics
• +7 more

Jeehwan Kim is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. He joined the Mechanical Engineering faculty in 2015 and became a joint faculty member in DMSE in 2016. His research focuses on nanotechnology for computing/electronics, electronic/photonic devices, neuromorphic computing, and heterogeneous integration. He holds over 100 patents from IBM and has received awards like the Samsung Fellow (2022) and DARPA Director’s Award (2021). Education : BS (Hongik University), MS (Seoul National University), PhD (UCLA), all in Materials Science and Engineering. Research Interests : Kim’s group innovates in 2D materials, remote epitaxy, neuromorphic systems, and next-gen electronics. Key areas include monolithic 3D integration, bioelectronic devices, and energy-efficient semiconductors. His work bridges material physics with practical device applications. Awards : Samsung Fellow (2022) DARPA Director’s Award (2021) Young Faculty Award (2019) IBM Faculty Award (2016) IBM Master Inventor (2012) Labs/Teams : Jeehwan Kim Research Group at MIT, focusing on advanced material synthesis and device engineering. Active in cross-disciplinary projects involving AI and semiconductor innovation.

Lan WeiView profile

Associate Professor

• Nanoelectronic devices
• Cryogenic CMOS electronics
• GaN-based devices and circuits
• +5 more

Lan Wei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She leads the Waterloo Emerging Integrated Systems Group, focusing on device-circuit co-optimization, cryogenic CMOS for quantum computing, and emerging technologies like GaN, RRAM, and low-dimensional materials. Her work bridges nanoelectronics and system-level applications, with notable contributions to the MIT Virtual Source GaN HEMT (MVSG) compact model, an industry-standard tool. Education: B.S. in Microelectronics and Economics, Peking University (2005) M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University (2007, 2010) Research Interests: Nanoelectronic devices Cryogenic CMOS for quantum computing GaN-based circuits and systems RRAM-based neuromorphic computing Device-circuit interactive design Publications reflect her expertise in GaN modeling, quantum computing hardware, and RRAM applications. Recent work emphasizes scalable quantum control circuits and error-resilient neural networks using emerging technologies. Awards include the 2019 Ontario Early Researcher Award and the 2020 UWaterloo President's Excellence Award in Research. She has served on technical committees for IEDM, DATE, and ICCAD, and contributed to the ITRS roadmap. Teaching includes courses like ECE 240 (Electronic Circuits) and ECE 730 (Solid State Devices). Her group actively seeks graduate students with interest in integrated systems and nanoelectronics.

• Nanophotonics
• Quantum Materials
• Plasmonics
• +3 more

Maiken Mikkelsen is the James N. and Elizabeth H. Barton Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University, promoted to Professor in 2025. She holds a secondary appointment as Associate Professor of Physics (2023–present) within Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. Her research bridges Nanophotonics , Quantum Materials , and Ultrafast Spectroscopy , focusing on plasmonic nanostructures and nonlinear metasurfaces for quantum optics and optoelectronic applications. Education: Ph.D. in Physics (University of California, Santa Barbara, 2009), B.S. in Physics (University of Copenhagen, 2004), postdoctoral work at University of California, Berkeley. Her work explores Plasmonics and Quantum Optics to engineer nanoscale light-matter interactions, enabling transformative technologies in Single-Photon Sources , Ultrafast Photodetectors , and Active Metasurfaces . Recent projects include real-time tunable lasing and polarization-controlled nanocavity systems. Her 2016–2025 publications highlight breakthroughs in plasmonic fluorescence enhancement, hot electron dynamics, and room-temperature quantum devices. Grants include Nano Solutions On-Chip (Triad National Security, LLC, 2025–2029) and Meta-Imaging (Air Force Office of Scientific Research, 2021–2026). Her lab, jointly based in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics, has graduated PhD students Eunso Shin and Hengming Li, and actively engages in STEM outreach initiatives.