Marina S. Leite

Marina S. Leite is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on novel materials for renewable energy, optical devices, and materials under extreme environments. She leads the Leite Lab, pioneering work in perovskite photovoltaics, thermophotovoltaic emitters, and transient photonics using machine learning for accelerated materials discovery. Her group combines advanced characterization techniques with computational methods to address challenges in energy harvesting and optical material performance.

• PhD: Not explicitly listed in provided text

Her research interests include:

• Machine learning-driven materials discovery
• Halide perovskites for stable solar cells
• High-temperature optical materials
• Transient photonics using magnesium-based systems
• Thermophotovoltaic emitter design

Key research trends from recent articles emphasize AI integration for predicting material behaviors, environmental stressor impacts on optoelectronics, and alloy systems for dynamic optical properties. Her lab has developed methods for automated experimentation and spectral selectivity in emitters.

• 2025 Optica Fellow
• 2025 SPIE Fellow

Advising: Supervises students like Hannah Darr. Active in DARPA cross-disciplinary projects and editorial roles in energy journals. Leads grants focused on machine learning in materials science and photonic device development. The Leite Lab collaborates on projects involving transient materials and high-temperature photonics.

Future work includes scaling superabsorber technologies, developing eco-friendly Pb-free perovskites, and advancing AI tools for material property prediction.