Michael C Tringides

Michael C Tringides is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Iowa State University and a Senior Scientist at the Ames Laboratory (US DOE). His research focuses on surface structure far from equilibrium, particularly in nanoscale systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago (1984) and a BA in Mathematics and Physics from Yale University (1977).

Research Interests: His work centers on graphene structure, metal growth on layered materials, self-organization of nanostructures, and quantum size effects. He uses techniques like Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) to study surface dynamics. Recent projects explore intercalation of metals (e.g., Pb, Dy, Gd) under graphene to manipulate electronic properties.

Awards: Theodore E. Madey Award (2017), APS Fellow (2003), and LAS Outstanding Career Research Award (2016). His work emphasizes collaboration with institutions worldwide, including the Institute des Nanosciences de Paris and the University of Lille.

Advising & Grants: Advised over 10 PhD students and postdocs. Collaborates with researchers in computational materials science and surface chemistry. Active in organizing conferences like the Midwest Solid State Conference and NATO workshops on surface diffusion.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Cardinal Nanostructure Growth on Surfaces group, collaborating with experts in theoretical physics (e.g., C.Z. Wang, K.M. Ho) and experimental surface science. Current projects involve tuning graphene’s electronic properties via intercalation and studying nucleation kinetics in 2D materials.