Oleg G. Shpyrko

Oleg G. Shpyrko is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of California, San Diego. His research group focuses on experimental condensed matter physics, utilizing advanced X-ray techniques to study nanoscale structural and magnetic dynamics in both hard and soft matter systems.

His research interests include:

• Coherent X-ray scattering and diffraction imaging
• Dynamics in strongly correlated electron systems
• Magnetic nanostructures and antiferromagnetic domain walls
• Phase transitions in soft and hard condensed matter
• Materials for energy storage and conversion
• Nanoscale confinement effects

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in using coherent X-ray techniques such as Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging (BCDI) and X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) to probe nanoscale dynamics in materials ranging from battery cathodes to magnetic systems and biological nanostructures. His work bridges fundamental physics with applied materials science, particularly in energy and quantum materials.

His research has been supported by prestigious awards and grants:

• NSF CAREER Award
• Department of Energy (Basic Energy Sciences)
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
• Argonne LDRD
• Hellman Foundation

Prof. Shpyrko has advised several successful graduate students, including Andrej Singer (now Assistant Professor at Cornell), Roopali Kukreja (Assistant Professor at UC Davis), Andrew Ulvestad, Devin Cela, and Leandra Boucheron, many of whom have received awards and recognition. His lab maintains in-house capabilities in dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, microfocus X-ray systems, and cryostats, while heavily utilizing national facilities such as the Advanced Photon Source, LCLS, NSLS-II, and PETRA III.

His group actively explores future research directions enabled by fourth-generation synchrotron sources and X-ray free-electron lasers, aiming to uncover non-equilibrium dynamics and hidden order in complex materials.