Scott K. Cushing

Scott K. Cushing serves as Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he has led his research group since 2018. His work bridges chemistry, physics, and quantum engineering through advanced instrumentation development.

His educational foundation includes a B.S. from West Virginia University (2011) and a Ph.D. (2015), followed by a Visiting Associate position at Caltech in 2018 prior to his faculty appointment.

Professor Cushing's research centers on ultrafast spectroscopy and next-generation instrumentation, with core emphases on:

• Table-top transient x-ray techniques for materials characterization
• On-chip entangled photon spectroscopy for quantum applications
• Ultrafast electron wavepacket dynamics
• Laser-driven impedance measurements
• Femto-nano resolved electron microscopy

His group investigates how light, heat, and pressure transform molecular systems for energy conversion, quantum information, and advanced materials. Recent publications reveal a dominant focus on pushing temporal and spatial measurement limits—particularly in X-ray spectroscopy of quantum materials, entangled photon interactions, and nanoscale charge dynamics in 2D systems. Key discoveries include antiadiabatic polaron formation mechanisms and chip-scale quantum sensing breakthroughs.

The Cushing Lab operates as an interdisciplinary hub where instrument development drives fundamental discoveries, maintaining strong collaborative ties across physical sciences and engineering disciplines at Caltech.