Vivian Ferry

Vivian Ferry is an Associate Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering. Her research explores the interaction between light and nanostructured materials, focusing on applications for solar energy conversion, optoelectronic devices, and tunable metamaterials. She leads the Ferry Research Group, which emphasizes interdisciplinary work combining colloidal chemistry, nanofabrication, optical spectroscopy, and computational modeling.

• PhD in Chemistry (2011)

Research Interests: The group’s research integrates Nanophotonics, Plasmonics, and Materials Science to develop advanced materials for sustainability and energy technologies. Current projects include Nano-Optics for Sustainability, Light Management in Optoelectronic Devices, and Nanopatterning. The work spans theoretical and experimental approaches, with collaborations across departments and institutions.

Selected Scientific Awards:

• SPIE Early Career Achievement Award (2019)
• NSF CAREER Award (2016)
• AFOSR YIP award (2016)
• McKnight Land-Grant Assistant Professor (2017)
• Technology Review’s 35 Innovators under 35 (2016)
• APS Ovshinsky Fellowship in Sustainable Energy (2019)
• Marion Milligan Mason Award (2018)

Advising and Collaborations: Vivian has mentored numerous PhD and Master’s students, including Rohan Chakraborty, John Keil, Bryan Cote, and Clare Froehlich, many of whom have transitioned to roles in academia and industry. Her group collaborates with researchers like Professor Chris Leighton and Professor Kelsey Stoerzinger, and has secured grants from the NSF, AFOSR, and ACS PRF. The Ferry Group has produced over 20 peer-reviewed publications and actively engages in outreach through programs like MRSEC REU and IPRIME.

Labs and Teams: She is based in 431 Amundson Hall and co-directs the Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials program at IPRIME. Her team includes postdocs, graduate students (e.g., Sri Aashrita Boddu, Sam Ewald), and undergraduate researchers. The group participates in national and international conferences (e.g., MRS, IPRIME, AVS) and symposia on photovoltaics, nanophotonics, and plasmonics.