Joseph P. Heremans is a Professor and Ohio Eminent Scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University, with courtesy appointments in Physics and Materials Science and Engineering. He holds prestigious fellowships from the American Physical Society (1987) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2011), and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (2013). His research focuses on thermal and magneto-transport properties of electrons, phonons, and spin in semiconductors, semimetals, and nanostructured materials. Education: B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Catholic University of Louvain (1975-1978). Postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen, MIT, and University of Tokyo. Prior industrial experience includes roles at GM Research Lab (1984-1998) and Delphi Research Labs (1999-2005). Research Interests: Thermoelectrics, spin caloritronics, thermal chiral anomaly, quantum materials, and topological insulators. Key contributions include discovering the giant spin-Seebeck effect in non-magnetic materials and demonstrating magnetic control of heat and sound. Awards: Over 250 publications, 39 patents, and awards such as the Clara M. and Peter L. Scott Award and Delphi Inventors Hall of Fame recognition. His work has led to commercial automotive sensors and advanced thermoelectric devices. Labs & Teams: Thermal Materials Laboratory at Ohio State, collaborating on projects ranging from goniopolar materials to quantum defect engineering in diamond.
Jason Khoury is an Assistant Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), affiliated with the Navrotsky-Eyring Center for Materials of the Universe (MotU). He holds a B.S. from The Ohio State University (2015), a Ph.D. from Northwestern University (2020), and was an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University (2020–2023). His research focuses on quantum materials with strongly interacting electrons, particularly quasi-low-dimensional intermetallic compounds that exhibit phenomena like superconductivity, complex magnetism, and electronic instabilities. Key techniques include solid-state synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and low-temperature physical property characterization. Education B.S., Chemistry, The Ohio State University (2015) Ph.D., Chemistry, Northwestern University (2020) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Princeton University (2020–2023) Research Interests Khoury’s lab explores synthetic solid-state chemistry to discover new quantum materials, emphasizing electronic structure manipulation through chemical bonding principles. Current projects include: Design of topological materials with hypervalent bismuth chains Development of intermetallic compounds with Dirac semimetal behavior Study of charge density waves and spin cycloid ordering in correlated systems Awards Hierarchical Materials Cluster Fellowship (2017) Marple Schweitzer Graduate Student Award (2018) Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020–2023) Grants & Labs The Khoury Lab operates at ASU, specializing in materials characterization techniques such as metal flux synthesis, chemical vapor transport, and low-temperature magnetometry. Research outcomes emphasize bridging synthetic chemistry with condensed matter physics to uncover novel quantum phenomena.
Dragica Vasileska is a Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. She is also a Senior Global Futures Scientist and part of the Global Futures Scientists and Scholars initiative. Her research focuses on computational electronics, semiconductor device physics, and quantum transport modeling. Vasileska has held academic positions at ASU since 1997, advancing to full Professor in 2007. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in North Macedonia, followed by a Ph.D. from ASU in 1995. Her educational background includes a postdoctoral role at ASU’s Center for Solid State Electronics Research. She has authored or co-authored over 200 publications and three books, including Computational Electronics . Vasileska’s work has been recognized with awards such as the 1998 NSF CAREER Award and the 2019 IEEE Fellow distinction. She has secured significant research funding from agencies like NSF, ONR, and DOE, focusing on nanoscale device modeling, solar cell reliability, and quantum effects in electronics. Her research interests span semiclassical and quantum transport in nanoscale devices, semiconductor device modeling, and reliability engineering. Notable projects include the National Center for Computational Electronics and collaborations on solar cell durability through the QESST ERC. Vasileska’s contributions bridge computational methods with experimental insights, advancing technologies in energy-efficient electronics and photovoltaics.
Dr. Weng Nam Lee is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, specializing in materials chemistry. His research focuses on bio-based liquid crystals and nanomaterials with applications in nanostructure engineering and biomaterials. With over 15 years of teaching experience, he actively participates in curriculum development and serves as a course coordinator. His research interests include Bio-Based Liquid Crystals Nanocomposites Optical Bandgap Tuning Sustainable Materials Recent work explores SnO₂–MoS₂ nanocomposites and palm-based liquid crystals. Scientific contributions include Best Lecturer Award (2016/2017) and peer-review roles for the Royal Society of Chemistry. Publications span environmental remediation, nanophotonics, and biomaterials, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Peng Peng is an Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in advanced materials processing and laser technologies. His research focuses on laser-assisted joining of dissimilar materials (e.g., NiTi alloys, biomedical steels), flexible sensor fabrication, and high-entropy alloy coatings. He is part of the Full-time faculty group and maintains a personal webpage on Google Scholar. Research interests include laser welding innovations, nanomaterial synthesis, corrosion-resistant coatings, and additive manufacturing. His work bridges fundamental material science with practical applications in biomedical devices and energy systems. Recent studies emphasize machine learning integration for sensor optimization and defect engineering in nanomaterials. Publications highlight advancements in laser-induced metallurgical bonding, memristive logic circuits, and defect-controlled semiconductor properties. Collaborations span materials engineering, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. No awards are explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising and grant details are not specified here. His lab focuses on laser fabrication techniques and material interface studies, with potential applications in flexible electronics and aerospace components.
Professor Zhigang Chen is a Capacity Building Professor of Energy Materials at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), holding appointments in the Faculty of Science and School of Chemistry & Physics. He serves as founding director for the ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality (ZeroPC), Academic Research Lead, and ARC Future Fellow. Previously, he held professorships at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and University of Queensland (UQ), where he was an ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellow, QLD Smart Future Fellow, and Honorary Professor. His research program spans sustainable functional materials, thermoelectrics, advanced manufacturing, and advanced microscopy for energy applications. Professor Chen's research focuses on developing high-performance thermoelectric materials for energy conversion and waste-heat recovery through nanostructure engineering and band engineering. His work has led to world-record figure of merit (ZT) in several thermoelectric systems. He has pioneered cost-effective manufacturing processes like solvothermal and microwave-assisted methods for low-toxic thermoelectric materials achieving energy-conversion-efficiency above 15%. His research integrates advanced microscopy techniques to establish structure-property links in energy materials, resulting in significant scientific breakthroughs. His publications demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable energy materials, particularly thermoelectrics, with recent work emphasizing flexible thermoelectric devices, hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems, and novel material systems like SnTe-based compounds. The research spans fundamental materials science to practical applications, with increasing attention to industry implementation and commercialization potential. Many publications address the challenge of balancing high thermoelectric performance with cost-effective manufacturing. Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry QUT Research Excellence Award, 2023 ARC Future Fellowship (Level 3) 2022 Clarivate Web of Science Highly Cited Researchers 2020-2021 USQ Research Excellence Award 2020 Mendeley Global Top 2% Researcher 2019-2023 Professor Chen has secured approximately A$50 million in research funding as lead Chief Investigator or Chief Investigator, including 7 ARC Discovery grants (5 as lead CI), 2 ARC Research Hubs, 4 ARC Linkage grants, and numerous industry investments from HBIS groups, NQ Minerals, Cook Medicals, BHP Billiton, and Defense Science and Technology Group. He has successfully supervised numerous HDR students and established significant research collaborations with institutions including CalTech, UCLA, and Shanghai Institute of Ceramics. His research program maintains strong industry connections focused on practical applications of energy materials. Professor Chen leads multiple research initiatives including the ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality (ZeroPC) and has established advanced materials characterization facilities at QUT. His research team collaborates with international partners at CalTech, UCLA, and Chinese Academy of Sciences, maintaining a strong focus on translating fundamental materials research into practical energy solutions with commercial potential.
Cumhur KIRILMIŞ is a full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Adıyaman University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Born in Germany in 1975, he completed his education at Fırat University (BSc, MSc, PhD in Chemistry) and has been at Adıyaman since 2007. His research focuses on organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and heterocyclic compounds with antimicrobial applications. He has authored 72 publications (over 400 citations), advised 5 master’s and 2 PhD students, and led multiple projects on textile softeners, organic electronics, and material science. Between 2019-2023, he served as Vice Rector and held roles in research coordination (BAP, Erasmus). He currently serves as an editor for Adıyaman University Journal of Science and holds memberships in the Chemists Association. Fluent in German and English, he is married with two children. Education: BSc (Fırat University), MSc/PhD (Organic Chemistry, Fırat University) Administrative Roles: BAP Coordinator (2019-2023), Vice Rector, Interuniversity Board Member Research Themes: Benzofuran derivatives, dithiocarbamate esters, antimicrobial polymers, and optoelectronic materials Grants/Projects: 8+ research projects including EU-funded initiatives and industry collaborations His work bridges organic synthesis and applied material science, with recent emphasis on textile additives and sensor technologies. Collaborations include fiber optic sensors for metal ions (Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺) and plant-based antimicrobial agents. Awards: None explicitly listed, though his sustained academic output and administrative leadership reflect institutional recognition.
Dr. Murat Durandurdu is a Professor at Abdullah Gül University since 2014. Previously, he held an Assistant Professor position at the University of Texas-El Paso and a Research Associate Professor role at Texas Tech University. His academic journey includes a BSc in Physics from Karadeniz Technical University, an MSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in Physics from Ohio University, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Education: BSc Physics, Karadeniz Technical University MSc Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech PhD Physics, Ohio University Research Interests: His work centers on metallic glasses , amorphous semiconductors , ultra-high temperature ceramics , nanomaterials , hydrogen storage materials , and materials under extreme conditions . He uses ab initio simulations and molecular dynamics to study pressure-driven phase transitions and structural evolution in amorphous systems. Publication Trends: Recent articles explore novel boron-based amorphous phases ( e.g. , BC4N, C3N4) and high-pressure routes to superhard materials. Earlier work focused on phase transitions in GeSe2, ZnS, and silica, revealing pathways for crystallization and polyamorphism under stress. Awards and Honors: Fellowship (TÜBİTAK, 2014) Faculty Appreciation Award (Texas Tech, 2013) Visiting Scientist Fellowships (2008–2009) Best Poster Award (2003) Ohio University Fellowship (2000) Turkish Ministry of Education Fellowship (1995–1997) Turkish Physics Foundation Fellowship (1989–1992) Grants and Editorial Work: Secured grants as PI for projects on boron/amorphous materials (TÜBİTAK-BİDEP, 2014–2017) and metallic glasses (Office of Naval Research, 2010–2014). He served as an Editorial Board Member for ISRN Condensed Matter Physics and Conference Papers in Physics (2010–2015), and reviewed for high-impact journals like Nature , Nature Materials , and Physical Review B .
Thirumalai Venky Venkatesan is a Professor at the University of Oklahoma , renowned for inventing the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process and pioneering its use in creating high-quality thin films of complex oxides. His work has transformed global research on oxide heterostructures, spanning applications in superconductors, magneto-resistive materials, ferroelectrics, and bioactive substrates. Recently, he has focused on ultra-low energy memories and brain-like electronics using organic molecular systems. Research Interests : Venkatesan's research bridges condensed matter physics , materials science , and nanotechnology . Key areas include oxide thin films, spintronics, plasmonics, and neuromorphic computing. His work addresses fundamental phenomena like metal-insulator transitions, polaron dynamics, and antiferromagnetic control, with applications in energy-efficient electronics and medical diagnostics. Publications & Trends : Recent articles emphasize molecular memristors , antiferromagnetic skyrmions , and oxide heterostructures for neuromorphic devices . His studies explore breathomics for lung cancer detection and quantum materials for low-energy electronics, reflecting interdisciplinary innovation. Scientific Awards : Distinguished Lectureship Award on the Applications of Physics (2020) Lab & Collaborations : Venkatesan is affiliated with the Center for Quantum Research and Technology , where he leads research on integrated oxide systems and molecular electronics.
Xiaolong Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on creating and studying novel quantum states of matter, particularly unconventional superconductivity, using advanced scanning probe microscopy techniques such as spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy (SI-STM) at cryogenic temperatures. He leads a lab specializing in atom-scale manipulation, in situ material synthesis via molecular beam epitaxy, and 2D heterostructure fabrication. His experimental approaches include ultra-high vacuum environments with magnetic fields up to 9 T and in situ transport measurements. Education: Liu earned a BS from the University of Science and Technology of China (2013) and a PhD from Northwestern University (2018). His work bridges quantum materials research with nanoscale fabrication, emphasizing both fundamental physics and technological applications. His group's research has led to breakthroughs in visualizing electron fluid dynamics and discovering Cooper-pair density waves in transition metal dichalcogenides. Research Interests: His lab explores quantum phenomena in engineered 2D materials and heterostructures, including borophene synthesis, topological superconductors, and electronic phase transitions under extreme conditions. Techniques include single-atom/molecule manipulation and quantum simulation through atomic-scale architectures. Awards & Recognition: Liu has received the 2023 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Award, 2022 Blavatnik Regional Award for Young Scientists (Physical Sciences & Engineering), and the 2022 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Low Temperature Physics. His work has been published in top journals like Nature, Science, and Nature Materials. Labs & Teams: His research group operates within the Nieuwland Science Hall, focusing on advanced microscopy and nanofabrication. Collaborations involve theoretical physicists, materials scientists, and engineers to address grand challenges in quantum matter and next-generation electronics.
Eundeok Mun is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in the Department of Physics at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Their research focuses on novel materials with unconventional magnetic and electronic properties, including magnetism, superconductivity, and quantum criticality. They lead the Emerging Materials Lab, which synthesizes and characterizes materials to explore phenomena like spin dynamics and topological defects. Education: Ph.D. in Physics from Iowa State University; M.Sc. and B.Sc. from Sungkyunkwan University. Current course instruction includes PHYS 421 (Electromagnetic Waves). Research interests emphasize quantum materials, frustrated magnetism, and topological phases. Recent work includes studies on spin dynamics in Heisenberg chains, frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnets, and superconducting high-entropy alloys. Notable achievements include the Canada Research Chair award. Key contributions involve magnetic field effects in Kondo lattice systems, pressure-induced transitions in superconductors, and resistivity minima in gadolinium-based compounds. The lab collaborates on crystal growth, neutron scattering, and advanced characterization techniques. Students advised: David Evans (M.Sc. candidate), Jeonghun Lee (Ph.D. candidate). Research group members actively engage in synthesizing novel compounds and exploring their electronic/magnetic properties. Labs/Teams: Emerging Materials Lab (EMLab) focuses on experimental condensed matter physics with state-of-the-art facilities for material synthesis and characterization.
Arun Bansil is a University Distinguished Professor in Physics at Northeastern University, leading research in theoretical condensed matter physics and topological materials. He directs the Advanced Scientific Computation Center and serves on editorial boards of prestigious journals. His work focuses on electronic structure calculations, spectroscopic methods (e.g., Compton scattering, angle-resolved photoemission), and novel quantum materials such as topological insulators, Weyl semimetals, and kagome metals. He has authored over 398 technical articles and 18 conference volumes, including a seminal book on X-ray Compton scattering (Oxford University Press, 2004). Research interests include quantum geometry, superconductivity, magnetism, and energy materials. Notable contributions involve axion quasiparticle detection in 2D systems, nonlinear Hall effects in antiferromagnetic heterostructures, and strain-engineered charge density waves. Bansil holds DOE grants and is a Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (2017, 2018, 2021). Awards: Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate Analytics), DOE grants, leadership in international research initiatives. Labs: Advanced Scientific Computation Center, Northeastern’s Center for Renewable Energy Technology. Grants: DOE-funded projects on quantum information systems and topological materials. Publications highlight interdisciplinary advances in spectroscopy, quantum materials, and energy technologies, with recent breakthroughs in axion physics and topological superconductivity.
James Rondinelli serves as the Walter Dill Scott Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Associate Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. His research group pioneers structure-driven property design to overcome materials limitations in electronic, magnetic, and optical systems for next-generation technologies. Education: Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University Research Focus: Rondinelli develops computational frameworks for electronic structure theory and design of functional transition metal compounds. His work harmonizes contraindicated properties (electron/spin/inversion symmetry), controls complex correlations, designs matter for energy-efficient technologies, intersects ultrafast light sciences with materials, interfaces data science for accelerated discovery, models aqueous corrosion electrochemistry, and realizes advanced optical sources. His group maintains strong experimental collaborations for validation. Publication Trends: Recent work (2024-2025) reveals intense focus on multiferroics in halide perovskites, polar metals, heteroanionic stabilization, and computational design for quantum technologies. Emerging themes include AI-accelerated discovery, corrosion modeling for superconducting qubits, and negative thermal expansion materials, demonstrating convergence of theory, computation, and experimental validation. Awards: Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2017) NSF CAREER Award (2015) American Ceramic Society Ross Coffin Purdy Award (2014) DARPA Young Faculty Award (2012-2013) Army Research Office YIP Award (2012-2014) Joseph Katz Postdoctoral Fellowship, Argonne National Laboratory (2010-2011) Mentorship and Funding: Rondinelli leads a 22-member research group (14 PhD students, 1 MS student, postdocs, and researchers) supported by major grants from NSF (including CAREER), DARPA, Army Research Office, and Department of Energy. His funding portfolio emphasizes high-risk/high-reward projects in predictive materials design and quantum materials. Research Infrastructure: The Materials Theory and Design Group employs advanced computational methods for predictive materials discovery, focusing on picoscale structure-property relationships. The group maintains close ties with experimental facilities at Argonne National Laboratory and collaborates extensively on synthesizing and characterizing novel transition metal compounds.
Professor Gill Reid is a leading academic in the School of Chemistry at the University of Southampton , holding the title of Professor of Inorganic Chemistry since 2006. Her career spans over three decades, including roles as Head of Chemistry (2016-2020) and Director of Research, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaborations across chemistry, electronics, and materials science. Education : BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, University of Edinburgh (1986) PhD in Inorganic Chemistry, University of Edinburgh (1989) Research Interests : Gill Reid's work bridges fundamental and applied research in synthetic inorganic chemistry. Key areas include: Design of novel macrocyclic and multidentate ligands with Group 15/16 donors Coordination chemistry across s-, p-, d-, and f-block metals Development of single-source precursors for semiconductor deposition Electrodeposition of phase-change memory materials (e.g., GST-225) Radiofluorination strategies for PET imaging agents Supercritical fluid electrodeposition for extreme nanostructures Recent Research Trends from her 15 most recent publications (2025-2015) emphasize: Advancements in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g., WSe2, MoS2) via electrochemical methods Controlled growth of semiconductor heterostructures (graphene integration) Metal fluoride scaffolds for medical imaging applications Nanostructured thermoelectric and phase-change memory devices Coordination chemistry of heavy Group 15 ligands (stibines, bismuthines) Scientific Awards : Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2012) Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE, 2022) CBE for services to chemistry and materials science (2025) IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry (2023) Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (2023) Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching (2006) RSC Award for Promotion of Chemistry (2007) Grants and Collaborations include EPSRC Programme Grants (e.g., ADEPT, Supercritical Fluid Electrodeposition), Royal Society Newton International Fellowships, STFC funding, and industry partnerships with GE Healthcare. She leads the Functional Inorganic, Materials and Supramolecular Chemistry research group and has contributed to over 360 publications.
Prof. Joe Ross is a Professor at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on magnetic and electronic materials, utilizing NMR spectroscopy, computational methods, and other experimental techniques. He received a BS from Yale University and a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by postdoctoral work at Cornell University. His work explores advanced thermoelectric materials, topological materials, and quantum effects in semiconductors, with a particular emphasis on NMR studies of electronic and magnetic behavior. Research interests include magnetism, superconductivity, and the interplay of ordered magnetic phases in materials. He leads a team investigating topological nodal lines, defect charging in thermoelectrics, and strain glasses. His lab is equipped with a 9T NMR spectrometer and advanced cryogenic facilities. Prof. Ross has advised students such as Rui Li and collaborates on projects involving topological phase transitions and thermoelectric applications. His work has been published in leading journals like Phys. Rev. Letters, Phys. Rev. B, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
