Mike Guericke

Jones Group - Chemistry

Graduated from Doane College in 2009 with a B.S. in Chemistry and Germany. Then spent a year studying at the Ruprech Karl University of Heidelberg under a Fulbright scholarship. I am currently working on nanoparticle synthesis under the direction of Dr. Marcus Jones in the chemistry department at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. 

Previous degree: Doane College in 2009 with a B.S. in Chemistry and Germany.

Munir Muhammad

First year Ph.D. Student

Previous degree:NC State University, B.S. Chemical Engineering

Tobias, Andrew

Jones Group - Chemistry

Master's work: Synthesis , characterization and analysis of Cadmium selenide and Cadmium sulfide quantum dots. 

Undergraduate project(Presbyterian College Clinton,SC): Analysis of DNA binding to Au and Ag nanoparticles. Also played lacrosse for four-years.

Previous degree: M.S in Chemistry,UNC charlotte.

Sushant Patil

Nesmelova Group - Physics and Optical Science

Functional Interactions of chemokines. Chemokines form a large family of proteins that guide the migration of leukocytes in our body. Chemokines act individually or interact to form heterooligomers. These interactionsalter the biological activity of individual chemokines. We are looking at different chemokines to discover biologically important interactions and describe them at atomic level in order to design molecule that will block (or enhance) the interactions, because we believe that it may lead to the development of more targeted, anti-inflammatory pharmacological agents with minimal side effects. Nanaoscale Science PhD program is great mainly because it's interdisciplinary. Thoughtful program structure, friendly faculty, promising research and generous financial support are some of the features of this program.

Previous degree: Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science at University of Mumbai, India.

Danielle Woodall

Jones Group - Chemistry

Understanding trap dynamics of cadmium sulfide nanocrystals The aim of my research is to use a combination of time resolved laser spectroscopies of both ensemble and single particle to develop a full understanding of the parameters that govern both exciton and trap dynamics occurring in cadmium sulfide nanocrystals. Some of the methods used to probe the exciton and trap states of CdS include temperature/excitation dependent time-correlated single photon counting experiments as well as ligand binding studies. I believe the Nanoscale Science Ph.D program is a great program because of its interdiscplinary nature. Each course is taught from a multitude of perspectives, and students are encouraged to explore research projects outside their primary discipline before choosing a final research group. I found this to be vital because it allowed me to see a wide range of projects that I may not have considered. With the quantity and quality of research being conducted on campus, there is something for everyone.

Previous degree: University of New England, B.S. Chemistry and Marine Biology

Derek Peloquin

Schmedake Group - Chemistry

The greatest thing about the program is knowing you’ve got friends and colleagues on the other side of campus instead of just being confined to your own department or building. And the weather here in the South is unbeatable!

Previous degree: SUNY University at Buffalo, B.S. Chemistry and B.A. Mathematics

Jason Marmon

Zhang Group - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electrical and optical properties of II-VI materials. Creating a ZnTe/ZnO core/shell structure as a third generation photovoltaic device and measuring its electrical and optical properties. The effective bandgap of this structure is near to that for silicon. The goal is to reduce the cost. Some additional work is being done to evaluate the use of these nanostructures in an inverse design method in metamaterials. The goal is to contribute experimental data towards a model that allows metamaterial parameter inputs and outputs materials, structures, etc.

The nano coursed provided a survey of what is available in the natural sciences, and the electives allowed for specialization.

Previous degree: Beloit College, B.S. in both Chemistry and Physics

Jonathan Ligda

Wei Group - Mechanical Engineering

The mechanical behavior of ultra-fine grained and nanocrystalline body center-cubic tantalum processed by high pressure torsion. Tantalum disks processed by high pressure torsion will contain a gradient in the grain size, with smaller grains at the disk edge. Using focused ion beam milling, compression and tension specimens with 1- 10 μm gauge sections are made at site specific locations on the disk. These specimens are tested using nanoindentation or a custom built In-situSEM tensile stage. The resulting mechanical behavior is then related back to the microstructure, characterized by XRD and TEM. (Ligda, J.P. et. al. Scripta Materialia 67 (2012) 253-256 & Schuster, B.E. et. al. JOM 63(2011) 27-31).

Since this is an interdisciplinary program you have the option to explore many different aspects of nanoscale science, allowing you to find a research field that you enjoy but had previously never thought of.

Previous degree: Shippensburg University, B.S. Physics

Ryan Hefti

Moyer Group - Physics and Optical Science

Long-range correlation of fluorescence intermittency in semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots). I am interested in pursuing a career in academia toward the goal of becoming a tenure-track professor. One of my favorite aspects of the Nanoscale Science PhD program is the interdisciplinary nature of it. Students are exposed to many different research areas and encouraged to explore them. The diversity of research areas encompassed by Nanoscale Science almost guarantees that students from all science backgrounds will find something that interests them.

Previous degree: Lawrence University, BA in Chemistry

Nathan Behm

- Mechanical Engineering

Development of adiabatic shear bands in high density metals through modification of nanoscale grain size. Adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) are the primary form of deformation in high density materials such as depleted uranium, which helps improve penetration mechanics. Manipulation of metallic grain size at the micro- and nano-scale can help promote the development of ASBs in various high density metals. Methods of testing modified samples include: nano-indentation, dynamic nano-compression, and kolksy bar. I hope to continue this research with a government research facility after obtaining my degree.

The Ph.D. program at UNCC encourages an interdisciplinary approach to research, so that problems are tackled from various directions. By developing a background in chemistry, physics and engineering, research is no longer seen from only one viewpoint, and allows for solutions that may not have been considered otherwise.

Previous degree: B.S. Physics, American University, DC

Gaurav Singh

Jones Group - Chemistry

Study of multi-excitonic processes in semiconductor quantum dots.Coming from a engineering background and a desire to do some fundamental science, the Nanoscale Programme has proven to be a very good platform till now

Previous degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Faculty of Technology, Delhi University

Youfei Jiang

Xu Group - Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical characterization of nanostructures. It is important to understand the mechanical characteristics of these nanostructures prior to their future applications. The applied characterization methods are included: nanoindentation, tensile test, bending test, resonance vibration test, and buckling test. Nanoindentation on nanostructures is performed by employing a commercial nanoindenter. Other testing methods can be executed by using a home-built nanomanipulator inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Previous degree: Chongqing University - Applied Physics