MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2024
Department Highlights
I’m pleased to introduce you to another great year for Materials Science and Engineering at UConn.
We’ve fully settled into the new, 200,000 sq. ft. Institute of Materials Science, including the campus cleanroom. MSE faculty members are firmly positioned among the top leadership in our institution: Radenka Maric as the President, Pamir Alpay as the Vice President for Research, and now JC Zhao as the new Dean of our College of Engineering. Our faculty are collectively overseeing more than $50M of active research in their own groups, as part of an incredible $175M of overall team efforts. Diversity among our newest Ph.D. cohort exceeds 50%. Our incoming undergraduate cohort is twice as big as last year. And our U.S. News and World Report ranking improved yet again, this time to 34th nationwide, which also lifts us among the top 20 for public institutions.
I invite you to learn more about just some of many achievements by our faculty and researchers from the past year. Read about what motivates our diverse students and alumni. Discover the breadth of materials and industries in which we work. See examples of cutting-edge research and major publications. Hear about some of our faculty’s biggest grants. And celebrate our graduates, along with our student, faculty, and alumni award winners. Even enjoy our own whimsical contribution to the 2nd national championship in a row by our UConn Men’s Basketball team.
Most of all, please consider this as an invitation to reconnect with us here in Storrs. Arrange a visit. Engage with our students and faculty. Host an intern, or mentor a Senior Design project. Support our general fund, which last year helped to send 14 undergraduates to major conferences, underwrite our 96 attendee annual banquet, and reward 10 students with prizes for their academics, TA’ing, research, and leadership. Or donate to our scholarship funds, with more than $80,000 distributed among 29 students recognizing their achievements in the classroom and beyond. Help us realize our promise to our students to “Materialize Your Future.”
Bryan Huey Department Head
The World’s Smallest Basketball, from the Basketball Capital of the World
Laterally, the patterns are about 4-5 um. For comparison, a human hair is roughly 50 um. Hence, the world’s smallest basketball was chiseled here in Storrs.
As the UConn basketball team progressed through their season, another team of Huskies was hard at work for the love of the game. One UConn College of Engineering department pushed the boundaries of innovation by creating the world’s smallest basketball. Researchers from the materials science and engineering department, housed in the new Science 1 building, produced a basketball and Husky logo using the bestdepth-resolution nanolithography in the world.
“After we determined that our new technique worked, we wanted to do an eye-catching school spirit-related project,” said department head Bryan Huey. “A basketball and the Husky logo seemed to be a perfect way to celebrate UConn. It was fun watching our project take shape, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results!”
The pictures were “carved” into a crystalline substrate. The patterns are about 4-5 µm, with a depth of only 5 nm. Hence, the world’s smallest basketball was chiseled here in Storrs.
Huey’s team developed a technique to nanomachine patterns using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and a unique iterative feedback approach. The materials science and engineering faculty and students
Besides basketball and logos, the
is
for their pioneering Tomographic AFM work, studying future semiconductors, solar cells, metal alloys, and electromagnetic sensors—all with unprecedented nano-volumetric resolution.
developed nRasp over the last few years exclusively at UConn, improving existing AFM-based nanomachining.
“This technology expands on techniques developed in the last 25 years within materials science,” Huey said.
“The integrated feedback provides substantially more control, with an error of only 0.5 nm.”
The iterative feedback system continuously improves the nanomachined pattern structure. “It’s like a sculptor, working with finer and finer precision as the pattern takes shape,” Huey said.
The primary work involved conceptualizing the sequencing, writing custom code to control the microscope, and lots of engineering and iterations to achieve impressive nanopatterns and resolution. Besides basketball and logos, Huey’s group uses the technology for Tomographic AFM work, studying future semiconductors, solar cells, metal alloys, and electromagnetic sensors with unprecedented nanovolumetric resolution. They also create microscopic dinosaurs.
In the future, they will use it for failure analysis, nanomanufacturing, and fabricating ultrafine features on difficult-to-manipulate materials. “School spirit runs deep within our schools and departments,” said Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School Leslie Shor, an affiliated faculty member of the Institute of Materials Science. “Research innovation and providing a top-quality engineering education is our mission. We are lucky to be able to do that while still bleeding blue with pride for our top athletes.”
technology
used by Huey's group
MSE Department Head Bryan Huey
Based on Claire Tremont's article in UConn Today
College of Engineering Names New Dean
Ji-Cheng "JC" Zhao brings 30 years' experience working in academia, industry, and government
UConn’s College of Engineering enters a new chapter with the appointment of Ji-Cheng “JC” Zhao as its esteemed new dean, who began his tenure on August 12, 2024. Zhao previously served as the department chair of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Clark Distinguished Chair Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park.
“Dr. Zhao brings a wealth of experience from an illustrious career spanning academia, industry, and government,” said Anne D’Alleva, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “He is dedicated to building on the College of Engineering’s strengths, expanding its research footprint, fostering transformative educational programs, and advancing the College’s relationships with local, national, and international partners.”
Zhao joined the University of Maryland in 2019, where he managed complex budgets, led crossfunctional teams, and cultivated industry partnerships. His research interests include advanced alloys and coatings, additive manufacturing (3D printing), materials science methodologies, computational thermodynamics and kinetics, and hydrogen/energy storage materials.
Prior to Maryland, Zhao held positions at Ohio State University and served as a program director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E, overseeing projects totaling approximately $100 million.
Zhao earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in MSE from Central South University in China and his doctorate from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.
He has received numerous awards, including the William Hume-Rothery Award from TMS, and holds memberships in prestigious organizations such as the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Zhao has contributed significantly to the field
“JC” Zhao, Dean of the College of Engineering
through editorial roles and advisory positions for various journals and organizations.
Before his academic and government roles, Zhao spent 12 years at General Electric Research Center, earning the Albert W. Hull Award for his leadership and innovation in materials science.
Zhao succeeds Kazem Kazerounian, who returned to teaching and research after 12 years as dean.
During Kazerounian’s tenure, enrollment and research expenditures in the College of Engineering saw substantial growth, alongside increased industry partnerships offering scholarships to students.
“I am confident that Dean Zhao will bring fresh ideas, new perspectives, and renewed energy to UConn Engineering,” Kazerounian remarked. “I warmly welcome JC (as we affectionately call him) as he embarks on this journey to lead UConn Engineering. With his expertise and vision, I am excited for the continued growth and innovation of our college under his capable leadership.”
Based on UConn Today article by Claire Tremont
Ji-Cheng
Exploring Heavy Metals Along the Ocean Floor
UConn Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Xueju “Sophie”
Wang, has received a 2024 Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Wang is one of 24 awardees representing 20 institutions in 16 states who will share nearly $18 million in funding to conduct innovative scientific research benefitting science and technology for the Department of the Navy.
Wang has received $750,000 for her project: “A soft intelligent robot for self-digging, multimodal sensing, and in situ marine sediment analysis.” The proposed robot, an octopus-shaped device, will have pliable arms equipped with multimodal flexible electronic sensors able to elongate and dig into ocean sediment. The robot will determine conditions such as temperature, pressure, and concentrations of heavy metals in real time
while on the ocean floor.
Ocean pollutants, such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and pharmaceuticals, are often stored in marine sediment, especially in regions with intense industrial activities. Once accumulated, such pollutants pose significant threats to marine ecosystems and human health. Sediment analysis is crucial for assessing the marine environment.
The technology will address limitations in existing sediment analysis, which uses miniaturized electronic ocean sensors requiring high-pressure chambers and seals. Those devices also need larger power supplies and sensor systems.
The project builds on Wang’s prior work published in ACS Sensors. The 2021 paper introduces the concept of soft, pressure-tolerant, flexible
Meet the Two Faculty Members Enhancing the MSE Graduate Program
Professor Gregory Sotzing , a tenured full professor in UConn’s Chemistry department and a member of the Polymer Program at the Institute of Materials Science, will co-teach Polymer Synthesis (CHEM/CHEG 5380) with Professor Doug Adamson beginning in Fall 2024. Sotzing joined UConn in 1999 following a postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech, after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1997. His research centers on Polymer Sustainability, Wearable Electronics, and Energy, with expertise in molecule design, electrochemistry, and antioxidant evaluation. He invented polycannabinoids for biodegradable polymers, leading to the foundation of two startups: PolyC Polymers and Ommio Health. His group is also recognized for work on electrochromic devices and high-temperature dielectric polymers.
Associate Professor Xueju "Sophie" Young
electronic sensors that can operate under large hydrostatic pressure and salinity environments. The goal is to create a prototype for ocean testing.
“There is no device like ours that can dig into ocean sediment for in situ measurements,” says Wang.
Wang’s research crosses over biomedical engineering and materials science. Soft robotics and flexible electronic sensors have applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. In healthcare, Wang developed a smart bandage integrated with pressure sensors to speed up the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Agricultural applications include a robot that monitors ground conditions.
Established in 1985, the ONR YIP is one of the nation’s oldest and most selective basicresearch, early-career awards in science and technology. Its purpose is to fund tenure-track academic researchers whose scientific pursuits show outstanding promise for supporting the Department of Defense.
The 2024 YIP awardees were chosen from more than 220 applicants. Wang’s fellow recipients include researchers from Stanford University, Columbia University, Brown University, and
The soft, octopus-shaped robot has potential to increase understanding of the heavy metals lying in the sediment along the ocean floor.
others, pursuing a broad range of navalrelevant research topics.
In announcing the awards, Chief of Naval Research, Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus, noted the importance of identifying and attracting the nation’s brightest scientists and engineers in support of the innovation pursued by ONR in service to Marines and sailors. “The Young Investigator Program is critical to that goal,” he said.
Professor Brian Willis has joined our MSE graduate program while maintaining his primary affiliation with UConn's Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department. He teaches two MSE graduate courses: "Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design" and "Heterogeneous Catalysis and Surface Chemistry." With a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from MIT, Willis leads research in epitaxial oxides, scanning tunneling microscopy, tunneling spectroscopy, and nanoscale electrocatalysis. His group focuses on surface chemistry, atomic layer deposition, and chemical sensors, utilizing resources like the Harvard Center for Nanoscale Systems.
Based on Loretta Waldman's article in UConn Today
Breakthrough Papers Unveil Nano-scale Material Insights
Professor Bryan Huey, Head of the MSE Department, has coauthored two papers published in the prestigious journals Nature Materials and Advanced Materials.
Huey’s current and former Ph.D. students, including Dr. Karla Del Cid-Ledezma and Dr. Thomas Moran, are coauthors and led UConn’s important contributions to these multinational efforts. Both papers feature the Tomographic AFM method, unique to Huey's lab at UConn, providing otherwise inaccessible nano-volumetric insights into the functional properties of materials. The Advanced Materials paper studied the curvature of ferroelectric domain walls in multiferroic crystals, while the Nature Materials paper analyzed thicknessdependent morphologies of ferroelectric domains less than five unit cells thick.
The extreme resolution possible with UConn’s novel Tomographic AFM is demonstrated by the full 3-D map of ferroelectric domains (color, top), and magnified image just of domain walls (base), for a crystal of multiferroic ErMnO3 reported in the Advanced Materials publication. This work incorporated 403 raw images, 633 million total data voxels, and depth resolution better than 5 nm.
Jasna Jankovic named 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator
Associate Professor Jasna Jankovic has been recognized by the UConn College of Engineering as a winner of the 2024 Distinguished Engineering Educator Award. The DEE award is bestowed yearly on select engineering faculty for outstanding teaching and innovation at the undergraduate level.
Jankovic’s research is closely interconnected with her teaching, in which she uses creative ways to inspire students to learn. These methods include ideation, design and building of the UConn STEAM Tree, implementing of entrepreneurship aspects in engineering classes, and offering research experiences to undergrads in her lab. Jankovic’s friendly and inclusive teaching style is appreciated by her students, as stated in one of the student support letters. MSE undergrad Jaclyn Grace wrote, “Within my four years at UConn, I have yet to find another professor who loves and cares about each and every one of their students as much as Professor Jankovic. Lectures are tailored to the individual learning styles of those in her class, including having an online synchronous option for students who are traveling or sick, no questions asked.”
When asked how she feels upon receiving this award, Jankovic said that it means a lot to her. “I really care about how students experience learning – for me it is a holistic experience. Students need to be inspired, to enjoy the process, and to trust the instructor. It’s then that learning comes naturally.”
Jankovic has been with UConn's MSE Department since 2018. She received the Provost Letter of Teaching Excellence in 2019 and 2020, the AAUP Award for Special Achievements in 2021, and the prestigious NSF CAREER Award in 2021. This award included an innovative research component and a unique educational component using virtual reality. She recently received nearly $3 million in grants from the Department of Energy for her research on advanced nanomaterials, electrospinning, and templating nature designs for clean energy applications.
Jasna Jankovic, MSE Associate Professor
UConn Signs Contract with Air Force Research Laboratory
The $10.5 million contract supports research on manufacturing challenges for high-temperature applications together with RTX as industry partner.
UConn recently received $10.5 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for research on high-temperature materials and manufacturing processes. The funding will allow a team of seven faculty members from Materials Science and Engineering (Professors Aindow, Alpay, Frame, and Hebert), Civil and Environmental Engineering (Professor Kim), Mechanical Engineering (Professor Bilal), and Chemistry (Professor Suib) along with postdoctoral associates and graduate assistants to address challenges in the manufacturing of aerial systems intended to fly at high speed. Much of the four-year research project will focus on welding-related challenges for high-temperature metallic materials that are used for structures exposed to high speeds. The UConn team will combine experimental and theoretical approaches to help their collaborator, RTX, advance their manufacturing solutions. Additional project tasks address the behavior of non-metallic high-temperature materials under different processing and service conditions, additive manufacturing of high-temperature refractory metals, and the design and processing of metamaterials. These metamaterials are designed to change heatand electro-magnetic fields in and around structures and are considered to advance the thermal management of high-temperature structures.
The new AFRL project comes at the heels of previous and ongoing AFRL projects for UConn totaling over $15 million that involve over 15 faculty members from the Colleges of Engineering and Letters and Science with over 25 graduate students and postdoctoral associates. Covering research from functional materials and photonics to casting, welding, and additive manufacturing, the UConn team has established itself as a valuable partner for the AFRL and key industry partners, for example, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace.
Professor Rainer Hebert says of the contract, “The AFRL funding enables the UConn team to pursue materials processing research with a strong focus on industry and government relevance. Students and postdoctoral associates working on the project see firsthand how their research translates to industry. This insight will help in preparing a workforce that can pursue research excellence with a keen sense of the needs and constraints of industrial applications.”
FACULTY SNAPSHOTS
Associate Professor Sophie Wang serves as vice chair for technical committees in the Materials Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which fosters research and the dissemination of key technical information in mechanical engineering.
Associate Professor Jasna Jankovic, along with industry colleagues and UConn students, co-edited and co-authored *PEM Fuel Cells – Characterization and Modeling*, published in 2023 by De Gruyter. The book serves as a resource for graduate students and professionals, covering fundamental and advanced techniques in PEM fuel cell characterization and modeling.
FACULTY SNAPSHOTS
Professor Bryan Huey, Head of the MSE Department, is co-chairing the PacRim 2025 Conference in Vancouver. The bi-annual PacRim conference brings together experts in Ceramic and Glass Technology, collaborating with ceramics societies from Pacific Rim countries such as the USA, Japan, China, Korea, and Australia. With over 2500 attendees expected, the conference has become a premier platform for advancing discussions on cutting-edge ceramics and glass technologies.
Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Inducted into Plastics Hall of Fame
Dr. Laurencin was recognized for his work in pioneering the field of regenerative engineering and utilizing polymeric materials in medical devices, biologics, and pharmaceuticals, helping large numbers of people.
Induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame is based on high accomplishment and dedication to the advancement of the global industry of plastics.
UConn Engineering Honors Top Alumni
In the spring, the UConn College of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Engineers welcomed its newest group of inductees, honoring the remarkable achievements of some of the university’s most distinguished engineers. Among the honorees were two distinguished alumni from the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) program, each recognized for their significant contributions to the field.
MSE alumna Jacquelynn Garofano earned her doctorate in materials science and engineering from UConn 2011. She began her career as a research scientist at United Technologies Research Center (now RTX) and has since risen to the position of chief technology officer at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, where she continues to drive innovation in the state's tech sector.
MSE alumnus Daniel Goberman, Ph.D. 2002, earned his doctorate in materials science and engineering after completing his bachelor’s in physics in 1994. Goberman is now a senior technical fellow for Materials Characterization at RTX Technologies Research Center, where his expertise plays a vital role in advancing research and development. He also serves on the external advisory board and as adjunct faculty for UConn's MSE department.
These inductions highlight the significant contributions of MSE alumni to the engineering field, showcasing their diverse and impactful careers.
New and Ongoing Research
UConn MSE’s 20 core faculty began $10M in new research grants over the past year. This is part of over $50M in projects among our laboratories within UConn’s Institute of Materials Science (Science 1), Center for Clean Energy Engineering, Innovation Partnership Building, and UConn Health Center.
Mark Aindow AFRL, ARL, Collins Aerospace Pratt & Whitney, ONR
Pamir Alpay NSF, AFRL, AFOSR
Avinash Dongare N NSA, ONR, UConn
Alexander Dupuy UConn Startup
Lesley Frame N IST, Army, AFRL, ONR , CT DOT, Industry (NDA protected)
Puxian Gao NSF, DOE, NIST
Rainer Hebert A FRL, ONR, ArcelorMittal
Bryan Huey A FRL, Dept. of Education, Industry
Jasna Jankovic NSF, DOE
Cato Laurencin NSF, DHHS/NIH, RW Johnson Foundation, NASA, Dept. of Education
Seok-Woo Lee DOE
Fiona Leek N ASA, Industry (NDA protected)
Radenka Maric DOE
Serge Nakhmanson O NR, AFRL, RTX, Collins Aerospace
Volkan Ortalan A FOSR, AFRL
George Rossetti Industry (NDA protected)
Sophie Wang NSF, NIH, AFRL, ONR
Ji-Cheng Zhao DOE, ARL
Xiao-Dong Zhou DOE
Yuanyuan Zhu NSF, PNNL, DOE, ACS PRF, UConn
This just in: UConn MSE core faculty have already learned of more than $60M in new grants to begin during 2024-2025!
PRABHAKAR SINGH , UTC Endowed Chair
Professor in MSE and prior director of the UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering, is retiring after 15 years of dedicated service to the institution and our profession. As a fellow with the American Ceramics Society, and the American Society for Metals, Prabhakar’s expertise in oxidation, corrosion, advanced energy systems, and high temperature alloys were fundamental to his professional achievements. Singh will remain active as an emeritus professor, continuing to contribute especially to Department of Energy and NASA focused projects.
FACULTY SNAPSHOTS
Assistant Professor Lesley Frame recently completed her term as president of the Heat Treating Society, an affiliate of ASM International. She currently serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) and will assume the role of President in October 2025.
Associate Professor Jasna Jankovic has been awarded the prestigious FraunhoferBessel Research Award, in recognition of her outstanding academic contributions. Nominated by Dr. Nada Zamel from the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany, this award honors Professor Jankovic’s entire academic record to date. As part of the award, she will have the opportunity to collaborate with German colleagues on a research project of her choice. The award is sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which fosters global academic cooperation across all disciplines.
A Materials Student’s Mission to Increase Latino Engagement in STEM ADVANCING DIVERSITY
Ph.D. student Luis Ortiz's passion for materials science was ignited during his undergraduate years at the Universidad de Puerto Rico - Humacao, where he was involved in research focused on physics applied to electronics. He revealed, "In my Applied Physics department in Puerto Rico, we have a program mainly focused on materials research. Based on my experience there, I fell in love with the material science field and decided to pursue my graduate studies in this area."
Ortiz became exposed to the UConn MSE program through various fellowships he applied to throughout his undergraduate years. He revealed, “We didn't have much information about UConn in Puerto Rico. As a minority student, I decided to apply for fellowship opportunities that could help me succeed in graduate school at universities in the USA. I also applied to this specific program called the Bridge to the Doctorate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation while I was an undergraduate student. This is a two-year fellowship that helps you bridge between undergraduate and graduate school, and they supported me through the start of my Ph.D. They have a network of universities inside the program, and UConn was one of the listed colleges.”
During the two-year fellowship, Ortiz was introduced to Professor Bryan Huey, who currently heads the MSE department and serves as his advisor. Luis admits feeling supported by Professor Huey and the other department faculty members. He remarked, “Many people here are willing to mentor students and see us become better professionals. My advisor has been one of them.” Ortiz acknowledged the support he receives from MSE faculty members to pursue his dreams and their confidence in his ability to achieve them. “I feel supported and validated in terms of how we pursue our path and work to achieve our goals,” he said.
Currently, Ortiz is conducting research on material properties, primarily using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and its advanced extensions. In simpler terms, he explains, “I'm currently working on an alternative
type of solar cells. These ‘Halide Perovskite’ systems use far less energy and raw materials to manufacture but can be just as efficient. However, the main problem that they have is stability. No one has yet figured out how to make them last longer. So, everyone is competing to understand and eventually sell the best product.”
When explaining how his research transfers and relates to the real world, Ortiz stated, “Traditional silicon solar cells have been around for years. We know how they work, and they have been in the market for decades now. However, they are still relatively expensive. With this research we are really part of a worldwide effort to develop this new kind of solar cell that should be up to five times cheaper than traditional panels. This would make alternative renewable energy systems so much more accessible in the future.”
Professor Huey notes, “Luis is studying the performance of this new solar cell technology at one of the finest levels of resolution in the world. It is groundbreaking work and required him to develop new protocols to learn the most from his incredibly challenging measurements. This is only one of Luis’ great strengths, though—he’s also a great speaker, passionate about expanding diversity in engineering, and so Luis has also become a wonderful ambassador for UConn Engineering to help us inspire and recruit future students especially from institutions back home in Puerto Rico.”
Ortiz participated in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program for four consecutive summers, gaining knowledge and skills that shaped him into a scholar and problem solver. His journey began at NASA, where he studied heliophysics, focusing on solar radiation's effects on space electronics and astronaut health. The next summer at Michigan State University, he delved into Nuclear Physics, exploring fundamental forces and innovative nuclear energy solutions. At Princeton University, Ortiz contributed to developing testing mechanisms for functional electronics. Finally,
Luis Ortiz, MSE graduate student
at Brigham Young University, he researched magnetic properties in data storage applications, a key area in the MSE field.
Reminiscing on these experiences, Ortiz expressed with gratitude, “They all gave me the tools I needed to understand what I wanted to do next and expand my knowledge in some other areas too. For example, we do a lot of data processing and coding in our lab. This is something I did during my first two internships as well. All of these experiences helped me forge the professional who I have become today.” In addition to these opportunities, Ortiz also had a four-month internship at Mott Corporation in 2022 as a Research and Development Intern.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Ortiz was very involved with the Material Research Society (MRS) University Chapter at UConn and was elected President by its student members for 2021-2022. And, as his advisor noted earlier, Luis was invited by the UConn College of Engineering to join in several trips to Puerto Rico for student recruiting. He got to visit several universities throughout Puerto Rico, engaging with students and professors. They set up booths on campuses and offered interactive class participation activities to introduce the students to topics often discussed at UConn. Ortiz asserts that his main goal for participating in this program is to expose students in Puerto Rico to opportunities and resources and confirm that they can receive economic and academic support to attend graduate school.
Ortiz wants to be seen as a testament to the opportunities that arise when support is provided. He professed, “A lot of people don't know that they can get funded while pursuing their graduate degrees. This is an important aspect to consider in order to encourage other people to pursue this path, especially those who do not have resources of their own. I also think there should be more minority participation in graduate programs to show diverse representation in grad school. For many groups, including international students, people of color, and Latinos, this is the best way to let them know earning an advanced degree at UConn or elsewhere is possible, and that a support community will be available too. We are all striving for the best version of ourselves to make a change in society and contribute to a better future.”
Ortiz has seen academic success translate into multiple accolades, including winning 1st place in the 2023 College of Engineering Poster Presentation for the MSE
division and earning the UConn Material Science and Engineering Outstanding Leadership Award in 2022. Reflecting on the latter recognition, Luis affirmed, “This was a great opportunity to develop my leadership skills and be exposed to other people involved in materials research and other organizations. I wanted to get exposure with those beyond UConn, do more networking, build my confidence in talking to people, and improve many other life skills.” As a scholar, Ortiz, in collaboration with others, has published three papers and submitted two, with two more currently in the process of being submitted.
After completing his Ph.D., Ortiz hopes to continue working in research and emerge as a leader in a technologically advanced field. He credits UConn for preparing him for his future career. He claimed, “I want to work in an industry lab, and I also want to use my skills to lead others and have a research group in the future.”
Ortiz emphasized one word when asked about advice he would give students aspiring to pursue MSE research. He said, “Do your research to understand exactly what you're getting into. Something very good about materials science and engineering is that this is a very multidisciplinary field. So, just get involved in reading and understanding the path that you want to follow. Get exposed, talk to people, talk to your advisors, professors, and other grad students, and then dive in.”
Find What Research Is the Best Fit For You
Cassidy Atkinson, a final year materials science and engineering (MSE) Ph.D. candidate, discovered her passion for MSE during her undergraduate college tours because of its wide-ranging applications across various fields. “I like how broad a field it is because it is truly relating to everything, but everyone’s research is so niche.”
Throughout her time at UConn, Atkinson had several inspirational professors. “Professor Alpay and Professor Frame have stood out to me as being professors that I look up to and I feel comfortable having a conversation with, whether research related or not. Other faculty members in the department have also taught me a lot, including Professors Nakhmanson, Goberman, Brody, and Lee. They are all very knowledgeable in their fields and I think their enthusiasm for it comes off clearly in the way they teach and interact with their students.”
During her sophomore year of undergrad, Atkinson received a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) award, a competitive accolade where applicants propose summer research projects. Her winning project, titled Chemical Trends in Al-Cu and Al-Ag Interfaces from First-principles Theory, was guided by her faculty mentor Professor Pamir Alpay.
Also during her undergraduate studies, Atkinson participated in multiple projects with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), an experience that she credits with
shaping her decision to pursue a Ph.D. “I already knew that I wanted to pursue higher education. Being at the research lab and talking to the professional researchers there helped me realize that it would be beneficial for me personally to go directly to graduate school after finishing undergrad. I think if I had taken a break and gone into industry instead, I would’ve had a difficult time going back to school.”
Atkinson proceeded to delve into her past research endeavors, detailing how they paved the way for the research she currently conducts as a grad student. “I started doing density functional theory (DFT) as an undergrad and I really enjoyed doing computational research, so I decided to keep pursuing it as my graduate research. I wanted to learn more about the computational side of things for my Ph.D. A lot of my current research focuses on seeing the impact of impurities on properties and structural stability of various material systems. I mostly focus on ceramics, but am also working on a side project looking at the effects of impurities on aluminum.”
Atkinson's research has resulted in three publications on topics such as silicon carbide grain boundaries, enhancing the electro-optic effect in HfO2 and ZrO2, and analyzing the local atomic environment in calcium lanthanum sulfide ceramics. Additionally, she is currently working on two more papers focusing on calcium lanthanum sulfide and aluminum impurities.
In 2023, Atkinson embarked on a six-month research project in France through the Chateaubriand Fellowship. This prestigious grant, awarded by the embassy of France in the United States, aims to support outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities pursuing research opportunities in France. “It was a great experience to see how research is done in a different country. I really enjoyed the people that I worked with and the environment that I was in. It helped me grow as a researcher and learn how to communicate my own research more clearly.”
When asked what advice she has for any current MSE students, Atkinson said, “It is important to get involved in research. If a professor is doing research that interests you, reach out to them and see if there is any opportunity for you to join their lab. Don’t be afraid to reach out to multiple professors and find what research is the best fit for you.”
STUDENT ADVOCACY IN ACTION
MSE Delegation’s Impactful Congressional Visits Day
Five materials science and engineering (MSE) undergraduate students from UConn packed their bags and headed to Washington, DC, in April for ‘Congressional Visits Day.’ This event, organized by Material Advantage – the student association for the four main MSE professional societies (ASM International, TMS, AIST, and ACerS) – brought together students from across the nation. Leading the UCMA (UConn Material Advantage Student Chapter) delegation was Jaclyn Grace (’24), the outgoing UCMA president, accompanied by the newly elected executive board members Benjamin Gwinnell (’25), Connor Storicks (’26), Thatcher Slocum (’28), and Rachel Harris (’26).
“The goal of the event is to speak to Congressional Legislators and their teams about the importance of research in materials science, engineering and manufacturing, and the recent cut in R&D (research and development) funding,” Senior MSE major, Jaclyn Grace, explained. “There was a cut of over 6% federally, which greatly impacts the colleges and universities in our country. We were not lobbying for Connecticut specifically, but for R&D and educational funding for STEM in general.”
During the event, students had quick sit-downs with staffers to talk about how federal funding hits home for them. Some meetings were as short as ten minutes in duration, but Jaclyn felt like the response rate was high.
“Our meetings mostly consisted of staffers telling us that they will look for letters and bills that support our cause, and will try to move them up on their lists of importance,” she said.
UConn’s meetings were with John Larson (CT 1), Rosa DeLauro (CT 3), Richard Blumenthal (CT Senate), and Andy Kim (NJ 3). “I think what stood out to me most was how kind the staffers are. Even though they are busy and overbooked, they faced us with kindness and genuinely listened to what we were saying. Most didn’t know what MSE was, and being able to speak about our individual experiences was important.”
Jaclyn shared that the highlight of the event was an unexpected meeting with Congressman Joe Courtney.
“We ended up meeting him completely by surprise, as we initially had a meeting with one of his staffers. Our meeting took place in his office, so upon his return, he joined our meeting. Getting to meet with the actual Congresspeople and Senators is not common during this event since they are so busy, so it was a welcome surprise. He was very excited to talk to us about submarines, welding, and manufacturing. Since Rachel, Ben, and myself are all from District 2, our meeting felt extremely personal. He brought up the importance of educational funding in each of our hometowns. In my case specifically, he told me about his recent visit to my prior high school–Westbrook High. They have become a golden standard of tailoring their education to learning styles of many different students and providing alternative opportunities through a partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat. It showed that he truly cares about the people he is representing.”
Overall, Jaclyn summarized Congressional Visits Day not as a conference, but an opportunity. “The event was very self-motivated, as the total impact of the day was based on the students’ proactivity and personal experiences that they shared. I think everyone should participate in a congressional visit if they get the chance, because it’s important to fight for the things that are personally meaningful. It doesn’t necessarily have to be education or R&D, but the more that elected officials hear from their constituents about the things we’re passionate about, the more likely that our issues are to be addressed. You never know how big of an impact you can have, but you do know that nothing will ever change if you don’t make an effort.”
From left: Jaclyn Grace, Ben Gwinnell, Rachel Harris, with Rep. Joe Courtney (2nd from right)
STUDENT AWARDS
GRADUATE AWARDS
OUTSTANDING TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Shao-Hao Lu
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP
Drew Cietek
R. Andres Ortiz Godoy
BEST STUDENT SPEAKING COMPETITION
Byung Gun Jun
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH
Ching Chen
DEPARTMENT RECOGNITION
Cassidy Atkinson
Martin Birnbach
BEST ELEVATOR PITCH COMPETITION
1st Place: Phillip Tsurkan
2nd Place: Chenxin Deng
3rd Place: Kenneth Looby
UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Jaclyn Grace
OUTSTANDING RESEARCH
Aurora Buswell
Matthew Maramo
OUTSTANDING TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
Leena Alam
Christian Sabatini
STUDENT OF THE YEAR (Freshman/Sophomore)
Wyeth Haddock
Reid Morrow
Thatcher Slocum
A Look into the Life of an IPOEF Inspiration Award Winner
When Audrey Larson was sixteen years old, she received her first patent for a system that helped reduce carbon emissions from cars on highways. At seventeen years old, she received her second patent - this one for a bullet proof barrier to help protect students during the event of a school shooting.
In high school, Audrey started the Inventors Club through the CT Invention Convention. “It was a response to COVID-19,” she explained. “During the pandemic student inventors around the state who would normally work on their inventions in school lost the ability to do so. The Inventors Club was an afterschool opportunity for those students to connect virtually and work on their inventions together.”
At UConn, Audrey is an undergraduate who is doublemajoring in materials science and engineering (MSE) and civil engineering. “My reasoning for choosing MSE stems from my interest in engineering, which started with participation in the CT Invention Convention program. This program introduced me to the career of engineering while I was in elementary school, and it was then that I realized I wanted to be an engineer. My specific interest in MSE came in high school when I did the Explore Engineering (E2) summer camp at UConn, which allowed me to learn about different engineering majors. Up until that point in my life I had no idea MSE even existed, and it was after this that I knew MSE was for me. It blends my love of engineering with chemistry and allows me to be interdisciplinary.”
UConn’s research opportunities are a large part of why Audrey chose to attend. “I knew UConn is an R1 university and I really loved the idea of doing research while in school. This hope ended up coming true, as I began to do research the summer before my freshman year - before I was even a husky!”
Audrey is most interested in additive manufacturing (3D printing) and how materials science plays into that field. Her favorite class so far has been Professor Rainer Hebert’s thermodynamics class. “The course material was so fun, and he used real world examples to explain the concepts, which made it much easier to grasp.”
It was in Audrey’s dorm room freshman year that she started her first of two companies - Unfolded and Geomate. “Unfolded was formed to give student artists a platform. Through the company we sell sustainable shirts and jewelry that have the designs of myself, my business partner, and other UConn students who we contract out to create designs. Geomate is an earlier stage venture that was founded out of the UConn Student Health and Wellness program, Innovate Wellness. Geomate is an app that is made to help students feel safer when they are walking alone at night on campus.”
In 2023 Audrey was the recipient of the IPO Education Foundation (IPOEF) Inspiration Award, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution by promoting and championing intellectual property rights for, and on behalf of, members of underrepresented communities. “I was absolutely honored to earn the award from IPOEF for my work in intellectual property (IP). I have always tried to support others in their pursuit of IP and to help make way for other students like me who are interested in protecting their IP. Through the CT Invention Convention and the years I worked with them, I have developed a love for inventing and for meeting and working with other student inventors like myself.”
Department Head Bryan Huey notes: “Audrey’s passion about materials, and entrepreneurial successes, are clearly extraordinary. They’re also representative of a consistent theme among our majors, alumni, and faculty, since we are continually discovering new materials to improve engineered designs that impact our everyday lives. In fact, at that same IPOEF awards ceremony, Professor Cato Laurencin was recognized as their inventor of the year!”
During the spring semester and summer, Audrey completed a co-op at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in
Houston. She worked in the Thermal Design Branch on heat shield materials for the Artemis Program and other space projects. Audrey appreciated the mix of hands-on lab work and analytical tasks, as well as the opportunity to rotate through different departments and collaborate with commercial partners like SpaceX and Sierra Space. "It challenged me in many ways both personally and professionally, but overall, taking a semester off, moving to a different place, and having a co-op experience like this is absolutely something I would recommend to other students," she said. Audrey looks forward to returning to NASA next summer, where she will be working in the Active Thermal Design and Life Support Systems branch to learn more about active methods of thermal protection and regulation on spacecraft. When asked how UConn’s MSE department has helped her work towards her career goals, Audrey said, “UConn MSE continues to have a curriculum that lets its students explore all areas of MSE, from biomaterials to energy. This has helped me pinpoint my interests in a positive way. The MSE environment here is very tight knit, and I know I can always rely on my classmates!”
MSE undergraduate student Audrey Larson at the NASA Space Center in Houston, TX.
Senior Design 2024 MSE
Casting of 80/30 Cu-Ni Plates for Ductility-Dip
Cracking Examination
Team Members
Steiny Duong
Kelley Huebscher
Miguel Ticsay
Industry Sponsor: General Dynamics Electric Boat
Industry Advisors: Vincent Mangino, Sarah Siddiqui
Faculty Advisor: Lesley Frame
Stainless Steel Passivation Using Citric Acid
Team Members
Kevin Li
Matthew Maramo
Industry Sponsor: ARKA
Industry Advisor: James Jerolimo
Faculty Advisor: Alexander Dupuy
Bio-based Door Components Footprint
Team Members
Jaclyn Grace
Yuexuan Gu
Industry Sponsor: ASSA ABLOY
Industry Advisors: Dan Glover, Dan Picard
Faculty Advisor: Fiona Leek
Mechanical Testing and Characterization of Different Steel Braze Joint Configurations
Team Members
Matthew Gorman
Abbey Kozikowski
Industry Sponsor: HarcoSemco
Industry Advisors: Robert Croce, Royce Labriola
Faculty Advisor: Fiona Leek
Joint-on-a-chip Osteoarthritis Disease Modeling for Evaluating Anti-inflammatory Drug Performance
Team Members
Charlotte Chen
BME Teammates: Allison Determan
Sanjana Nistala
Jenna Salvatore
Industry Sponsor: UConn Tissue Engineering Science and Technology (TEST) Laboratory
Industry Advisor: Syam Nukavarapu
Faculty Advisor: Fiona Leek
Investigation in Additive Manufacturing: Microstructural and
Mechanical Properties
Team Members
Kieran Kelly Jiahan Sun Zichen Wang
Industry Sponsor: Mott Corporation
Industry Advisor: Vincent Palumbo
Faculty Advisor: Volkan Ortalan
Hybrid Composite Split Case Design
Team Members
Bennett Spencer Alexander Ugarte
Industry Sponsor: Pratt & Whitney
Industry Advisors: Darin Lussier, Connor Perry
Faculty Advisor: Xueju Wang
GET INVOLVED
With 20 faculty and nearly 250 members, we're advancing materials for tomorrow. Your donation will directly boost our research, education, and outreach, helping students shape their futures.
For more on matching donations, endowments, lab naming, equipment donations, sponsored lectures, events, or other giving opportunities (including potential tax benefits), contact Department Head Bryan Huey.
EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MATERIALS ENGINEERS Support UConn MSE
SENIOR DESIGN
Become a Senior Design industry partner at UConn's top-ranked Engineering program. Access exceptional student talent, expert faculty, and cutting-edge labs.
Students in the No. 1 public MSE program in the Northeast enjoy top employment, internship, and scholarship opportunities, first-rate faculty instruction with the best faculty-student ratio in the College of Engineering, and numerous hands-on research opportunities. The Senior Design project offers real-world engineering experience and industry collaboration.
As an industry partner, you can expect expert interactions with UConn MSE. That includes polished project updates and documentation, secure proprietary information, data from $2M worth of equipment in the undergraduate labs alone, and a direct recruiting pipeline to our skilled students. For more information, visit: mse.engr.uconn.edu/senior-design.
DEPARTMENT OF
Materials Science & Engineering
University of Connecticut
25 King Hill Road, Unit 3136
Storrs, CT 06269-3136
mse@uconn.edu mse.engr.uconn.edu
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT (22156)
This account supports the overall efforts of the MSE Department with a primary focus on opportunities for students, professional networking, investments in our teaching labs, and outreach. These funds also help students attend conferences, and support our active Materials Research, Student Advantage, 3D Printing, and Metalworking Clubs.
THE BOLAND/DEVEREUX MSE UNDERGRADUATE EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP (31727)
The funds are used to provide undergraduate meritbased scholarships in honor of James Boland and Owen Devereux to students in the MSE Program. In 2024, $80,600 was awarded recognizing the accomplishments of 29 of our students.
CHECKS PAYABLE TO: The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. CREDIT CARD: Gift Line @ 800.269.9965 or 860.486.5000 ONLINE: www.foundation.uconn.edu
SECURITIES: To make a gift of stock, please call: 860.486.6944
Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE GRADUATES
Charlotte Chen
Evron Foster
Jaclyn Jennifer Grace
Kelley Anne Huebscher
Isabela Maria Kay
Priyamvada Kishore
Benjamin Henry Labkovsky
Kevin Li
Tianyi Lyu
Matthew Scott Maramo
Jiahan Sun
Meshkath Ullaha
Pablo Jose Zarama
GRADUATES WITH MSE MINOR
Cristian A. López Colón
Lauren Alexis Dagostino
Allison Bridget Fleming
Quishana Kelly Gillett
Davien Gomes
Patricia Lee Gorton
James Michael Grieco III
Katelyn Marie Honegger
Ryan Daniel Hunt
Rudin Lloga
Thaonguyen Michelle Nguyen
Sanjana Umavalli Nistala
Michael Alexander Nogaj
Vaughan Christian Peverly
Jenna Devi Salvatore
Megan Elizabeth Shiring
Sayara Silwal
Madeline Marie Stevens
Hailey Tam
MASTER OF SCIENCE GRADUATES
Fayaz Muhammad Arif
Kenneth Anthony Thomas Looby
Jay Scala
MASTER OF ENGINEERING GRADUATES
Amber Alexandrovich
Brandon McCraw
Patrick Murphy
Carl Rizzo
PHD GRADUATES
CAN CUI
Doctoral Dissertation: Nano-engineered Transition Metalbased Electrocatalysts for Highly-enhanced Oxygen
Evolution Reaction
Major Advisor: Pu-Xian Gao
UMMAY HABIBA
Doctoral Dissertation: Powder Spreading and Thermal Diffusivity Studies for Additive Manufacturing
Major Advisor: Rainer Hebert
JANOS EDWIN KANYO
Doctoral Dissertation: Evaluation of Strontium Zirconate Ceramics for Investment Casting of Advanced Alloys
Major Advisor: Lesley Frame
MINGXUAN LI
Doctoral Dissertation: Additive Manufacturing of Al-Cr-Co-Mn-Zr Alloys Containing Icosahedral Quasicrystalline Dispersoids
Major Advisor: Mark Aindow
YI LI
Doctoral Dissertation: Reconfigurable Liquid Crystal Elastomer and Multistable Structures for Intelligent Systems
Major Advisor: Xueju "Sophie" Wang
SHAYANI PARIDA
Doctoral Dissertation: Design/Discovery of Layered Anode Materials for Metal-Ion Batteries using Density
Functional Theory and Machine Learning
Major Advisor: Avinash Dongare
R. SHARON UWANYUZE
Doctoral Dissertation: Investigation of Strontium Zirconate Refractories for Preventing Metal-mold Reactions during Casting of Titanium Alloys
Major Advisor: Pamir Alpay
MSE Alumna
Recognized by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
MSE alumna Sharon Uwanyuze ’23 Ph.D. was featured on The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education's list of ‘Five Black Scholars Who Are Taking on New Assignments at Universities.’ Uwanyuze is now an assistant teaching professor of materials science and engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, specializing in metallurgical engineering with expertise in non-ferrous alloys, metalmold reactions, and investment casting.
At UConn, Uwanyuze earned her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering in 2023 and completed a Graduate Certificate in College Instruction in 2022. She was actively involved on campus, serving as President of Grad Black Stem, the UConn chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, and participating in the His Branches Adventurer Club, a local children's program.
Uwanyuze received the UConn MSE Teaching Excellence Award and the General Electric (GE) Fellowship, recognizing her contributions and innovation in teaching. Department Head Bryan Huey says, “Sharon impressed many of us throughout her time in UConn MSE. I’m especially pleased that she is continuing in academics, because I’m sure she will be an inspiration to her current and future students. This is yet another example of the incredible impact our alumni make beyond Storrs after they graduate.”
From Formula 1 to Nanocalorimetry
MSE alumna Lakshmi Ravi Narayan has known she’s wanted to be an engineer since she was eight years old. “I was watching Formula 1 races and thinking about how fascinating the jobs were in the garages and pit walls. As I progressed in my education and career, I became interested in manufacturing processes and the underlying science behind them, which is how I found myself in the field of materials science and engineering (MSE).”
Lakshmi received her Ph.D. in MSE in 2022, and mentioned multiple UConn professors that inspired her. “My Ph.D. advisor, Professor Rainer Hebert, showed me that research is not about the number of publications, but rather the quality and value of the work that we do. He also taught me that playing by the rules is more important than gaming the system, and that a good balance of work and life is necessary. I now know that a supervisor should be understanding, flexible, and kind, because that type of an environment brings out the best in people.”
“Professor Lesley Frame is the kind of researcher I hope to be,” Lakshmi continued. “She has such a depth and breadth of knowledge that one comes out of an interaction with her having learned so much and with renewed insight into one’s own work. She is able to see so much in a piece of data and can foresee so much even before you complete an experiment.”
Lakshmi then spoke highly of Professor Harold Brody. “He has always made me feel good about myself –even when I was a half-baked experimentalist – and that helped me a lot during my Ph.D. work. I am proud to have had one of the biggest names in the field on my committee, but I will value him most for always building me up.”
Currently, Lakshmi works for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a foreign guest researcher. “NIST has a global reputation that is unmatched, particularly in the field of metallurgy and thermal analysis – my chosen areas of research. When I would use a method or technique and cite a NIST work for it, Professor Hebert never questioned it, and I wanted to go work at the place where the quality of research is of that caliber.”
When asked what her job typically involves, Lakshmi said, “I am at the postdoctoral stage of my career, which varies in nature from place to place. At NIST, some postdocs go on to academia after a couple of years, and their projects are short-term, but others who intend to stay pick up longer term projects. My group at NIST is now working on a few CHIPS-funded projects, and my project involves applying thermal analysis techniques to semiconductor devices – scaling down calorimetry to the nano-scale. We make the chips on which the experiment runs, the associated electronics and instrumentation, and the Labview codes to run them. Then there’s the experiment itself. This is a rather uphill path for me as I had never made chips before or encountered circuits beyond an undergraduate textbook.”
Lakshmi’s current work is something called the Nanocalorimetry project. “What we do is develop
thermal analysis techniques at the nanoscale, to study the effect of rapid thermal cycling on the performance of semiconductor materials and devices. You know when you’re scrolling through instagram and your phone gets too hot, until one day it dies? That’s what we’re working to prevent.”
“It is definitely a privilege to work alongside some of the most brilliant people,” Lakshmi said regarding her favorite part of her job. “In fact, as I type this, there is a Nobel laureate in the building across the courtyard! While very arduous, the huge upskill from what I was doing before to what I can do now is very satisfying. It is indeed rare to be able to do fundamental research with all the resources at one’s disposal.”
When asked about the most difficult part of her job, Lakshmi explained, “Making chips is physically exhausting, and trying to keep up with very brilliant people in things like electronics and circuitry that are outside my ken can be hard on the spirit – but I try to focus on the kind of researcher I am going to be. That makes it alright.”
Lakshmi also mentioned several ways that interested individuals could get involved at NIST. “NIST is always seeking postdocs, but often the positions are not posted formally. That is because they can be tweaked to suit the interests of the applicant. I encourage Ph.D. students to directly contact the person at NIST whose work seems interesting. The NRC program is open to citizens and there are postings on the website, but there are other means to be hired as well. CHIPS is looking for many postdocs to hire right away and is open to everyone. I also recommend the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) to undergraduates who would like to experience a large lab and do hands-on work, but with a healthy side of fun.”
Networking with alumni can be incredibly important for students of any major. It can provide amazing opportunities, open doors that were previously closed, and help pave the path to the career a student is striving for.
Lakshmi’s final words of advice to current and prospective MSE students are as follows: “If you are good at it, you can make a living out of it. If you are comfortable with math and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, MSE is for you.”
Lakshmi Ravi Narayan, UConn MSE alumna (‘22), conducting experiments on chip-sensors that she fabricated in one of the clean room facilities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
How to Have Fun in a Ph.D. Program
“Believe it or not, I decided to be a materials scientist when I was ten,” said Gyuho Song, UConn MSE alum (‘20). “To be precise, I decided to 'invent a new material' after watching an animation about a miniature car on TV. It was a fictional unbreakableyet-strong ceramic and I thought it was really cool. (I didn`t know there is a trade-off between ductility and strength when I was ten - I learned that as an undergraduate.) From there, I fell in love with physics and math in high school, went to study materials science and engineering (MSE) in undergrad, and came to the US for an MSE master`s degree in 2014.” When asked which professors inspired him the most during his time at UConn, Song listed four.
Professor Bryan Huey, Song remembered, was kind to all. Song was a self-funding student, looking everywhere for research assistance. When Professor Huey got funding for a new project, he called Song to ask if he was interested in joining the team. Song credits that opportunity as the reason he managed to continue his studies and get to where he is today. Professor Avinash Dongare’s teaching was so incredible, Song said, that he could not stop studying and playing with what he had learned from the course. Professor Dongare helped him to see the world completely differently, and is the reason he began to learn computation, machine learning, and cloud computing. Professor George Rossetti’s class, Song added, showed him materials science on a completely different level than what he was used to, and had him beginning to think about how amazing MSE knowledge can be in the real-world industry.
Professor Seok-Woo Lee, Song’s advisor, was the best fit for him. As a curious person, Song likes to try new things, and Professor Lee allowed him to do so - as long as he got his work done. With Professor Lee’s patience and guidance, they even turned one of Song’s curiosity-driven projects into a publication.
Professor Lee speaks highly of his experience advising Song. “Gyuho is a very inquisitive person who was always willing to learn new things. He always had many research ideas and did not hesitate to share and discuss them with me. I enjoyed talking with him a lot. Even though he was interested in many different topics, he never lost his deep focus on his research. I feel that Gyuho is a born-to-be researcher.”
MSE alumnus Gyuho Song (’20), Ph.D., senior engineer for Frore Systems, adjusting a grip for the mechanical test of materials.
Currently, Song works as a senior engineer for Frore Systems in San Jose, California. “While at UConn, I attended many entrepreneurship seminars and was fascinated by many startups. As a materials scientist and engineer, Frore being a Silicon Valley tech startup was too awesome not to jump on. I considered it an adventure because the company was still in stealth mode when I applied, and there was not much information about it online.”
“At Frore Systems, like any startup, new problems pop up everywhere, out of nowhere, everyday,” Song explained. “My job is to figure things out - to find a way to investigate the root cause. On top of that, it’s a very fast-paced environment. When we have a meeting at 10am and I am assigned to figure out a problem, I read papers and study theories, put things together, and make sure to have some preliminary experimental data gathered by 4pm the same day. When it works, it feels good to be a scientist! When it doesn't, I miss all the resources available at UConn (SEM, TEM, XRD, nanoindentation, etc.).”
One of Song’s recent accomplishments has been writing and publishing a book, Ph.D. Unlocked: A Real-World Guide to Take You From Funding for School to Your First Job Offer as a Doctorate. “I wrote the book after moving to Silicon Valley and meeting lots of super-smart Ph.D. holders. When I talked to them, a large number did not seem to have had much fun during their Ph.D. programs. Because I personally had had so much fun and loved every moment at UConn, I decided to write a book about how to make the most out of a Ph.D. program.”
Song listed three kinds of people who he hopes will be impacted by his book. The first group is not only undergraduates, but also people who are already working for companies - those that have a passion for learning and thinking in depth. He wants them to know that a Ph.D. program is not a scary thing; it can be really fun, and truly transformative. Second, he hopes his book reaches people who may be struggling to afford their education. Song worked to save money for graduate school and feared it wouldn’t be enough. He hopes to share with that specific audience that it is possible if you know where to look for funding opportunities. Lastly, he hopes to reach current Ph.D. students who are struggling with
their research, writing, or job searches. Song said that he was incredibly lucky to have great advisors and faculty around him, but still saw other students struggling. On top of that, he mentioned that job search was brutal - as is the experience for many students - but eventually, good things happened. He hopes to share that positive energy with students who are currently encountering the same obstacles.
When asked what advice he has for current or prospective materials science students, Song said, “The more advanced work gets, the more collaboration is required. If you like learning and understanding the world more than meets the eye, consider a Ph.D. in MSE. I enjoyed studying MSE at undergrad, but things got so much deeper, more extensive, and - most importantly - more fun at graduate school. You never know what you may end up falling in love with once you are there.”
“I love UConn,” Song said by way of final thoughts. “I really want to do anything I can to help the students there and make the university proud. UConn is my home - it’s where I grew as both a scientist and a person, and met some amazing people (including my wife). If anyone has questions about graduate school, working at a startup, Silicon Valley, or anything at all, they can reach out to me via email or LinkedIn. They will get a response from me in a day.”
Cover of Gyuho Song’s new book, titled Ph.D. Unlocked: A Real-World Guide to take you from Funding for School to Your First Job Offer as a Doctorate.
From MSE Graduate to Professor in Materials Science Innovation
UConn alum Rohit Batra suspects that he may have been unconsciously influenced to enter the field of materials science and engineering (MSE) by his father having owned a small electroplating plant when he was a child. “Seeing him work around several day-to-day items based on metals, and processing them to appear fancy and useful, did impact my decision.”
Batra received his Bachelor of Technology in metallurgical and materials engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee in 2011 before deciding to pursue his Ph.D. at UConn. “A couple of seniors in my undergraduate institute were pursuing their Ph.D. under Professor Rampi Ramprasad at UConn. Before even applying, I talked to them and learned about their experiences and possible future opportunities. They motivated me to apply under Professor Ramprasad as well. After my undergraduate and before starting my Ph.D. I did explore industry for around three years. However, I did not enjoy my work and decided to go for a Ph.D. instead—where I could gain more technical knowledge and train myself to solve more technically challenging problems.”
Batra holds Professor Ramprasad, his Ph.D. advisor who now teaches at Georgia Tech, in very high regard, along with several other faculty members. “I found professors at UConn to be quite approachable, knowledgeable, and very helpful. I had good discussions with several of them both on the professional and personal level.”
During the pursuit of his Ph.D., Batra enjoyed learning different skill sets and using them to solve challenging technical problems. “I picked up computational methods to simulate materials (such as DFT, MD simulations) as well as machine learning based methods. I enjoyed how I can use these methods to understand some of the mysteries of nature - the intricate interactions between atoms happening at the micro-scale but resulting in the macroscopic behavior that we see with our eyes. I also loved how I can use these methods to design or discover new materials that can solve the demands of the future, such as generation or storage of clean energy, sustainable polymers, etc.”
Currently, Batra works as an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He explained that his job involves three different realms of responsibility: teaching, research, and administration. “Under teaching, I teach core courses (theory or labs) and also design new elective courses that allow students to be more aware of the current research activities or perhaps become more employable. For instance, after joining IIT Madras, I floated my elective course titled “Machine Learning in Materials Science”, in which I cover several aspects of how AI/ML methods are being used to accelerate the process of discovery and design of new materials for several applications. Under research, my job is to train students at various levels (Ph.D., MS, M.Tech, B.Tech) to carry out research projects. This involves meeting with them regularly and advising them on how to conduct research and how to communicate their results. This also involves traveling to conferences to communicate my research and find new projects and collaborations. Under administration, I perform several department or institute activities to ensure smooth functioning. For instance, I am part of a committee responsible for Ph.D./MS admissions interviews. We also have a facet regarding the mental well-being of our students, and as part of that I meet with about twenty students every month to listen to their various issues.”
Professor Rohit Batra, UConn MSE alum (‘19) and current assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Batra proceeded to explain his personal teaching style. “I like my classes to be interactive, and therefore, while teaching I pose lots of questions to the class. I only move forward with a topic after students answer my questions. I use a mixture of presentation slides, handwritten lecture notes, software programming codes, video links, etc. In my elective I do not conduct an exam but only grade based on project and assignments. I also conduct a few interesting and graded class competitions such as technical pictionary or buzzer games to make class fun. Students seem to enjoy activities like that a lot.”
At his institute, Batra leads a research group called The Materials Informatics Lab. “We try to use data driven methods coupled with materials computations to find new materials. Specifically, we develop ML/ AI methods to accelerate discovery of materials. For instance, we are working on a project to find new polymer electrolytes that have Li-ion conductivity and could possibly help resolve the safety issues concerning present Li-ion batteries in the market. In another project we used ML/AI methods to come up with a new class of non-intuitive and unusual peptide sequences that show b-sheet self-assembly. Such peptide materials could be useful for catalysis, drugdiscovery, or metal recovery applications. Similarly, we are working on projects that involve the discovery of high temperature shape memory alloys and AI-driven autonomous materials laboratory for thin films.”
When asked what the most rewarding part of his job is, Batra mentioned two different aspects. “Firstly, I feel very happy when my students get offers from a good industry or academic institute. I get to share their joy and that is one of the most rewarding experiences. Second, when you do a good job as a professor, students really respect you from their heart. I also find it very rewarding when students genuinely respect you for the hard work you have put into their training.”
Batra then elaborated the impact of working with students on his personal research and outlook on life. “Teaching is the best form of learning. Because students are new and still learning, they ask questions from several different angles. This mere interaction with them forces you to think about technical concepts and research from several perspectives, which ultimately enhances your understanding of the topic and makes you a better researcher. I also
find it interesting that this job allows you to interact with students from various backgrounds, cultures, upbringings, and personalities. I would like to believe that closely interacting with such a diverse crowd makes you a more open, humble, and good human being.”
When asked what advice he has for current MSE students, Batra said the following: “There is a lot of scope in this field. There are many materials challenges that need to be solved to meet future energy and sustainability goals. Try your best to grasp the fundamental aspects of this field, to do projects in research groups that allow you to get hands-on experience on what research is being conducted and how the concepts you learn in your coursework are utilized. If possible, along with MSE also try to gain basic software programming and ML/AI knowledge. These skills are becoming quite important and will allow you to do even better work in the field of MSE.”
“Overall,” Batra concluded, “I really enjoyed my time at UConn. Some of the friends I made at this school are lifelong and I’m still in touch with them, even after moving to India. I feel that UConn provides a good learning environment for international students.”
