Current Members

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Research Associate Professor

Dr. Vinod K. Sangwan

he/him/his

E-mail: vinod.sangwan@northwestern.edu

Vinod has been a post-doctoral scholar with the Hersam group since 2009. He attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai for his undergraduate and received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Maryland, College Park. His current research interests include nanomaterials, neuromorphic computing, quantum computing, photovoltaics, and carbon nanotube electronics. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, running, and other outdoor activities.

Visiting Scholars

Jefford Humes

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E-mail: jefford.humes@northwestern.edu

Jefford was born in Belize, Central America but raised on the southside of Chicago, IL in the Hyde Park area. He is currently a visiting scientist from NanoIntegris, part of Raymor Inc. At NanoIntegris, he utilizes his knowledge of his company’s materials to seek new business opportunities for which their innovative technology can be applied. Prior to serving as the Director of Research/ Business Development at NanoIntegris, Jefford received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Morehouse College, studied abroad at the University of Leeds, and was a student of Emergency Medicine at RUSH University Medical College. He hopes to complete his education with a PhD in the near future. He has contributed to and been listed as a co-author within various articles from prestigious publications such as Nature Electronics, the American Chemical Society’s The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and Applied Physics Letters, along with six different nanotechnology-based patents. He has performed scientific research with collaborators at numerous institutions such as the IBM Almaden Research Center, NASA, Japan’s AIST, the University of Chicago, RUSH Medical College, Ohio State University, Unilever, and U.O.P, to name a few.

Outside of research, he is an avid lover of science fiction and fantasy novels, enjoys performing in musicals, and acting in independent films, including his own CGI sci-fi work that is currently listed within IMDB. He loves to sing, song-write, play piano of many genres, specializing in classical, and produce music, having independently released three studio-recorded R&B/ Reggae albums. He has a lovely wife and two adorable children- a boy and girl. He enjoys travel and have been able to visit England, Japan, South Korea and China! He also loves positively impacting disadvantaged inner city children who grew up as he did, currently volunteering as a tutor and inspirational speaker with AMERICORPS’ local Chicago Hope for Kids. He is also a member of NSBE, NOBCChE, ACS, Society for Ecological Restoration International, AMA, and the Professional Management Institute.

Andrew Kijeong Nam

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E-mail: andrew.nam@northwestern.edu

Andrew is currently pursuing a PhD at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. Andrew enjoys taking walks on sunny days and socializing with people. Although he was born in the United States, he moved to Korea at a young age and has lived there ever since, so he is not good at English that much. 

Okin Song

she/her/hers

E-mail: okin.song@northwestern.edu

Okin was born and raised in South Korea and earned her Master’s degree from Sungkyunkwan University in 2023, where she conducted research on inkjet printing of two-dimensional materials. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the research group of Professor Joohoon Kang. Starting from August 2024, she is visiting the Hersam group as a visiting scholar, focusing on aerosol printing-based flexible electronic devices. In her free time, she enjoys watching baseball games and spending time with friends.

Postdoctoral Associates

Dr. Dominic P. Goronzy

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E-mail: dominic.goronzy@northwestern.edu

Dominic studied at The University of California, Los Angeles for his master’s and Ph.D., studying intermolecular interactions in self-assembled monolayers and self-assembled molecular networks. His current research interests include the characterization, functionalization, and application of 2D boron. He is a first generation American and still speaks German with most of his family. He is a member of ACS, APS, and AVS, in addition to being an International Institute of Nanotechnology Postdoctoral Fellow. Outside of the lab, Dominic enjoys working with K-12 teachers to bring hands on science into their classrooms. He is a former IIN Post-Doctoral Fellow and currently a Intelligence Community Post-Doctoral Fellow.

Dr. Seung Won Lee

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Email: seungwon.lee1@northwestern.edu

Seung Won joined the group in 2021. He studied at Yonsei University, where he majored in material science & engineering and obtained a bachelors and masters. His projects involve producing low-dimensional material based on nanocomposite ionogels. His Ph.D research was over organic/inorganic hybrid materials for wearable electronics. He was born and raised in South Korea, where he likes to hike and play tennis. He interned at SK Hynix, Inc.

Jung Hun Lee, Ph.D.

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E-mail: junghun.lee@northwestern.edu

Jung Hun was born and raised in the Republic of Korea. He joined the Hersam group in September 2022 to join the efforts on printable 2D semiconductor devices such as transistors and neuromorphic systems. Jung Hun completed his Ph.D. in materials science engineering at Seoul National University (SNU) in 2022, where he worked on solution process engineering for high-performance organic electronics. During his Ph.D., he also worked as a researcher in Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) for 3 years as a part of his mandatory military assignment. At KITECH, he researched wearable electronics for textile applications. In his spare time, he enjoys going on walks and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Shreyash Hadke

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Email: shreyash.hadke@northwestern.edu

Shreyash joined the Hersam group in 2022, with an interest in developing solution-processed 2D materials for optoelectronic and neuromorphic applications. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where he received the Interdisciplinary Research Excellence Award. His research interests include materials for energy-efficient computing and renewable energy. Shreyash aims to explore disruptive brain-inspired computing paradigms through materials advancements, with a long-term goal of achieving biomimetic computation and cognition at the hardware level. His work is focused on developing new materials to tackle critical challenges in energy and future electronics.
Outside the lab, Shreyash enjoys traveling, reading, and playing soccer and badminton.

 

Dr. Hui Li

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Email: hui.li@northwestern.edu

Hui comes from Jiangsu, China. He received his bachelor’s degree in materials science from Shandong University. Then he obtained his Ph.D in physics from Stony Brook University, where he mainly studied high temperature superconductors with scanning tunneling microscope at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He joined the Hersam group in 2021 to study the synthesis and characterization of borophene and related 2D materials. He enjoys reading, traveling and basketball.

Xiaoyu Sui, Ph.D.

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Email: xiaoyu.sui@northwestern.edu

Xiaoyu completed his undergraduate and masters degrees at Tongji University in Materialogy. Afterwards, he finished his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago underneath Dr. Junhong Chen within The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering where he looked at nanoscale engineering of advanced nanomaterials for environmental sustainability. Currently, he is making significant efforts on solution processing of two-dimensional materials and their applications in nanohybrid electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. He primarily enjoys traveling with his family and playing soccer.

Dr. Min-A Kang

she/her/hers

E-mail: mina.kang@northwestern.edu

Min-A was born and raised in South Korea. She received her Ph.D. from SKKU in 2019, focusing on 2D-based semiconductors by tailoring the unique properties of 2D materials. Prior to joining the Hersam group, she worked as a postdoc at Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, investigating 2D-based ionotronics for neuromorphic applications. Currently, she is developing low-power neuromorphic hardware systems. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, spending time with with friends, and exploring new places.

M. Iqbal Bakti Utama, Ph.D.

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Email: mibutama@northwestern.edu

Iqbal joined the Hersam group in December 2020 to join the efforts at the Center of Molecular Quantum Transduction. He works on designing and realizing new functionalities from low-dimensional materials and molecules for quantum information science applications. Iqbal completed his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at UC Berkeley in 2020, where he worked on 2D materials with a focus on engineering and controling novel phenomena that are unique to low-dimensional van der Waals materials. Prior to that, Iqbal received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Nanyang Technological University and remained there to work as a research project officer. Iqbal grew up in Indonesia and always lived in a warmer climate before moving to Evanston. He enjoys jogging on the weekends and eating spicy food.

Yongkwon Song, Ph.D.

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Email: yongkwon.song@northwestern.edu

Yongkwon was born and raised in the Republic of Korea. He joined the Hersam group in September 2023. He received his Ph.D. in the department of chemical and biological engineering at Korea University in 2023, where he mainly focused on unveiling the effects of structural/interfacial design on the characteristics of nanocomposite electrodes, mainly for energy storage applications. Currently, he is developing a new-class of solid-state batteries (SSBs) based on ionogel electrolyte system using 2D nanomaterials. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, having coffee, playing tennis, and watching YouTube.

Ph.D. Students

Riddhi Ananth

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E-mail: rananth@u.northwestern.edu

Riddhi was raised in Bangalore, India before moving to sunny San Diego to pursue her passion for chemistry. She earned her bachelors degree from UC San Diego in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. Now a chemistry Ph.D. student at Northwestern, Riddhi joined the Hersam group in 2020 and works on the optical spectroscopy of chemically functionalized nanomaterials. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing basketball, running, hiking, cooking and is also trained in Bharatanatyam, which is an Indian classical dance form. Riddhi is an avid fan of figure skating and hopes to see her favorite figure skaters compete at the Olympics some day.

Anushka Dasgupta

she/her/hers

E-mail: dasgupta@u.northwestern.edu

Anushka is from the Boston area and attended Princeton for her undergraduate degree, majoring in chemical and biological engineering. She joined the Hersam Group in 2019, pursuing her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering and investigating chemically modified low-dimensional materials. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, drawing and painting, cooking, and coffee. She also loves visiting national parks.

Maryam Khalaj

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E-mail: maryamkhalaj2025@u.northwestern.edu

Maryam was inspired to pursue practical science by a combination of Issac Asimov’s popular science books, her parents and Chemistry Olympiads duing her school years. She graduated as the top student in her B. Sc. And M.Sc. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering in Iran. Her master’s thesis focused on electrochemical energy storage materials and devices, specifically on graphene-based electrodes for supercapacitor applications. She designed and synthesized two novel ternary nanocomposites as electroactive materials by simultaneous incorporation of metal oxide nanoparticles and conductive polymer nanoclusters between the stacks of graphene nanosheets. She also conducted extensive research on the potential application of hexagonal boron nitride for lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical (bio)sensors, and thermally conductive nanocomposites in the framework of review papers. She joined the Hersam group in 2021 and will focus on the wet jet milling exfoliation and printable energy storage devices. Outside of the lab, Maryam’s hobbies include cooking, weaving, knitting bracelets, working out, traveling and photographing, stargazing, watching mystery movies, and listening to a wide range of music. She was the president and vice president of two scientific societies during her previous degrees and hopes to continue participating in STEM outreach and societies during her PhD studies.

Kevin J. Liu

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E-mail: liujkevin@u.northwestern.edu

Kevin grew up in Philadelphia and attended University of Pennsylvania studying materials science and engineering for undergrad. He joined the Hersam group as materials science Ph.D. student in 2021. His research interests include neuromorphic nanoelectronic materials and devices. Outside lab, Kevin is interested in any and all grappling sports.

Gregory J. Moller

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E-mail: gregorymoller2028@u.northwestern.edu

Greg was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida before moving to Tallahassee to study chemical engineering at Florida State University. He started playing the trumpet at 9 years old and was a member of the marching band at FSU where he developed a love of college football. His undergraduate research focused on single crystal lead halide perovskite growth and their use as a sensitizer for photon upconversion under Prof. Lea Nienhaus. At Northwestern, Greg is co-advised with Prof. Rich Schaller studying ultrafast processes in low dimensional nanoelectronic materials. Outside of the lab Greg enjoys watching college football, facetiming with his sister’s new puppy, Nancy, and cooking.

Seongjin Park

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E-mail: seongjinpark2028@u.northwestern.edu

Born and raised from South Korea. He lived in Seoul and went to school there before coming to Northwestern. He joined the Hersam group in 2023 as a materials science Ph.D student. Currently, his research interests are mixed conductors for electrochemical transistors including synthesis, fabrication, and characterization. Outside of the lab, Seongjin’ hobbies include Brazilian jiu-jitsu, playing soccer, climbing, and watching movies. He also enjoys traveling in his spare time.

Thomas Song

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E-mail: thomas.song@northwestern.edu

Tommy spent most of his childhood in Champaign, IL, where his father was a professor at the university teaching geophysics. He also attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a degree in materials science and engineering before coming to Northwestern in 2019 and working in the Hersam Group. His current research interests are on transition metal halides. In addition to his labwork, he is also a huge advocate for science outreach and volunteered for Engineering Outreach Society at his undergraduate institution and programs such as MORE and Junior Science Club at Northwestern that aim to promote early exposure of science. He also joined the Graduate Student Association executive board serving as the secretary. In his free time he enjoys traveling, watching sports, and finding hidden restaurant gems.

Zachary Trdinich

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E-mail: zacharytrdinich2028@u.northwestern.edu

Zach was born and raised in the great city of Pittsburgh, PA. From there, he attended the Pennsylvania State University where he completed his B.S. with Honors in Materials Science and Engineering. During his time at Penn State, he worked with Dr. Joshua Robinson on the synthesis and characterization of novel 2D nitrides and oxides and Dr. Chao-Yang Wang on the engineering of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. At Northwestern, Zach’s work in the Hersam lab is focused on the synthesis and fabrication of neuromorphic nanoelectronic materials and devices. Outside of school, Zach can typically be found on the disc golf course or cheering for his favorite baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Lindsay E. Chaney

she/her/hers

E-mail: LindsayChaney2023@u.northwestern.edu

Lindsay was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California before attending the University of California, Los Angeles for a B.S. in chemistry with a focus on materials science. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, she joined a UCLA spin-off company called SuperMetalix, where she worked on superhard metal composites for cutting tools for 2 years. She started her Ph.D. at Northwestern in 2018 and currently studies the large-scale production of graphene, 3D printed bone scaffolds, and h-BN ionogels for printed energy storage. Outside of lab, she enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, running, and volleyball. She also mentors Chicago high school students at Teen Coding Club at the Pederson-McCormick Boys & Girls Club and has loved participating in other Northwestern outreach programs like Career Day for Girls, Splash, and Letters to a Pre-Scientist.

Nathaniel Hiott

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E-mail: NathanielHiott2028@u.northwestern.edu

Nathaniel is originally from Central, South Carolina, and completed his undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Notre Dame. Nathaniel has always been interested in using science to improve sustainability, especially in our energy systems. While at Notre Dame, he researched metal-halide perovskites for light-harvesting applications, promoted energy policy in Washington D.C., and spent a semester studying sustainable development in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the Hersam lab, Nathaniel works on ionogels for solid-state battery electrolytes and related battery applications. Beyond the lab, he enjoys getting outside by biking and hiking, watching some of Chicago’s famous comedy shows and musical theater, or staying in and playing the trombone or reading.

Heather Kurtz

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E-mail: heatherkurtz2027@u.northwestern.edu

Heather grew up outside of Denver, Colorado before heading east to Williams College for her B.A. in physics. After graduating, she spent 2 years at a Bay Area startup called Sinovia Technologies, where she worked on printed flexible OLED displays. Heather joined the Hersam group in 2022 to pursue her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, and her research currently focuses on mixed ionic-electronic conductors and ionogels. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing soccer, trail running, cooking, and listening to podcasts (some favorites being Radiolab, The Ezra Klein Show, and 99% Invisible).

Peter Gilhwan Lim

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E-mail: peter.lim at u.northwestern.edu

Originally from South Korea but raised in China, Peter was an undergraduate student at Northwestern. As a member of Professor Nathaniel Stern’s group, Peter collaborated heavily with the Hersam group to study magnetism in encapsulated two-dimensional transition metal halides, for which he was awarded the International Institute for Nanotechnology’s Outstanding Researcher Award in 2020. After graduating from Northwestern in 2021 with a B.A. in physics and a minor in materials science, Peter went back home to serve in the Korean Army for his national service. Upon completing active duty, he briefly worked as a computational scientist at NeuroXT—a Korea University spin-off company—where he analyzed neuroimaging data to understand the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In 2023, Peter came back to Northwestern to continue his studies, this time for a Ph.D. in applied physics. He currently studies the synthesis and characterization of low-dimensional superconducting materials for quantum information science applications under the joint supervision of Professor Hersam and Professor Vinayak Dravid. Outside of research, Peter enjoys playing and watching all sorts of sports—including baseball, soccer, basketball, and even esports. He also spends his free time working out, listening to K-pop and podcasts, cooking, exploring good food and coffee spots, and keeping up with the latest news in finance and technology. Peter is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national honor society for physics.

Alessandro Pereyra

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E-mail: alessandropereyra2026@u.northwestern.edu

Alessandro was born and raised under the California sun, where he attended Cal Poly Pomona and graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. In the Hersam Group, he will perform research on the Molecular Sensing of 2D Quantum Materials. He typically likes to spend his spare time jogging, spending time with family, and exploring local coffee shops. Other interests include volunteer work, STEM outreach, and cooking traditional foods.

Nicholas Tey

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E-mail: mingtey2027@u.northwestern.edu

Nicholas grew up in Singapore and received his undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London. He joined the Hersam group in 2022 and his work focuses on 2D magnetic and multiferroic materials. His hobbies include playing and developing computer games, learning new languages and watching Korean shows. Having been raised in a country well known for its food, he also enjoys performing cooking experiments and finding new places to eat.

Albert Tsui

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E-mail: alberttsui2027@u.northwestern.edu

Albert was born and raised in Chapel Hill, NC. He attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where he completed his bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering with a minor in physics before coming to Northwestern to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering in 2022. In the Hersam Group, Albert focuses on synthesis and UHV STM studies of borophene and 2D borides. His hobbies include picking up new repertoire for the piano, traveling, and playing basketball.

Mitchell Walker

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E-mail: mitchellwalker2025@u.northwestern.edu

After growing up in Canton, Ohio, Mitchell went to The Ohio State University in Columbus to major in physics and German. Now a materials science and engineering Ph.D. student at Northwestern, Mitchell joined the Hersam group in 2020 to study superconducting quantum materials. His hobbies include learning languages, cooking, reading (mostly but not exclusively nonfiction), and eating food, especially exotic food. Outside of lab, Mitchell is involved with his church and volunteers with NURPH as a program administrator.

Santiago Diaz-Arauzo

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E-mail: sdarauzo@u.northwestern.edu

Santiago grew up in Houston, Texas. He completed his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin prior to joining the Hersam lab. His research interests are in cross-flow filtration and related scalable eco-manufacturing methods for printable inks. Beyond the lab, Santiago has been involved in coordinating non-curriculum workshops for NURPH, a high-school summer research program. Currently, Santiago is an avid golfer (8 HDCP) and spends his free time practicing or playing.

Janan Hui

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E-mail: jananhui2025@u.northwestern.edu

Janan was born and raised in Hong Kong and attended Swarthmore College for his undergraduate degree in chemistry. He joined the Hersam group in 2020 in pursuit of a Ph.D. in chemistry at Northwestern. As a passionate environmentalist, he has always been eager to explore the intersection between materials science and sustainability. His work is currently focused on the manufacturing of printable nanoelectronic devices and cathode material coatings using cellulose-derived materials. Outside of lab, he is the president of two Northwestern graduate student groups: a STEM outreach club that organizes mentorship programs and career panels for local high school students (MORE), and a graduate student a cappella group (Keynotes). In his spare time, Janan enjoys scouting out new restaurants across Chicago, playing basketball, and is an avid video game nerd. He is also really passionate about songwriting and music production, hoping to one day release his own music.

Cataldo Lamarca

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E-mail: cataldolamarca2027@u.northwestern.edu

Cataldo is from Mountaintop, PA. He joined the Hersam group in 2021 as a materials science Ph.D. student and his research interests include the synthesis, characterization, functionalization, encapsulation and transfer of borophene. His hobbies include intramural sports, reading fiction, cooking, hunting and fishing. Cataldo is also a member of the NU Curling Club.

Celeo Matute Diaz

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E-mail: celeomatutediaz2027@u.northwestern.edu

Celeo was born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras before moving to Nashville, TN. He completed his undergraduate degree in materials science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he worked on the transfer and synthesis of graphene nanoribbons. He was an active member and secretary of the UW-Madison chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and helped in outreach efforts for underrepresented minorities in STEM. Celeo joined the Hersam group in 2022 to study superconducting quantum materials. Outside the lab, Celeo enjoys exploring international cuisines (particularly South American and South Asian), listening to music and going to live shows (favorites include Illenium, Jon Bellion, and Taylor Swift), playing video games, and is a passionate fan of Pokemon.

Mike (HongYoul) Park

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E-mail: hongpark2023@u.northwestern.edu

Mike is originally from South Korea, and his family still lives there. Prior to coming to Northwestern, he lived in Toronto for 9 years, during which he met his wife and received his undergraduate degrees in math and physics and his Master’s in physics from the University of Toronto. He also did mandatory service in the Korean army for two years. Since 2018, he has been pursuing a materials science and engineering Ph.D. in the Hersam Group, focusing on UHV-STM studies of 2D materials and heterostructures. In his free time, he likes watching Black Mirror, Arrested Development, or other random shows/movies on Netflix. He also likes occasionally going out for a run.

Justin Qian

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E-mail: justin.qian@northwestern.edu

Justin was born, raised, and went to undergrad in eastern Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in materials science and chemistry before coming to Northwestern for his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering. Justin was an REU student in the Hersam Group in the summer of 2017 and joined the group as a Ph.D. student in 2019. His research focuses on nanomaterials for neuromorphic computing and ion-gel electronics. Outside of the lab, Justin’s hobbies include pickup and organized soccer, climbing, cooking, winter sports, fantasy, and science fiction. He also enjoys travelling to places with street food and visiting national parks. Other interests include public health policy, nutrition, and sustainability. He participated in Letters to a Pre-Scientist in his first year at Northwestern, and is looking forward to getting more involved in outreach.

Cory Thomas

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E-mail: CTW@u.northwestern.edu

Cory hails from the great state of Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate in chemical engineering before coming to Northwestern for his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering in 2019. In the Hersam Group, Cory focuses on electrochemistry and solid-state electrolytes. In his free time, he enjoys reading non-fiction and doing hands-on projects around the house. When they are able to travel, Cory and his wife take trips to Minnesota or Texas to visit their respective families and usually try to fit a camping trip in every now again. In his spare time, he volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club and the Rogers Park Community Response Team.

Zhanpeng Wang

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E-mail: zhanpengwang2028@u.northwestern.edu

Zhanpeng was born and raised in Nanchang, a southern inland city in China. Before coming to Northwestern and joining the Hersam group for his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering in 2022, he graduated from Shenzhen University with a bachelor’s degree in physics, along with a minor in chemistry, as well as a master’s degree in materials science and engineering. Currently, his research interests are basically focused on neuromorphic computing 2D materials and synaptic devices. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, playing table tennis and watching films.

Masters Students

Zipeng Xu

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Email: zipengxu2024@u.northwestern.edu

Zipeng was born and raised in Shenzhen, China. At the age of 14, he moved to Temecula, CA. He went to University of California, San Diego, for his undergraduate studies in NanoEngineering and was one of two students to receive the Outstanding Senior Award upon graduation. During his time at UC San Diego, he worked with Dr. Sheng Xu on single crystal halide perovskite synthesis and perovskite based LED and solar cell. Currently, he is a master student in material science and engineering at Northwestern. He joined the Hersam group in 2024. His research focuses on 2D materials for neuromorphic computing devices. In his free time, Zipeng loves playing tennis and badminton, cooking, watching soccer, traveling, and walking around Michigan Lake.

Undergraduate Students

Anurag Chapagain (Anu)

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Email: anuragchapagain2026@u.northwestern.edu

Anurag (Anu) is a first-year undergraduate pursuing majors in Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Integrated Science Program. Born in southern rural Nepal, his passion for science was ignited at the age of 12 after reading short biographies of great physicists from an old book he got for free from a closing book store. This early exposure developed into an unwavering interest in applied physics and research, culminating in an unexpected turn of events, with him landing in the US on a full-aid scholarship to pursue the same. Having previously researched quantum stability problems, and space radiation shielding, he currently works on hot carrier optoelectronics made using 2d materials like graphene in the Hersam group. His other interests involve high temperature superconductors, energy-efficient chips, and batteries. Anurag’s dream job, however, is to work towards high Q-factor nuclear fusion, a pursuit combining his passion for applied physics and the quest for sustainable energy solutions. Beyond his academic pursuits, Anurag finds joy in biking, watching movies, and reading history books during his leisure time. However, it is his passion for teaching that never fails to make him happy. Recognized as 20Under20 in Nepal for his online and in-school teaching efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was also honored with a letter of appreciation from the Prime Minister for the same. Anurag continues to maintain connections with his students and help them. Wherever he goes, he loves discussing about physics, materials science, and the future.

Jaemin Yoo

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Email: jaemin@u.northwestern.edu

Jaemin joined Hersam group in 2022 after he returned from his military service in South Korea. Since then, Jaemin has been working on hBN ionogel-based electrolytes, which have been applied in solid-state battery electrolytes, ionic diodes, and electrolyte-gated transistors. He is currently working on optimizing gate electrolytes for OECT applications for his senior thesis project. Outside of the lab, Jaemin is the outreach coordinator for the undergraduate MatSci Club. Jaemin is born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and he recently started watching football after joining a fantasy football league with his friends. He also enjoys experimenting new fusion food recipes in his spare time.

Ben Kim

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Email: benkim2026@northwestern.edu

Ben Kim is a third-year undergraduate student at Northwestern University, majoring in Materials Science & Engineering, Integrated Sciences, and Piano Performance. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, he graduated from Milton Academy in Massachusetts and the Juilliard School Pre-College Division in New York City. Initially wanting to become a musician, Ben was inspired by a YouTube video on funny mathematical proofs he watched in middle school and found his new passion for STEM. In his research experience throughout high school and Northwestern spanning computational and structural biology, chemistry, and engineering, he realised the interdisciplinary nature of quality STEM research. Ben hopes to use materials science to its fullest potential, from creating energy-efficient electronic materials to designing novel therapeutic methods for diseases. Outside of STEM, Ben is involved in a host of organisations at Northwestern, such as Crescendo for a Cause and Northwestern Capital Management, and is an avid musician. He frequently practises the piano, composes, and arranges music in his free time. A laureate of over 20 national and international piano competitions, he currently studies piano under Prof. Christopher Guzman at Northwestern. Otherwise, Ben can be seen playing or watching soccer (his favourite teams are FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur), golf, tennis, swimming, or chess.

Thomas Zeng

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Email: thomaszeng2025@u.northwestern.edu

Thomas is on the executive board of the Northwestern University Nanotechnology Club (nanoNU), and is on the executive board of Shepard Residential College. Thomas grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and outside of academics enjoys powerlifting, playing tennis, and playing the clarinet.

Yiying (Grace) Liu

she/her/hers

Email: Yiyingliu2025@u.northwestern.edu

Yiying (Grace) was born and raised in Shanghai, China. She is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University, majoring in Physics with minors in Psychology and Legal studies. Grace is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national honor society for physics, and a Davis UWC Scholar. During her freshman year, she started her research in Professor Nathaniel Stern’s group, focusing on the optoelectronic characterization of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) and mixed-dimensional heterostructures. Grace joined the Hersam Group in 2024, focusing on studying the coupling of semiconducting ferrimagnet/TMD heterostructure and developing a dry-transfer method for large 2D material exfoliation on gold substrates. As an animal lover, she is also a member of the Global Rehabilitation Project and a research collaborator of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation, where she developed a deep-learning-based system to detect abnormalities in gibbons. Beyond her work and studies, she enjoys exploring food, creative arts, traveling, and adventures in nature. She has recently completed one of the most challenging Via Ferrata routes in China.