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Dissertation Defense: Simon Ward, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Feb. 12, 2024—DISSERTATION DEFENSE Simon J. Ward, Electrical and Computer Engineering *under the direction of Sharon Weiss “Improving Biosensor Performance using Machine Learning and Signal Processing” 02.15.24  |  1:00PM CST  |  308 Featheringill Hall | Zoom ID: 935 9293 1256 The field of biosensing, encompassing the detection of harmful biological molecules in medical diagnostic, food safety, and environmental monitoring contexts,...

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Dissertation Defense: Lauren Wenger, Chemistry

Feb. 10, 2024—DISSERTATION DEFENSE Lauren E. Wenger, Chemistry *under the direction of Timothy Hanusa “Mechanochemical Exploration of the p-Block” 02.20.24  |  1:45PM CST  |  1220 MRBIII As environmental concerns over organic solvents rise and chemists become more aware of the interference solvents can play in reactions, solvent-free methods have grown in popularity, including mechanochemical methods. Mechanochemical reactions are induced...

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“First principles insights into stability of defected MXenes in water” published in Nanoscale, selected as VINSE spotlight publication

Feb. 9, 2024—Haohong Song is a third year Ph.D. student from Interdisciplinary Materials Science program. His PI is Prof. De-en Jiang. They report on the interfacial chemistry between water and defected Ti3C2O2 MXene at room temperature using first principles molecular dynamics simulations. They investigate how defects such as O vacancy, Ti vacancy, F terminal groups, and Ti–O...

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Vanderbilt engineering professor Joshua Caldwell elected SPIE Fellow

Feb. 9, 2024—Joshua Caldwell, a professor of mechanical engineering and director of Vanderbilt’s Interdisciplinary Materials Science (IMS) graduate program, has been elected to the grade of Fellow of SPIE. Fellows are Members of distinction who have made significant scientific and technical contributions in the multidisciplinary fields of optics, photonics, and imaging. Dr. Caldwell is honored for his technical achievement and for his service...

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VINSE Spring 2024 Newsletter

Jan. 30, 2024—The Spring 2024 edition of the VINSE Nano News is out now! This issue features the following stories: A Note From The Director Welcome New VINSE Faculty New Tools Highlight VINSE Analytical Lab & Cleanroom Open House Apply now for Summer 2024 Tech Crew Researcher Highlights VINSE Community Picnic Spring Short Courses NanoGuide Program Immersion with...

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VINSE Analytical Lab & Cleanroom Open House

Jan. 29, 2024—Interested in learning more about the VINSE Analytical Lab and Cleanroom facility and how our tools could impact your research? Bring your samples to our Open House on February 29, 2024 from 1:00-4:00 and use any tool… at no cost! This event is open to everyone, both current and potential new users. VINSE staff will also be...

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VINSE Director’s Coffee Hour

Jan. 24, 2024—Join VINSE Director, Sharon Weiss to discuss new initiatives, pilot funding, tech crew, and other ways VINSE can help support your research. Wednesday, February 7, 2023 9:30-10:30 AM  |  226 ESB VINSE Conference Room

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Researcher Highlight: Andrey Shults

Jan. 24, 2024—Andrey Shults, 4th year Chemistry PhD Candidate in the Macdonald Lab. Summary of Research: My research focuses on the synthesis of various metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and the mechanistic understanding of their formation. Just as with graphite and diamond, the polymorphs of carbon, the two different elements of a metal chalcogenide can combine in different ratios...

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Researcher Highlight: Laura Bertolami

Jan. 24, 2024—Laura Bertolami, a senior undergraduate Chemical Engineering student on Senior Tech Crew. I have been working on the tech crew since May 2022, and have been senior tech crew since October 2023. My current project involves developing parameters for multiple aperture patterning with Electron Beam Lithography as well as developing standards for available feature sizes...

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Researcher Highlight: Owen Meilander

Jan. 23, 2024—Owen Meilander, 2nd year Interdisciplinary Material Science PhD student in Dr. Mona Ebrish’s Lab in the Electrical Engineering department.   Summary of Research: My work focuses on the fabrication and characterization of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor devices. GaN devices offer many benefits for high power and high frequency applications. It will allow for more efficient...

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