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We’re Hiring: Cleanroom Staff Engineer II

Jan. 15, 2021—The Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) has an opening for a Staff Engineer II. This position will provide support for research and coursework in the VINSE cleanroom. The Staff Engineer will play a critical role in VINSE’s efforts to support research across a broad range of technical disciplines and interests, to advance...

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Optical computing at sub-picosecond speeds developed at Vanderbilt

Jan. 14, 2021—by Marissa Shapiro Jan. 14, 2021, 1:05 PM Vanderbilt researchers have developed the next generation of ultrafast data transmission that may make it possible to make already high-performance computing “on demand.” The technology unjams bottlenecks in data streams using a hybrid silicon-vanadium dioxide waveguide that can turn light on and off in less than one trillionth of a second. ...

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Spotlight Podcast Episode 33: Chris Sharp – accessing new crystal structures using nanoparticles

Jan. 13, 2021—In Episode 33 of the VINSE Spotlight Podcast Chris Sharp tells Alice Leach about accessing new crystal structures using nanoparticles. Chris’ paper “Tolman’s Electronic Parameter of the Ligand Predicts Phase in the Cation Exchange to CuFeS2 Nanoparticles” was published in Nano Letters. Chris is a 4th year chemistry graduate student working in the lab of Janet...

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VINSE Partner and TSU Researcher Dr. Frances Williams named among ‘1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America’

Jan. 7, 2021—NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Two Tennessee State University researchers have been named among the “1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America” by Cell Mentor. Dr. Frances Williams Dr. Frances Williams, associate vice president of Research and Sponsored Programs and professor of electrical engineering; and Dr. Quincy Quick, associate professor of biology, were cited by Community of...

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Spotlight Podcast Episode 32: Krishen Appavoo – phase change material, vanadium dioxide. Typically an insulator, when given a small amount of energy, it becomes conducting and has applications in next generation electronic devices

Dec. 31, 2020—In Episode 32 of the VINSE Spotlight Podcast Kannatassen ‘Krishen’ Appavoo tells Alice Leach about the phase change material, vanadium dioxide. Typically an insulator, when given a small amount of energy, it becomes conducting and has applications in next generation electronic devices. Krishen’s paper “Doping-driven electronic and lattice dynamics in the phase-change material vanadium dioxide”...

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Spotlight Podcast Episode 31: Yuanzhe Liang– membranes with tiny pores which can be used to separate molecules or ions

Dec. 15, 2020—Episode 31 of the VINSE Spotlight Podcast Yuanzhe Liang tells Alice Leach about membranes with tiny pores which can be used to separate molecules or ions.  Yuanzhe’s paper “Polyamide nanofiltration membrane with highly uniform sub-nanometre pores for sub-1 Å precision separation” was published in Nature Communications.  Yuanzhe graduated from Interdisciplinary Materials Science this semester and...

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Spotlight Podcast Episode 30: Daniel Shae– cancer vaccine that enhances the body’s immune response to tumor cells

Dec. 8, 2020—Episode 30 of the VINSE Spotlight Podcast Daniel Shae tells Alice Leach about a cancer vaccine that enhances the body’s immune response to tumor cells.  Daniel’s paper “Co-delivery of Peptide Neoantigens and Stimulator of Interferon Genes Agonists Enhances Response to Cancer Vaccines” was published in ACS Nano.  Daniel graduated in 2019 from Professor John Wilson’s...

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Spotlight Podcast Episode 29: Keefer Rowan – time-dependent phenomena in atoms – the building blocks of matter

Dec. 2, 2020—Episode 29 of the VINSE Spotlight Podcast Keefer Rowan tells Alice Leach about time-dependent phenomena in atoms – the building blocks of matter.  Rowan’s paper “Simulation of a hydrogen atom in a laser field using the time-dependent variational principle” was published in Physical Review E.  Keefer (Vandy undergraduate) graduated with a degree in Physics &...

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Engineering professor Ndukaife wins award in Rising Stars of Light global competition

Nov. 30, 2020—Justus Ndukaife, assistant professor of electrical engineering, spent 20 minutes describing his optical nanotweezers to a panel of five distinguished professors from the United States, Australia, and China during a live online competition—Rising Stars of Light—that has drawn 260,000 viewers worldwide. After two sessions in which 10 finalists presented their research in a global campaign...

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Team examines operating limits in solid-state batteries to improve driving range of electric vehicles

Nov. 18, 2020—There is huge momentum toward adoption of battery electric vehicles primarily because performances are meeting or exceeding the properties of traditional automobiles. Consumers want electric vehicles that have similar driving range (energy density) and charging styles and times (power density) to gasoline powered vehicles. Kelsey Hatzell “One pathway to improving the energy density of the battery, or...

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