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NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly (PREM CIMA)

Members

Texas State University Faculty

Dr. Tania Betancourt — Dr. Tania Betancourt
Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 1 Investigator, Associate Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. William Brittain — Dr. William Brittain
Assistant Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 1 Investigator, Department Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. Jennifer Irvin — Dr. Jennifer Irvin
Thrust 1 Director, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. Sean Kerwin — Dr. Sean Kerwin
Seed Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Material Assembly; Thrust 1 Investigator, Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. Ben Martin — Dr. Ben Martin
Education Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 2 Investigator, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. Yoichi Miyahara — Dr. Yoichi Miyahara
Seed Co-Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 1 & 2 Investigator, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Christopher Rhodes — Dr. Christopher Rhodes
Thrust 2 Investigator, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Dr. Nikoleta Theodoropoulou — Dr. Nikoleta Theodoropoulou
Thrust 2 Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 2 Investigator, Associate Professor, Department of Physics

Dr. Mark Wistey — Dr. Mark Wistey
Thrust 2 Co-Director, NSF PREM Center for Intelligent Materials Assembly; Thrust 2 Investigator, Associate Professor, Department of Physics

Texas State SEED Faculty & Liason

Dr. Karen Lewis — Dr. Karen Lewis
Biochemistry, MSEC PREM SEED

Dr. Nathan Satchell — Dr. Nathan Satchell
Physics, MSEC SEED

Christopher Wight — Dr. Christopher Wight
PREM-MRSEC Faculty Liaison

University of Texas MRSEC Faculty

Dr. Deji Akinwande — Dr. Deji Akinwande
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Eric Anslyn — Dr. Eric Anslyn
IRG 1 Co-Leader
Faculty Investigator, IRG 1

Dr. Seth Bank — Dr. Seth Bank
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Andrew Ellington — Dr. Andrew Ellington
Faculty Investigator, IRG 1

Dr. Keji Lai — Dr. Keji Lai
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Xiaoqin (Elaine) Li — Dr. Xiaoqin (Elaine) Li
IRG 2 Co-Leader
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Nathaniel Lynd — Dr. Nathaniel Lynd
Faculty Investigator, IRG 1

Dr. Delia Milliron — Dr. Delia Milliron
Faculty Investigator, IRG 1

Dr. Joaquin Resasco

Dr. Adrianne Rosales — Dr. Adrianne Rosales
Faculty Investigator, IRG 1

Dr. Chih-Kang Shih — Dr. Chih-Kang Shih
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Jamie Warner — Dr. Jamie Warner
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Daniel Wasserman — Dr. Daniel Wasserman
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Dr. Ed Yu — Dr. Ed Yu
Center Director
Faculty Investigator, IRG 2

Doctoral PREM Researchers

Scott Barrett — Scott Barrett
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Advancement of Renewable Energy via Organic Chemistry (Brittain Lab)

Viola Fieglein — Viola Fieglein
PhD IMBC: Utilization of ortho- and para- substituted azobenzene for concerted and controlled photoswitching (Brittain Lab) (Moved to Jacobs Lab)

John Miracle — John Miracle
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: (Theodoropoulou Lab)

M.S. PREM Researchers

Makena Burns — Makena Burns
M.S. Chemistry: Contact Angle Analysis to determine CMC and Trace Analysis using Gas Chromatography (Brittain Lab)

Micheal Goodman — Micheal Goodman
M.S. Physics: Imaging 2D materials using advanced AFM techniques (Miyahara Lab)

Rodriguez, Jackelyn — Jackelyn Rodriguez
M.S. Chemistry: Effect of Carbon Substrate and Anion Environment within Nickel Hydroxide Cathodes on Electrochemical Performance of Nickel-Zinc Batteries (Rhodes Lab)

Jaret Manley — Jaret Manley
M.S. Chemistry: Effect of Nickel Hydroxide Cathode Composition on Electrochemical Performance of Nickel-Zinc Batteries
(Rhodes Lab)

Jessica Peterson — Jessica Peterson
M.S. Biochemistry: Polymer hydrogel nanocomposites as antibacterial would healing materials (Betancourt Lab)

William Pollack — William Pollack
M.S. Chemistry: Characterization of high entropy oxide catalysts by annealing nitrate metal salts onto titanium substrates via laser synthesis (Martin Lab)

Undergraduate PREM Researchers

Bekzat Abubakirov — Bekzat Abubakirov
B.S. (Brittain Lab)

Melany Bouyer — Melany Bouyer
B.S. Microbiology: Polymer nanocomposites for water purification (Irvin Lab)

Natalie Brown — Natalie Brown
B.S. Biology: Synthesizing and Characterizing DNA-GNP complexes (Miyahara Lab)

George Bruen — George Bruen
B.S. Industrial Engineering: Designing and fabricating battery and electrolyzer cells (Rhodes Lab)

Nicolas Bueno Ponce — Nicolas Bueno Ponce
B.S. Biochemistry: Dynamic agar hydrogels with hyaluronic acid (Betancourt Lab)

Tegan Dagley — Tegan Dagley
B.S. Biochemistry: (Kerwin Lab)

Denally Escalona — Denally Escalona
(Betancourt Lab)

Stephanie Espinosa — Stephanie Espinosa
B.S. Physics (WisteyLab)

Kayley Green-Tooney — Kayley Green-Tooney
B.S. Physics: (Miyahara Lab)

Isabella Horcha — Isabella Horcha
B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Rutile Solid Solutions for Improved Electrocatalytic Activity (Martin Lab)

Yordanos Kinfe — Yordanos Kinfe
B.S. Biochemistry: Dynamic Reconfigurable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications (Betancourt Lab)

Alan Martinez — Alan Martinez
B.S. Chemistry: Laser synthesis and characterization of metal oxides on metal surfaces (Martin Lab)

Mason Mault — Mason Mault
B.S. Applied Mathematics: Mathematical analysis of electro-mechanical coupled system (Miyahara Lab)

Aleena Medrano — Aleena Medrano
B.S. Animal Science: Preparing and characterizing azobenzene compounds (Brittain Lab)

Mal Millholland — Mal Millholland
B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Mixed Metal Spinel Materials for the Oxidation Reduction Reaction (Martin Lab)

Ian Morgan — Ian Morgan
B.S. Chemistry & Criminal Justice: Photoisomerization of Azobenzenes in Polysaccharides
(Brittain Lab)

Iris Okoro — Iris Okoro
B.S. Electrical Engineering: Automating Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (Miyahara Lab)

Ethan Patterson — Ethan Patterson
B.S. Electrical Engineering (Wistey Lab)

Eunice Rodriguez — Eunice Rodriguez
B.S. Clinical Laboratory Science: Incorporation of RGD peptide into PEG-MAL hydrogels for cell encapsulation (Betancourt Lab)

Nathalia Sauceda — Nathalia Sauceda
B.S. (Brittain Lab)

Alex Sharpton — Alex Sharpton
B.S. (Martin Lab)

Caleb Solis — Caleb Solis
B.S. Electrical Engineering/Physics: Synthesizing and Characterizing DNA-GNP complexes (Miyahara Lab)

McKenzie Siller — McKenzie Siller
B.S. Biochemistry: Nanoparticles with miRNA in treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab)

Amelia Scott — Amelia Scott
B.S. Microbiology: Dynamic Reconfigurable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
(Betancourt Lab)

Edna Vasquez — Edna Vasquez
B.S. Electrical Engineering: Growth and simulation of new semiconductor materials (Wistey Lab)

Len Mouer

B.S. (Brittain Lab)

Riley Sheikh

B.S. Chemistry: (Martin Lab)

Stuart Plaugher

B.S. Electrical Engineering (Miyahara Lab)

Sydney Mock

B.S. Physics (Satchell Lab)

Elissa Avila

B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab)

PREM Affiliates

Sunil Adhikari — Sunil Adhikari
M.S. Physics: Investigating the Electric Field-Induced Isomerization (Miyahara Lab)

Ayodeji Akinloye — Ayodeji Akinloye
M.S. Chemistry: Dynamic Interpenetrating Hydrogels as Biomaterials (Betancourt Lab)

Khorshed Alam — Khorshed Alam
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: MBE growth GeCSn thin films for On chip silicon photonics laser (Wistey Lab)

Luis Albiter — Luis Albiter
Postdoctoral Researcher: Ruthenium-Zirconium Oxides for Highly Stable Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts (Rhodes Lab)

Sakib Bhuiyan — Sakib Bhuiyan
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Synthesis and Characterization of Photothermal Hydrogels (Betancourt Lab)

Shuvo Brahma — Shuvo Brahma
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Vapor phase deposition of Electroactive polymers on nanofiber (Betancourt Lab)

Edith Collins — Edith Collins
M.S. Chemistry: (Brittain Lab)

Seemanta Deb — Seemanta Deb
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Eyes Absent (EYA) in DNA Damage Response and Cell Fate Determination through Liquid-liquid Phase Separation
(Lewis Lab)

Dillon Gee — Dillon Gee
B.S. Biology: Leveraging Star-like PEG Macromolecule Valence to Improve the Tunability of Drug Delivery from Hydrogels (Betancourt Lab) (part of URISE program)

Aidan Gustafson — Aidan Gustafson
B.S. Biochemistry: Characterization of EYA1 and EYA2 N-Terminal Hydrogels (Lewis Lab)

Nicholas Lontkowski — Nicholas Lontkowski
M.S. Chemistry: (Kerwin Lab)

Malay Kumar Das — Malay Kumar Das
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Study of Non-Canonical Nucleic Acid Structures and ligands: G- quadruplex and G- triplex (Kerwin Lab)

Biddhut Lamichhane — Biddhut Lamichhane
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: (WisteyLab)

Md Mahamudul Hasan — Md Mahamudul Hasan
Postdoctoral Researcher: Characterization of Quantum Materials and quantum dot qubits by advanced scanning probe microscopy technique (Miyahara Lab)

Rigo Mayorga-Luna — Rigo Mayorga-Luna
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Charge transfer through individual DNA molecules measured by mechanically detected electric charge sensing (Miyahara Lab)

Zachary Naymik — Zachary Naymik
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization (Rhodes Lab)

Ifeanyi Nwanegbo — Ifeanyi Nwanegbo
M.S. Chemistry: Polymer nanoparticles for miRNA delivery (Martin Lab)

Mohammed Reaz Rahman Munna — Mohammed Reaz Rahman Munna
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: MBE growth GeCSn thin films for On chip silicon photonics laser (Wistey Lab)

Junaid Ur Rehman — Junaid Ur Rehman
PhD Materials Science, Engineering and Commercialization: Polymer nanocomposites for water purification (Betancourt Lab)

Brandon Taylor — Brandon Taylor
B.S: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt lab) (part of URISE program)

Hailey Dudley

M.S. Biochemistry (Kerwin Lab)

PREM Alumni

PREM Alumni

Eniola Adegbola — Eniola Adegbola
B.S. Biochemistry: Evaluation of PEDOT Nanoparticles in Neuroblastoma Differentiation (Betancourt Lab) Now: Applying to medical school for 2025

Augustus Arbogast — Augustus Arbogast
M.S. Materials Physics: Group IV Semiconductors (Wistey Lab) Now: Working at TXST supervising technical training of PhD students on MBE growth and seeking position in materials science field

Kathleen Bailey — Kathleen Bailey
B.S. Chemistry: Evaluation of Metal Substituents on Structure & Electrical Properties of Zirconium & Tin Oxide (Rhodes Lab) Now: PhD student in chemistry at Texas A&M University

Nikki Broussard — Nikki Broussard
B.S. Microbiology: The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab) Now: Looking for research position

Abby Bosket — Abby Bosket
B.S. Chemistry: Laser annealing of metal sulfides grown on metal surfaces (Martin Lab) Now: Searching for a job related to food science

Ellee Bounds — Ellee Bounds
B.S. Biology: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab) Now: Applying for medical school for 2025 academic year

Warren Burke — Warren Burke
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of Rutile Phase (Ta/Ti)O2 (Martin Lab) Now: QC/Engineering Technician at Tesla in Austin Gigafactory

Camden Caffey — Camden Caffey
B.S. Chemistry: High Energy Ball Milling to make Mixed Metal Oxide Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts (Rhodes Lab) Now: Research Technician at Houston Methodist Hospital

Emily Camera — Emily Camera
B.S. Clinical Lab Sciences: The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab)

Carter Cunningham — Carter Cunningham
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of Conductive Polymer Bottle Brushes (Irvin Lab) Now: Pursuing Ph.D. in chemistry at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Kobe De La Paz — Kobe De La Paz
B.S. Microbiology: Optimization of PEDOT Nanoparticle Preparation (Betancourt Lab) Laboratory Technician at Fairfax Cryobank and applying for medical school

Tuhin Dey — Tuhin Dey
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Growth and Characterization of GeSnC Semiconductor Alloy for Si Photonics (Wistey Lab) Now: Process Engineer at Lam Research

Emma Die — Emma Die
B.S. Physics: Dilute GeC alloys for Silicon phonics (Wistey Lab)

Haley Dutton — Haley Dutton
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab)

Adrian Fernandez — Adrian Fernandez
M.S. Biochemistry: Temperature-Dependent Self-Assembly Remodeling by a Polyether Perylene Diimide in Water (Kerwin Lab)

Idania Galvan — Idania Galvan
B.S. Biology: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PLA-PEG Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab) Now: Finished MS at University of North Texas for MS program + applying for medical school

Jacobo Garza — Jacobo Garza
B.S. Biochemistry: Physical and Chemical Characterization of Putative G-Triplex-Forming DNA Oligonucleotides (Kerwin Lab) Now: Completing MS n personalized molecular medicine at the University of Texas HSC

Ben Gibson — Ben Gibson
B.S. Chemistry: Nanostructured Cathode Material (Rhodes Lab) Now: Technical Staff at Group 1 (energy materials company)

Austin Gillette — Austin Gillette
B.S. Biochemistry: Exploring solid solution of Molybdenum-Tungsten-Sulfides using laser heating (Martin Lab) Now: Seeking position in materials science field

Suzanna Griffin — Suzanna Griffin
B.S. Biology: (Betancourt Lab)

Jacob Guerrero — Jacob Guerrero
B.S. Biochemistry: Reconfigurable Ion Pairs (Brittain Lab) Now: Starting PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Nebraska

Mariah Gutierrez — Mariah Gutierrez
B.S. Biochemistry/Marketing: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PEDOT Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab) Now: Pursuing MS in Marketing Research at TXST. Full time PREM CIMA staff.

Chloe Hansom — Chloe Hansom
B.S. Chemistry: Nerve Regeneration: Grafting Conductive Polymers using Electrochemistry (Irvin Lab) Now: Looking for industry position and applying for PhD programs next year

Grace Haya — Grace Haya
B.S. Biochemistry: Conducting Polymer Aptasensors (Betancourt/Irvin Lab) Now: SSS TRiO Advisor at Lane Community College

Ikel Hernandez — Ikel Hernandez
B.S. Physics: Surface potential measurements of SrTiO3 films on Si using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (Theodoropoulou Lab) Now: Starting PhD in physics at Drexel University

Dean Koehne — Dean Koehne
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Quantum effects in the electronic properties of epitaxial SrTiO₃ films on Si(001) (Theodoropoulou Lab)

Patrick Kollias — Patrick Kollias
M.S. Physics: Resistive Switching Behavior in SrTiO3/Si Thin Films (Theodoropoulou Lab) Now: Product Development Engineer at SigmaSense

Hector Lazaro — Hector Lazaro
B.S. Chemistry (Irvin Lab) Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field

Sam Lindsey — Sam Lindsey
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab) Now: Starting PhD in physics at University of Delaware

Nicholas Lontkowski — Nicholas Lontkowski
M.S. Chemistry: Electroactive polymer nanocomposites for nerve regeneration (Irvin Lab)

Diego Luna — Diego Luna
B.S.Chemistry: Laser synthesis of high entropy oxides (Martin Lab) Now: Helping with family business

Marc Maldonado — Marc Maldonado
B.S. Chemistry: (Irvin Lab) Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field

Christy Meyer — Christy Meyer
B.S. Chemistry: Reconfigurable Ion Pairs (Brittain Lab) Now: Laboratory Technician, BASF

Sarah Mitchell — Sarah Mitchell
M.S. Biochemistry: Modulation of Cancer Immunogenicity by PEDOT Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Therapy (Betancourt Lab) Now: Working in IT position

Juanangel Montemayor — Juanangel Montemayor
B.S. Physics: Quantum and electromagnetic properties of CdTel or ZnTel solar panels annealed with other metals (Transferred to other institution)

Ezequiel (Zeke) Montes — Ezequiel (Zeke) Montes
B.S. Chemistry: Synthesis of conductive polymer bottle brushes (Irvin Lab)

Jennifer Navarro — Jennifer Navarro
M.S. Biochemistry: The Synthesis and Utility of Novel N-Alkynyl Azoles (Kerwin Lab) Now: Medicinal chemist at MD Anderson Cancer Center

Shashank Neupane — Shashank Neupane
B.S. Physics: Low cost STM_AFM (Miyahara Lab)

Tan Nguyen — Tan Nguyen
B.S. Physics: Quantum Dot with Azobenzene (Miyahara Lab) Now: Self employed

Alison Nichols — Alison Nichols
M.S. Physics: Low-Temperature Electronic Properties of PbTe doped with Tl grown on CdTe (211)B by MBE (Theodoropoulou Lab) Now: Research staff at HRL Laboratories

Josue Osorio — Josue Osorio
B.S. Biochemistry: Creating a PLGA-PEI-miRNA nanovector to reprogram neuroblastoma cancer cells in vitro (Betancourt Lab) Now: Started a personal business

Mackenzie Otakpor — Mackenzie Otakpor
B.S. Biology: Conducting polymer aptasensors (Betancourt Lab) Now: Conducting research at Texas State, applying for medical school

Madeleine Pastore — Madeleine Pastore
B.S. Chemistry: Electroactive polymer nanocomposites (Irvin Lab) Now: Starting PhD in Chemistry at UT Austin in Fall 2024

Gabriel Pohlman — Gabriel Pohlman
B.S. Chemistry: Conducting Polymer Aptasensors (Betancourt Lab) Now: Pursuing PhD in Chemistry at University of Texas at Austin

Lilian Roe — Lilian Roe
B.S. Biology: Development of Strategies for Active Targeting of PEDOT Nanoparticles (Betancourt Lab) Now: Patient Care Technician at Heart Hospital of Austin and applying for medical school

Greta Sanchez — Greta Sanchez
B.S. Biochemistry: Preparation of miRNA-loaded nanoparticles for the treatment of neuroblastoma (Betancourt Lab) Now: Studying at UT Austin

Marvin Santiago — Marvin Santiago
M.S. Chemistry: Chemical Modification of Polymer Nanofibers (Irvin Lab) Now: Pursuing PhD in chemistry at UCSB

Layne Sauer — Layne Sauer
B.S. Physics: Optical Measurements of Highly Mismatched Alloys (Wistey Lab) Now: Looking for positions in chemistry/materials science field

Cory Silguero — Cory Silguero
B.S. Chemistry: Nanostructure Synthesis and Analysis via X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (Rhodes Lab) Now: Pursuing PhD in Chemistry at University of Texas at Austin

Venus Stanton — Venus Stanton
B.S. Chemistry: Esterifcation of Ragweed-sourced Cellulose for Production of Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers (Irvin Lab) Now: At the University of Texas at San Antonio for PhD in molecular microbiology and immunology

Madeline Tello — Madeline Tello*
B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Titanium dioxide (Martin Lab)

Kushal Thapa — Kushal Thapa
PhD Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization: Synthesis and characterization of photothermal hydrogels (Betancourt Lab)

Edgar Torres — Edgar Torres
B.A. Communication Studies & B.S. Chemistry: Laser Synthesis of Tungsten Sulfide (Martin Lab) Now: PhD student in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech / Emory

Adelyne Towne — Adelyne Towne
B.S. Biochemistry: Synthesis of Conductive Polymer Bottle Brushes (Irvin Lab) (Moved to Dr. Karen Lewis Lab)

Michael Urena — Michael Urena
M.S. Chemistry: Evaluation of Catalysts & Catalyst Layers on Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer Performance and Durability (Rhodes Lab) Now: Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories

Isaiah Velazquez — Isaiah Velazquez
B.S. Physics (Theodoropoulou Lab) Now: Conducting post-back summer experience at UT Austin. Applying for doctoral programs for next year

Sarah Weisbrodt — Sarah Weisbrodt
B.S. Biochemistry: Temperature-Dependent Self-Assembly Remodeling by a Polyether Perylene Diimide in Water (Kerwin Lab)

Joanna Zepeda — Joanna Zepeda
B.S. Biology: Synthesis of photothermally active hydrogels (Betancourt Lab) Now: Pursuing PhD in biomedical sciences at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas State PREM Staff

Mariah Gutierrez — Mariah Gutierrez
PREM Admin Assistant II