MSA Early Career Group

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN

I’m a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Materials Science & Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I earned my B.S. in Mechanical & Space Engineering in 2019 at the University of Sydney, transitioning into a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering in 2023. My Ph.D. research aimed at elucidating the fundamental microstructure-property relationships of additively manufactured Ni-based superalloys from a atomic- to macro-length scale, was sponsored by a Australia-US Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (AUSMURI) program. My technical expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of microscopy and microanalytical techniques including mechanical property testing, multiscale electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, EDS, EBSD, TKD, FIB), atom probe tomography, and powder diffraction. At ORNL, my research interests lie in developing new alloys for additively manufactured components and developing new methods for intentional site-specific microstructural engineering, guided by high-resolution microscopy and thermodynamic simulations.

Lehigh University, PA

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh University. With a B.S. in Physics, I transitioned to Materials Science during my master's, where I began working with multiscale microstructural characterization techniques. My Ph.D. research at the University of São Paulo centered on the physical metallurgy and phase transformations of maraging steels, and I conducted part of my work at Berkeley Lab sponsored by a Brazilian government program. Currently, my research focuses on High Entropy Alloy nanoparticles, where I am developing in-situ TEM heating studies to explore their sintering behavior, high-temperature stability, and mechanical properties for refractory applications. In addition to my research, I serve as the president of the Lehigh Postdoctoral Association (LPDA) and actively support initiatives to empower young women in STEM. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, savoring good coffee, and traveling across the U.S. to visit National Parks.

NASA Glenn Research Center, OH

I am an early career materials engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. I graduated with my master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where I researched aerosol jet printing of flexible microelectronics for biomedical devices. In my role at NASA, I study how materials respond to the harsh environment of space and contribute to development and selection of space-durable materials for a range of missions. I hope to help represent early career interests in the PostDoc Subcommittee and engage more early career individuals in MSA and M&M.

NIST - Boulder, CO

I am an NRC Fellow postdoc at NIST in Boulder, where I develop electron microscopy methods to study ultra-wide bandgap devices and contacts. I received my BS in Physics from Harvey Mudd College and my PhD in Materials Science from the Colorado School of Mines; my graduate research focused on high-throughput thin film growth and characterization at the National Renewable Energy Lab and TEM methods for studying long- and short-range ordering in II-IV-V₂ materials.  Before transitioning to NIST, I worked at Mines as a postdoc to explore combining precession electron diffraction with cepstral techniques for the analysis of 4D-STEM data. I am excited to join the Early Career Committee and strengthen the community that has been so generous to me with their time and experience.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

I am a postdoctoral scientist at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I earned my Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology from Pennsylvania State University in 2024 and was a 2022 SCGSR scholar in the Center for Structural Molecular Biology at ORNL. My research focuses on understanding biotic and abiotic interfaces using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM). More specifically, techniques such as cryo-plasma focused ion beam (cryo-pFIB) milling and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) will be used to observe ultrastructures of bacteria and viruses on antimicrobial surfaces. I’m seeking opportunities to serve as a student research mentor. I enjoy weight training, swimming and caring for my pet snake Jabari.

Stanford University

I am a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, advised by Prof. Jennifer Dionne. I did my Ph.D. at MIT under guidance of Prof. Frances Ross. My research focuses on elucidating the correlation between structure, property, and performance of functional nanomaterials for a sustainable future using in situ electron microscopy. I use in situ electron microscopy as a nanoscale laboratory to reveal the dynamics of materials under reaction conditions realized by external stimuli such as temperature, biasing, exposure to liquid and gas, and light illumination.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

I am a postdoctoral scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory within the Center for Nanophase Materials Science. I performed my Ph.D studies on the in situ synthesis and aging behavior of platinum emission control catalysts at the department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University. Presently, my primary research centers on the development of machine learning to drive improved data acquisition in scanning transmission electron microscopy, and additionally the use of in situ atmospheric TEM to investigate transient phenomena.

ORNL, TN

I am a postdoctoral scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where I am currently focused on additively manufactured metal alloys. Prior to joining Oak Ridge, I worked at Penn State, where I had the opportunity to engage in microstructural characterization and data analysis for various 3D-printed alloys, including Ti-6Al-4V, IN718, and 316L. Among my expertise in micro and nanoscale microscopic characterization methods, my specialization lies in Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) characterization and data analysis, allowing me to delve into the textural properties of grains and tease out data in sophisticated ways. My participation in MSA is to connect with fellow scientists and peers who share a passion for microscopy and data analysis. Additionally, I aim to contribute to the scientific community by mentoring young engineers and scientists as they navigate their academic paths. As a research scientist, my goal is to continually enhance and refine my expertise in material characterization and data analysis, all while fostering connections and exchanging ideas with colleagues. I believe that the MSA community is a good source for networking and collaboration, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage with other researchers.

University of California, Santa Barbara

I am a NSF MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I completed my PhD at Stony Brook University, where I utilized in-situ transmission electron microscopy to explore the behavior of irradiation-induced defects in structural materials. My current work focuses on the development/application of high-throughput and in-situ microscopy techniques to explore the role of engineered defect phases on material properties under thermal, mechanical, and radiation loads. I am excited to work towards expanding postdoc participation in MSA and I look forward to engaging and collaborating with everybody on MSA StC. 

NIST - Colorado

I’m a NRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Material Measurement Laboratory Division in Boulder, CO. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry from Regis University followed by my PhD in Chemistry from Arizona State University in 2021, where I worked on the time-resolved excited state dynamics of transition metal oxide clusters. I was then awarded an NRC Fellowship, transitioning to the Extreme APT project at NIST in early 2022. At NIST, I work to characterize the EUV atom probe system and apply the instrumentation for industrially relevant material analysis. In my free time, I enjoy all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer, such as climbing, camping, and hiking with my dog, Bean.