The Student Council

Pennsylvania State University

I am a PhD student at Penn State in Dr. Jon-Paul Maria’s lab; my research focus is on high-entropy oxides for electronic materials applications. I first became involved with MSA StC as an undergraduate student while at the University of Tennessee, serving as Region VIII Liaison (2017-18), Secretary (2018-19; 2021-22), and  Treasurer (2019-21; 2022-23). As a researcher, I have a passion for microscopy as a field of study, but what makes MSA unique is the community of microscopists. As a member of the Student Council, it is important to me to help create opportunities for networking and growth within this community; I look forward to doing so in the next year as Treasurer.

The University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering / Argonne National Laboratory

I am a PhD student at The University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of molecular engineering in the laboratory for energy storage and conversion and am a visiting student at Argonne National Laboratory. My co advisors are Prof. Y. Shirley Meng and Nestor J. Zaluzec. My research interest lies at the interfaces of electrochemical devices and quantum materials where I employ electron microscopy techniques to answer the question of how the contact between layers of materials evolves under operating conditions. I was introduced to electron microscopy in my undergraduate studies at Georgia Institute of Technology and Sandia National Laboratories. Why I grew to love it, is that the technique is useful and has purposes and workflows that have been developed connecting multiple fields of science. I am looking forward to serving on this council and bringing together microscopists from different backgrounds of expertise to share ideas and become friends.

Arizona State University

I am a fourth-year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University. My co-advisors are Dr. Seth Ariel Tongay and Dr. Sandhya Susarla. My research focuses on establishing “defects genomes” of layered one- and two-dimensional semiconductors, and synthesizing new phases of these materials under high-pressure high-temperature conditions. As President Elect of MSA Student Council, I hope to support the team by continuing to establish pathways for students to be more involved, not just within Student Council, but within MSA and its Local Affiliated Societies as a whole.

University of Illinois at Chicago

I am a fifth-year PhD student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, working in the Nanoscale Physics Group led by Professor Robert Klie. My research focuses on studying energy materials such as Mg-ion batteries, quantum dots, and superconductors using a range of advanced techniques, including in situ and cryo-microscopy, to investigate their structure and properties at the atomic scale. I began my academic journey with a focus on biophysics but developed a passion for condensed matter physics, fascinated by the opportunity to use cutting-edge EM tools to directly observe the sub-nanometer world I had spent years studying in theory. I first joined the MSA Student Council as Social Chair, then served as Program Chair, and I’m now entering my third year of involvement as Treasurer, where I look forward to continuing to foster collaboration and growth within our community.

Carnegie Mellon University

I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, advised by Prof. Elizabeth Dickey. My research focuses on elucidating structure-property relationships in novel ferroelectrics for CMOS-compatible non-volatile memory devices, using advanced characterization techniques including FIB/SEM, HR-TEM, STEM-DPC imaging, EDX, and EELS. As Secretary of the MSA Student Council, I am excited to foster connections with peers and professionals in the microscopy community and to help build a supportive and engaged network.

Northwestern University

I am a 3rd year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, advised by Prof. Vinayak Dravid. I use advanced electron microscopy techniques, primarily EELS and 4DSTEM, to study hydrogen transport through solid oxides and across interfaces. I first learned about microscopy during my undergraduate studies at Iowa State University. My initial research interests involved polymers and ceramics, and I have always been passionate about sustainability. As an aspiring electron microscopist, I hope to demonstrate the capabilities of microscopy in fighting climate change. I am excited to serve as Communications Chair where I can share my love of microscopy with others.

California Institute of Technology

I’m a sixth-year Ph.D. student in Professor Scott Cushing’s lab at Caltech, where I develop ultrafast and photomodulated electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) techniques to probe photodynamics in energy conversion materials. My research images nanoscale carrier, thermal, and structural dynamics with optically-coupled STEM-EELS and UEM. I also develop ab initio theory to simulate EEL spectra and disentangle overlapping spectral signals, including doped and 2D insulating oxide supercells. As a Communications Team Co-Chair, I’m looking forward to helping build a professional network amongst MSA members while also spreading the word about the biggest and best PMCx60 EVER at M&M 2026 in Milwaukee.

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

I’m a PhD student under Gerd Duscher, studying two-dimensional materials with scanning transmission electron microscopy.  We manipulate specific types of small atomic clusters called superatoms with the electron beam, and by tracking their motion, we can learn about atomic processes during non-classical nucleation and growth of two-dimensional crystals.  In pursuit of these experiments, I have developed strong skills in python programming applied to multi-dimensional data analysis, instrument automation, and machine learning.  Through this whole process, MSA StC has empowered me to host events, reach new students, and bring together local communities of microscopists - now, it’s my turn to give back to this community.  I couldn’t be more excited to serve in this position, and we hope to see you at the PMCx60!

Cornell University

I’m a fifth-year PhD student at Cornell University, advised by David Muller. I explore the structure-property relationship of electronic materials from power electronics to quantum qubit devices with advanced STEM techniques. In particular, I investigate the atomic structure at interface boundaries using multislice electron ptychography. My introduction to the MSA StC started at PMCx60, where I was introduced to an amazing and dedicated community. I am excited to bring our community together again this year as program co-chair!

Arizona State University

I’m a second-year PhD student at Arizona State University working under Peter A. Crozier. My research focuses on the structural dynamics and gas adsorption behavior of nanoparticle catalyst materials. Over the course of my PhD, I have developed expertise in conducting in situ TEM gas/heating experiments on our FEI Titan ETEM, as well as in scripting with Python and MATLAB to process and quantify the structural dynamics captured in high spatio-temporal resolution movies of catalytic nanoparticles under reaction conditions. I am returning for my third year in the MSA StC out of both gratitude and commitment to the microscopy community. The support of my local microscopy community has allowed me to develop into a scientific professional, while the broader community has provided me with the inspiration and insight guiding me throughout my scientific journey.

University of Wisconsin-Madison

I’m currently a senior undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (UW-Madison), majoring in Aerospace engineering. While my degree isn’t very biological sciences, my introduction to research was. I have been working with the UW-Madison Cryo-EM Research Center for the last 2 years as an undergraduate researcher, inventing a new method for natural condition sample preparation and correlative imaging for biological samples in cryo-EM and cryo-ET. Over this time I’ve had the chances to meet and work with many amazing microscopists and present this research at various conferences (including two M&Ms). I wanted to help build out the PMC in this next year, and my experience thus far with biological sciences and interdisciplinary research is motivating me to find biological speakers which can bridge a gap between the two largest groups of microscopists in MSA.

University of Washington

I’m a MSE PhD student at the University of Washington measuring the local excitonic states in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and 2D material devices utilizing STEM/EELS. I earned my MSE Master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2023 and two Bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Bio-Resource Science & Engineering from the University of Washington in 2020. I’m also an awardee of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 2022. I was part of the MSA StC as a regional liaison in 2023-2024 and last year took on a bigger role as the PMC Social Chair which I am returning to again this year. I look forward to continuing to work with the other MSA StC members to build an exciting and interesting PMC program as well as some exciting social events that everyone can enjoy!

Michigan Technological University

I am a second-year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Technological University, working with Dr. Sriram Vijayan. My research focuses on additively manufactured oxide dispersion strengthened 316L stainless steel for structural applications in Generation IV nuclear reactors. I use optical and electron microscopy, along with allied techniques, to characterize the morphology, structure, and distribution of phases and defects across multiple length scales. For my work, I am especially interested in expanding my knowledge of in situ TEM and SEM techniques to study dislocation mechanics. As a returning member of the MSA STC, I look forward to encouraging discussion and supporting others with an interest in microscopy.

University of Washington, Seattle

I am a first year PhD student at the University of Washington in sunny Seattle, working with Prof Juan Carlos Idrobo. Currently, I am conducting research on doing vibrational spectroscopy using EELS on amino acids and I am also working on creating an annular EELS aperture to boost signal for momentum resolved phenomena. I am also going to be using EELS to study phonon modes in superconducting thin film FeSe at superconducting temperatures. I will be doing this with our new Nion Hermes 100 Mac-STEM that is going to be coming sometime in 2026. I am looking forward to interacting with the scientific community more deeply through this position!

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

I am a 5th year Ph.D. student in the department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I work in Professor K. Andre Mkhoyan's lab where we use aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy & spectroscopy to study materials. Presently, most of my work is focused on the study of the fundamental origin and engineering of unique non-conventional line and extended line defects in thin film complex perovskite oxides. I first became fascinated with electron microscopy in my 5th grade when I was intrigued about the smallest building block during an optical microscopy demonstration. Eventually, I joined a TEM lab during my undergrad at the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi. I feel microscopy offers flexibility to study a gamut of fields alongside the capability to acquire deep insights about a material. As regional liaison and ex-communications chair of MSA StC not only will we try to bring together and connect this wide variety of microscopists but also show our "true" creative quirky side.

Northwestern University

I am a 5th-year PhD student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University, advised by Prof. Vinayak Dravid & Mercouri Kanatzidis. My research investigates how chemical disorder in 2D semiconductors shapes local optical and magnetic properties, using advanced STEM methods including EELS and DPC. This is my first year as an MSA StC member, and I am excited to collaborate with other liaisons to plan events and bring microscopists in the region together.

University of Chicago

I’m a 2nd-year PhD student at the University of Chicago working with Prof. Shirley Meng and co-advised by Dr. Maria Chan from Argonne National Laboratory. My research focuses on studying battery materials with (cryo) SEM, FIB, STEM, EDS, and EELS. In particular, I’m interested in studying the interface between solid electrolyte/Li metal/current collector in anode-free lithium solid-state batteries. This is my first year serving as a regional liaison for the MSA StC, and I hope to connect with more microscopists around the world.

University of Chicago

I am a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago, conducting research with Dr. Bobby Kasthuri and Dr. Kevin Boergens. My current research interests include developing high-throughput electron microscopy techniques for whole brain mapping (connectomics). Specifically, I am working towards the application of Photoemission Electron Microscopy (PEEM) to connectomics. This is my first year as a region liaison, and I am excited to promote microscopy through community engagement and outreach!

Michigan Technological University

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics, researching under the guidance of Dr. Sriram Vijayan. I have been processing high-resolution EBSD images through various programming systems to gather data, specifically geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs). My research focuses on using the separate systems to systematically check the values across different step sizes and mathematical processes. As a first-year regional liaison,  I am excited to engage with peers and to encourage others to learn more about microscopy.

The Ohio State University

As a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University, advised by Professor Jinwoo Hwang, I focus on understanding atomic-scale degradation mechanisms in sodium-ion battery cathodes and interfacial structures in semiconductor thin films. I use advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with machine learning based image analysis to extract quantitative atomic information and reveal how local structural changes influence material performance. Recently, I have also developed a strong interest in multislice ptychography as a pathway to achieve deeper insight into complex materials. My research has shown me how powerful microscopy can be in connecting structure and function, and I’m eager to serve as a Regional Liaison to help foster collaboration, share knowledge, and strengthen connections among students passionate about advancing microscopy across disciplines.

University of Michigan

I am a 4th-year PhD student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor working in Professor Robert Hovden’s lab.  My research interests include EELS/X-EDS imaging, electron damage mechanisms, and cryogenic tomography. I look at all materials i.e batteries, metals, semiconductors, organics, etc. I am very excited to launch a high school microscopy program in the Detroit area in early 2026. Outside of STEM, I am an avid rare book collector, amateur historian, and am trying to become certified as a boat captain.

Pennsylvania State University

I am a first year, rotating graduate student pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular biology at Penn State University. I have research interests in the application of various microscopic techniques to study cell wall biosynthesis systems in various plant species to tease out the underlying mechanisms by which cellulose is synthesized and inserted into the cell wall. I also have a background in scanning electron microscopy to study nanoscale degradation of silicon solar cell technologies. As a first year MSA StC member, I am looking forward to getting more involved with the local affiliated societies.

Pennsylvania State University

I am a fourth-year MatSE PhD student at Pennsylvania State University working with Dr. Nasim Alem. My research focuses on investigating the microstructures of beam-sensitive halide perovskites using low-dose TEM and cryo-FIB. I am also working on defect (stacking fault) quantification in polycrystalline systems with machine learning methods. I am very excited about joining MSA StC as a regional liaison and looking forward to getting involved with local microscopy communities.

Pennsylvania State University

I am a 5th-year PhD student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Penn State, advised by Prof. Nasim Alem. My research focuses on understanding local structure, strain, electronic states, and vibrational properties in chemically disordered systems using advanced Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscopy techniques. I also incorporate machine learning to uncover subtle structural features at the atomic scale. This is my first year as an MSA StC member, and I am excited to connect with peers, contribute to society initiatives, and actively participate in local society activities.

University of Pennsylvania

I am a 5th year PhD student in Physics at the University of Pennsylvania advised by Marija Drndi?. My research focuses on atom-scale engineering of defects and nanopores in two-dimensional materials using AC-STEM and studying the physics of these defects toward applications in nanofluidics, quantum technology, and blue energy research. My early work in grad school focused on engineering defects in hexagonal boron nitride using AC-STEM toward deterministic creation of individually addressable qubits. Now, as a Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST) Fellow at UPenn, my work focuses primarily on AC-STEM engineering and study of sub-nanometer sized defects and pores in two-dimensional materials and the study of ionic transport through these pores towards blue energy generation. This will be my first year serving as a regional liaison, and I am most excited to use my role to bring awareness of MSA and of electron microscopy to undergraduate and high-school students in my region and to hopefully introduce them to a very exciting field of research!

Pennsylvania State University

I am a fifth-year chemistry graduate student from Penn State University, working under the guidance of Prof. Danielle R. Hickey. My research involves studying the in situ transformation of nano- and microcrystals through techniques such as in situ TEM, aberration-corrected S/TEM, EDS/EDX, EELS, SAED, and FIB/SEM. 

This is my first year serving as a regional liaison for the MSA StC, and I am eager to connect with local microscopist groups to learn more and share my passion for microscopy.

Johns Hopkins University

I am a first-year PhD student at Johns Hopkins University in the Program in Molecular Biophysics (PMB). I am interested in uncovering the biological mechanisms behind the structure-function relationships of proteins and using these insights to guide therapeutic development. I am currently rotating through labs to determine what my final research will be, and I primarily focus on determining 3D structures of biological molecules using cryo-electron microscopy and tomography techniques. In my current rotation I work with Drs. Gira Bhabha and Damian Ekiert on subtomogram averaging of proteins within the polar tube, the infection organelle of the unicellular obligate parasites microsporidia.

Cornell University

I am a fifth-year PhD candidate in Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University, where I work with Prof. David Muller to advance multislice electron ptychography for 3D imaging of buried interfaces and defects in semiconductor and quantum materials. After a rewarding first term as regional liaison, I’m excited to continue in this role and help strengthen connections and collaboration across the microscopy community.

University of California, Berkeley

I am a 6th year PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, co-advised by Prof. Jeffrey Long in Chemistry and Prof. Andrew Minor in Materials Science & Engineering. I develop S/TEM techniques to map local structure, elemental distribution, and gas adsorption in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). My goal is to expand the toolbox we can use on these beam-sensitive materials. I am excited to continue serving on MSA StC; it's especially important to me that MSA serves as a platform for researchers from different backgrounds to meet and learn from each other.

University of California, Berkeley

I am a second-year materials science and engineering PhD student advised by Andrew Minor at the University of California, Berkeley and Julia Deitz at Sandia National Labs in New Mexico. I use SEM and S/TEM to analyze defect evolution in metals and the role they play in ductile failure as well as how we can leverage these defects for next-generation devices. My work is specifically focused on using spectral analysis methods to make sense of the high-dimensionality data which contains the defects I study. In my first year on MSA StC, I am excited to engage with people in and out of microscopy and use electrons to foster an inclusive and productive community. :)

University of California, Irvine

I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Chemical, Applied, and Materials Physics graduate program in the Department of Chemistry, supervised by Prof. Joe Patterson. My research focuses on using analytical TEM (EDS/EELS) and electrochemical liquid-phase TEM to study semiconductor photocatalyst nanomaterials. 

This is my first year serving as a regional liaison for the MSA StC, and I am eager to connect with local microscopy groups and advance microscopy.

University of Utah

I am a 4th-year PhD candidate in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Utah working under Dr. Ling Zang. My research focuses on the fabrication and characterization of functional nanomaterials. Current applications for our materials include next-generation anodes for iB systems and forever chemical mediation. Microscopy techniques I currently utilize include SEM/EDS, HRTEM, STEM/EDS, and in-situ ED by TEM. This is my first year as a member of the MSA StC, and I’m very excited to work together with the other liaisons on bringing together students interested in microscopy. I’m hoping that through my efforts, and the efforts of my fellow liaisons, students from all over the country will be able to find friends, collaborators, and a community within the MSA.

Arizona State University

I am a first-year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University, advised by Prof. Xin Xu. My research focuses on solid-state batteries and electron microscopy, with emphasis on garnet solid electrolytes such as LLZTO. I work with SEM, FIB, and TEM to study microstructure and surface chemistry of beam- and air-sensitive materials.

Before joining ASU, I completed my master’s degree in physics at Universidade Federal Fluminense in Brazil, where I worked with nanomaterial synthesis and supported microscopy research and student training initiatives.

As a regional liaison, I am excited to help connect students, strengthen local microscopy networks, and promote collaboration, training, and community involvement across the microscopy community.

Pennsylvania State University

I am a fifth-year chemistry graduate student from Penn State University, working under the guidance of Prof. Danielle R. Hickey, as a visiting student at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. My work focuses on utilizing (S)TEM techniques such as 4D-STEM, EDS, and EELS aided by machine learning models to ease the understanding of complex systems. Additionally, I have expertise using in situ TEM to study the transformation of metals. This is my first year being part of the MSA StC as a regional liaison, and I am looking forward to interacting with the local microscopist affiliations

Vanderbilt University

I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in Cell & Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University supervised by Dr. Ken Lau. My research focuses on studying gut epithelial cell projections with my specialization being in 3D super resolution light microscopy techniques and computational analyses. This is my first year serving as a regional liaison for the MSA StC, and I am looking forward to connecting with other microscopists, highlighting light microscopy in MSA, and interacting more locally.

University of Georgia

I am a third-year chemistry PhD at the University of Georgia, working in Dr. Tina Salguero’s lab, where we focus on the synthesis and characterization of low-dimensional quantum materials. My work focuses on the investigation of these low-dimensional materials under various conditions to better illuminate breakdown. Specifically, I utilize in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy to probe the morphological, structural, and chemical changes occurring within these materials due to elevated temperatures. I also have an assistantship appointment at the Georgia Electron Microscopy core facility at UGA, where I can assist in imaging services for others. For my duties as a regional liaison, I hope to be able to interact more with my local community and assist others in reaching out to learn more about microscopy.

University of Toronto

I am a fifth-year direct-PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto, co-supervised by Professor Jane Howe and Professor Keryn Lian. My research focuses on low-dose, low-voltage, and in situ SEM techniques to improve the visibility of true surface features of insulating, beam-sensitive, and mesoporous materials, with a special interest in sustainable energy and catalysis.  As a first-year regional liaison based in Canada, I look forward to contributing to the worldwide impact of MSA StC.