2020 Material Magazine

M A ▶ T E ▶R I ▶A L
2020
MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Contents

4 The World of Materials
A revamped MatSE curriculum is helping undergraduates
learn to tackle the materials challenges of the future

6 Putting Curriculum into Practice
Undergraduates experience research opportunities

7 MatSE Undergraduates Win Startup Fellowships
Geis’ iVenture Accelerator

8 Summer 2020: Not your typical internship experience
Students find opportunities despite pandemic conditions

9 Exceptional Honors
Robert S. Averback, Paul Braun, David Cahill, and Nancy Sottos

10 Science Doesn’t Stop
Labs adjust to new safety protocols & students adapt with
new strategies

11 2020 Racheff-Intel Scholars
For Outstanding Graduate Research

12 Magnetic Moments
David Cahill’s work with antiferromagnets

14 Graduate Student Research Spotlights
New research from the Huang, Leal, Braun, Evans, and
Chen groups

19 Interviews with Alumni Awardees
Paul Clem, Kate Jakubas, and Nerissa Draeger

22 New Faculty
Hua Wang and Charles Schroeder join the department

23 By the Numbers & Recent Faculty Awards and Main Office
Achievements 201 Materials Science and Engineering Building
1304 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217-333-1441
[email protected]

2 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

Dear Alumni, Colleagues, and Friends, MatSE Leadership

Last January I started my tenure as Head of this amazing department, feeling confident Nancy Sottos, Head
that all things were running smoothly thanks to the leadership of Pascal Bellon as Interim
Head. Since March though, we have faced many unexpected challenges due to the COVID-19 Dallas Trinkle, Associate Head
pandemic and have witnessed the momentous calls for racial and social justice. The MatSE
faculty, staff and students have responded boldly to reinvent the way we teach, learn Moonsub Shim, Director of Graduate Studies
and conduct research under these new boundary conditions. We have also renewed our
commitment to improve inclusion and diversity in our own academic neighborhood. Laura Nagel, Chief Undergraduate Advisor

I am proud to share with you a few of the unique experiences and accomplishments from Nicole Robards, Associate Director of Facilities
the past year. In this issue, we highlight the culmination of our undergraduate curriculum
revision and the extraordinary investment we have made in our undergraduate labs. Our and Operations
undergraduate program moved up in the US News and World Report rankings to #2, and we
continue to strive to improve our undergraduate experience. Thanks to some herculean efforts, Allison Sutton, Assistant Head for Administration
all of our undergraduate labs are being offered in-person this semester. The continued research
excellence and achievements of our faculty and students are also featured. We have made Ethan Scott, Associate Director of Advancement
a safe and successful transition back to work in our research labs, including the shared user
facilities of the MRL which have been up and running smoothly since June. While the coming Alumni Association Board Members
months will remain challenging, I am confident we will continue to innovate ways to excel in
our research, teaching, and service missions, and I am thankful for the continued support of Meena Banasiak, BS ‘06
our MatSE family of alumni. Daniel Bergstrom, BS ‘92, PhD ‘97
Martin Brotschul, BS Cer ‘96
Nancy Sottos, Head Laura Cohen, BS ‘07
Kristina Galis, BS ‘08, MS ‘09
Matthew George, PhD ‘09
Craig Gowin, BS ‘00
Khalid Hattar, PhD ‘09
Liang Hong, PhD ‘07
Dan Lillig, BS Met ‘93, PhD ‘00
Katharine Nickell, BS ChemE ‘03, MS ‘05
Zeba Parkar, PhD ‘11
Michael Pollard, BS ‘97, MS ‘98
Howard Savage, Vice President, BS Met ‘84, MS Met

‘88, PhD Met ‘91
Alp Sehirlioglu, PhD ‘05
Donna Senft, PhD, ‘94
Kyle Wilcoxen, President, BS ‘06

Managing Editor:
Steph M. Adams, Marketing and Communications

Contributing writers:
Lois Yoksoulian, Illinois News Bureau
Daniel Le Ray

Contributing photographer:
L. Brian Stauffer, Illinois News Bureau

Design:
Patricia Mayer

Image credits:
Cover: “A Cleanroom World,” Haibo Gao; Page 2:
“Cadmium Sulphide Nanorods,” Sangyoon Shim;
Page 3 top right: “MoS₂ monolayer flake,” Yoojin Ahn;
Page 11: “Charge density difference between layered
In0.5Ga0.5P and GaP semiconductors,” André Schleife;
Back cover: “Lipid-polymer hybrid materials showing
platelet structure,” Yoo Kyung Go.

A special thank you to Carly DeFilippo, Hannah Harris,
and Ali Nunes — Communications Interns

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 3

TMhaeteWrioarlsld of Pictured: Lingyun Xu, Senior

A REVAMPED MATERIALS SCIENCE CURRICULUM IS HELPING
UNDERGRADUATES LEARN TO TACKLE THE MATERIALS
CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.

WRITTEN BY DANIEL LE RAY BY THEIR SENIOR YEAR, MAJORS microscope used in all senior labs, sputter
deposition and stress measurement systems
Access to innovative research, cutting- HAVE TAKEN SIX LABORATORY for a class on thin films, and a discovery
edge lab technology, and greater flexibility rheometer, which measures the effects of
—these are just a few of the benefits of a COURSES—TWICE AS MANY AS different forces on polymers
new undergraduate materials science and
engineering curriculum at Illinois. IN THE OLD CURRICULUM. The trajectory for a new major begins
with foundational courses—chemistry,
“In materials science, there’s so much offering juniors and seniors a wider range physics, calculus, and an intro to materials
overlap and, essentially, so many sub- of labs and the ability to delve into more science—and continues with sophomore
disciplines,” explained Dallas Trinkle, Willett specialties, from biomaterials and polymers to classes that examine how these fields come
Faculty Scholar and associate head of composites and materials for energy and the together. These include the mechanics of
the Department of Materials Science and environment. materials, quantum physics, and phase
Engineering. “We felt more and more that it relations. Their third year covers topics such
made sense to give students more flexibility This curricular revamp has resulted in as the microstructures of materials, as well as
and revamp the curriculum in a way that a “unique model in materials science and offering multiple labs and electives.
would allow that.” engineering education across the United
States,” Trinkle added. By their senior year, majors have taken six
Where students used to pick a laboratory courses—twice as many as in the
“concentration” during their junior year, the During this process, the department also old curriculum.
new model emphasizes just how inherently purchased nearly $750,000 in upgraded lab
interdisciplinary materials science is by equipment, including a scanning electron

4 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

“In an engineering discipline like materials familiar with these tools when they go off to THE NEW CURRICULUM
science, lab courses are really crucial,” industry or into research.”
explained Trinkle. “We think it’s a great INCORPORATES
experience for the students. They have more These curricular changes also warranted the
experience in labs; they have more variety creation of new spaces for undergraduates. COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS
of labs,” ranging from electronic materials to
photovoltaics or materials theory. “We have the advantage of dedicated ACROSS THE BOARD.
instructional labs, whereas many others have
Many seniors also take on internships or to share research equipment and space,” said and medicine delivery, biomaterials problems,
research projects. This is reflected in another Nicole Robards, associate director of facilities recycling—many, if not most, are ultimately
change to the department’s academics: the and operations. “We also increased the materials challenges. It’s not that we don’t
addition of computational materials science. footprint of our labs by renovating a couple know what the problem is. We know what the
of spaces to allow for future expansion with problem is, but oftentimes it’s that we can’t
“Industry has a lot of interest in getting newly created modules.” translate that into sustainable materials or
students with experience using computational make the materials we need to use.”
tools,” Trinkle said. As such, the new The value in majoring in materials science is
curriculum incorporates this across the board directly related to its interdisciplinarity, Trinkle A degree in materials science puts UIUC
“to help students understand concepts, added. graduates in a position to take on such
but also see these vehicles being used in an challenges: “We think we have the best
engineering context and prepare them to be “If you think about the challenges that curriculum in materials science right now
society has going forward—coming up with across the United States. And that will put
new energy solutions, making new antibiotics students in the best position they can to really
make impacts in all of these different fields.”

New experimental
tools

• Neoscope Benchtop SEM System
• Horiba Raman Confocal Microscope
• TA Instruments Discovery Differential

Scanning Calorimeter
• TA Instruments DHR2 Rheometer
• Toho Technology Precision Surface Stress

Analyzer
• Rigaku Miniflex X-Ray Diffraction System

Pictured: Blake Cedergren, Senior

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 5

Putting Curriculum Into Practice

UNDERGRADUATES EXPERIENCE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Dana Yun, a junior in MatSE and a “THE OPPORTUNITY TO Ian Flueck, another junior in MatSE and a

member of the Krogstad Research Group, APPLY THEORY IN A HANDS- member of the Autonomous Materials Systems

is conducting research on ternary diboride Group led by Professor Nancy R. Sottos, is focusing

thin films for extreme environments. Her ON ENVIRONMENT FRAMES on developing self-healing materials for oil and
project focuses on understanding the effects ACADEMIC COURSEWORK gas pipelines. Specifically, Ian says, “the challenge
of aluminum in transition metal diboride is to synthesize a polymer microcapsule system

films at high temperatures by studying their WITHIN THE LARGER FIELD that can be embedded inside polymer matrix
crystallization and oxidation kinetics, which OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND composite materials to impart self-healing
will allow for improvements in their stability properties to the bulk material. Self-healing

and overall performance. strategies can extend lifecycle, improve durability,
and reduce costs, hopefully accelerating the
”On her participation in undergraduate
ENGINEERING.

research, Dana says, “undergraduate research -Ian Flueck development and adoption of composite

has not only allowed me to work on projects materials in industry.” There are many benefits

and learn lab practices, but it has given me experience writing papers to conducting research as an undergraduate, but for Ian he says one

and presenting my work. My opportunities from research have also major benefit is that “the opportunity to apply theory in a hands-on

connected me to outstanding researchers I continue to admire, and environment frames academic coursework within the larger field of

other enthusiastic undergraduates across the country with whom I materials science and engineering.”

have made wonderful friendships.”

6 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

THREE MATSE UNDERGRADUATES The Gies College of Business’ iVenture is the educational
accelerator for top student startups in the University of Illinois
iVentureWIN STARTUP FELLOWSHIPS system. Student teams, in close consultation with advisors, can
access up to $10,000 in seed funding to source critical early-stage
materials, supplies, services, and opportunities.

Alex Kosyakov, sophomore Ritin Joseph, sophomore Siddharth Bhujle, junior

“Natrion is a battery startup that we’ve been working on for the better part “I’m working on CamUX, where
of the last two years. Our safer and more affordable solid-state sodium-ion we have a mission to help people
technology makes independent solar power generation cost-effective and with limited motor skills have
sustainable for homes, farms, and the military. Basically, power produced by a more seamless interactions with
solar array is mostly unusable, unless paired with a battery-based energy storage system that technology,” said Siddharth Bhujle. “We are
can manage it,” Kosyakov explains. developing a wearable device, in the form of
“The lithium batteries being used right now, though, are too expensive for widespread use by a pair of eyeglasses, to conduct eye-tracking
households and businesses and too unstable in extreme environments to be viable in military with embedded cameras. This, combined with
applications. We set out to solve this problem by taking the outside-of-the-box approach of a selection of ability buttons/switches for a
optimizing a battery for inherent stability and affordability before focusing on performance. customizable experience, will allow people
“The Natrion of today is an entirely different company than the Natrion that first entered to control mouse function seamlessly; eye-
iVenture. The amount of advisory and mentorship that we are able to receive, not just from the tracking, for cursor control; and the ability to
iVenture team, but also the massive network associated with the program, has truly turned conduct clicks. I’m very interested in human-
our company around. Whatever challenge we come across, there’s someone involved with computer interaction.
iVenture who can help. The Midwest NSF I-Corps program component of iVenture has also been “I wanted to help people who lack sufficient
particularly beneficial in informing how we can best develop our product for our intended end- access to information in the first place:
users. people who struggle to interface with these
“One of the reasons that Ritin and I wanted to come to the University of Illinois was the information-accessing devices. From here, I
school’s sheer wealth of entrepreneurial resources. It’s truly unparalleled. If you’re thinking hope to bring more advanced technology to
about a start-up, there are so many ways to get help in getting started, whether it’s participating market that would make information even
in SocialFuze or Cozad, or just having a call with the wonderful staff of the Technology more accessible, to everyone, at any given
Entrepreneur Center. Taking advantage of as many of these resources as you can will let you time.”
turn an idea into a true business opportunity.”

mmaattssee..iilllliinnooiiss..eedduu || UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff IIlllliinnooiiss aatt UUrrbbaannaa--CChhaammppaaiiggnn 77

S20u2m0mer NOT YOUR TYPICAL
INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Clarissa Domanus, senior Talen Sehgal, senior Grace Levita, junior
Texas Instruments Chevron Corporation Procter and Gamble

Clarissa Domanus, a summer 2020 intern Talen Sehgal, a Facilities Engineering Grace Levita, a Research and
at Texas Instruments (TI), found that her role
as a Processing Engineer in the plasma group intern at the Chevron Corporation this past Development intern in packaging at Procter
of one of the wafer fabs translated well to a summer, had his 12-week internship in Salt & Gamble (P&G) this past summer, says the
virtual environment. “Half of my work was Lake City, UT changed to an 8-week virtual switch to a virtual internship was smoother
experimental design to try and get rid of internship. The switch led to some early than she had expected. “P&G did an absolutely
defects some of our processes were adding to frustration, but overall he says, “as my team incredible job in creating meaningful projects
the wafers. I chose what parameters to test, started to work together more, I found that we for the interns that could be accomplished
how to tweak those parameters, and then went bonded and were able to complete projects virtually and kept us connected to a wonderful
through the complex fab control system to quickly and efficiently.” Due to the online shift, network of technical coaches and mentors.”
actually implement the experiment remotely in Talen worked with a five-person intern team Rather than moving to Cincinnati for the
real time,” Clarissa says. “My mentor would go from varying engineering disciplines on three summer, Grace worked from home where she
into the fab to manually run some experiments projects as opposed to working one-on-one says “an initial challenge was getting into the
for me that couldn’t be run remotely, which with a supervisor. Regarding the switch to swing of a professional routine while being
was super helpful.” The biggest challenge was a group setting, Talen says, “as a returning in the comfortable setting of my home, but
not being able to physically see what she was intern, it gave me an opportunity to provide I was able to work through this by setting a
working on. “My mentor tried to give me a some knowledge of resources that might strong schedule for my day and taking regular
mini fab tour to show me what I was working be relevant, take a leadership role on the breaks!” When reflecting on her 12-week
with, but of course the cell service in the fab team, and explore roles and responsibilities virtual internship, Grace says “this experience
wasn’t great, and I couldn’t see anything in that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity has taught me a very important lesson: the
detail.” Overall though, Clarissa still felt like she to experience.” One of the tough parts of power of optimism! It is quite easy to sit
was able to accomplish a lot during her time this change was the shift from a Materials around and look at all of the negatives about
with the company. Originally scheduled to be Engineering intern to a general Facilities an internship moving 100% virtual.”
in Dallas with a May start day, the internship Engineering intern, but even that ended
was shortened and went completely virtual. up being a great learning experience. “The “With a positive outlook and trying to
When reflecting on her time at TI, Clarissa position was a little more general mechanical make the most of the situation, I found myself
says, “it was awesome that TI chose to support engineering focused, but I was able to pull in appreciating some of the benefits of a virtual
the interns and hold true to their promises good amounts of my knowledge on materials internship, such as getting to spend more time
of summer employment, and they provided to help make recommendations,” says with my family at home and becoming well-
everything I needed to do well remotely for a Talen. “In the end, I was able to gain a lot of versed in the different features of Zoom and
couple months.” experience in an area that I usually wouldn’t Microsoft Teams.” Grace is looking forward to
have been exposed to, which was great!” having the opportunity to return to P&G as a
summer 2021 intern.

8 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

Nancy Sottos elected
to National Academy
of Engineering

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among
the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.
Sottos was recognized for her contributions to the design and
applications of self-healing and multifunctional materials. Sottos
is the Department Head and Swanlund Chair of Materials Science
and Engineering and leads the Autonomous Materials Systems
group at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and
Technology at Illinois. She also is affiliated with the Departments
of Mechanical Science and Engineering and Aerospace
Engineering, and the Materials Research Laboratory.

Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Paul Braun and David Cahill awarded Grainger
S. Averback receives 2020 Distinguished Chairs in Engineering
Robert Cahn Award
The Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering is bestowed in recognition of distinguished
The Robert Cahn Award is given by the Journal scholarly achievements and leadership in promoting collaborative research.
of Nuclear Materials and the committee of NuMat
2020, the Nuclear Materials Conference, based Paul Braun is the Director of the Materials Research Laboratory and was named the Ivan
on a lifelong contribution to the field of nuclear Racheff Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 2011. He also has a co-appointment
materials. as a professor in chemistry and is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Science and
Engineering and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The Braun
This award recognizes a scientist of high group has advanced the synthesis of new functional materials with 3D nano and mesoscale
academic profile in the field of nuclear materials architectures. David Cahill was named the Donald B. Willett Professor of Engineering in 2005
who has the ability to communicate science to a and served as Department Head of MatSE from 2010 to 2018. Cahill has made significant
broad audience and has demonstrated an interest contributions to materials characterization and materials physics in the area of thermal
in breaking down barriers between scientific transport.
disciplines.
matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 9

Science doesn’t stop

LABS ADJUST TO NEW SAFETY PROTOCOLS & STUDENTS ADAPT WITH NEW STRATEGIES

Justine Paul: “My research is focused on understanding the experimental Justine Paul, Sottos Group
techniques in which we can harness the instabilities during frontal ring opening
metathesis polymerization of cyclic olefins, with specific focus on the monomer
dicyclopentadiene. We hope to be able to utilize this new manufacturing platform
technology based on a thermally driven reaction-diffusion system to implement
complex architectures and emergent surface patterns in engineering materials.

“Recently, we have implemented new schedules for the lab along with signups
occuring on Sundays. This change has positively impacted me as I am definitely way
more mindful about carefully planning out my experiments ahead of time in order
to be the most productive during my shifts. Also, with the collaborative nature of our
group, my collaborators and I had to become very adaptive and creative in ways in
which we transfer samples among each other.

“With Zoom & Slack being popular ways of communication, it has made
communicating with my collaborators on a daily basis extremely effortless. My advice
to incoming students working in the lab is to find a schedule that works for you. This
may take some time, but once you are able to find a schedule, it will allow you to
settle into a routine. A schedule is also super helpful and beneficial when trying to
find the appropriate work-life balance for yourself. The more you can plan out your
day for both your professional and personal life, the more positive results you’ll start
seeing both in and out of the lab. Always remember to take time for yourself as you
are only young once! Work hard, play hard!”

Sarith Bandara, Leal Group Sarith Bandara: “I am currently extracting extracellular vesicles (EVs) from cell
cultures and investigating how they behave in different hydrogels, mimicking the
extracellular matrix. EVs have been hailed as potentially disruptive diagnostic tools
for various pathological conditions. Understanding the structures that they assume in
different tissue micro environments could help in establishing EV-disease links that could
further streamline the diagnostic process.

“Apart from wearing a mask and disinfecting common surfaces after using them,
much of my lab work is still the same during the pandemic. I do miss interacting with
my colleagues in the lab, which we have had to minimize for obvious reasons. Having to
minimize human interaction means that reserving time for shared instruments that are
on high demand is harder than usual. Thankfully, the MSEB staff ensured that all routine
checks like eyewashes were carried out while labs were still closed, so there were no
nasty surprises awaiting us when we returned.

“Since we are an experimental lab, the temporary closing of the labs meant that
we could not carry out experiments that are crucial for data collection and testing
hypotheses. I used this time to read more research papers and analyze data. I also
decided to bring my guitar, which had collected quite the layer of dust, out of retirement!

“Some advice for new students: people are more comfortable cooking in their own
kitchen than in someone else’s. After you have gone through the required training,
take the time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the lab so that you know where
instruments are and what chemicals are already available for use. If there is no lab
inventory available, maybe invest the time to start one yourself. You need to make the
lab your kitchen! Asking for help is not a weakness! Ask if you don’t know something.

“Other grad students in the lab will be more than willing to help (unless you are really
unlucky). Chances are, they had the same questions when they started.”

10 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020all 2020

The 2020 Racheff-Intel Award Winners

FOR OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCH IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Leon Dean, Sottos Group Varun Mohan, Jain Group Zihao Ou, Chen Group

Materials Science and Engineering research as an undergraduate at The the Chen Group has “provided insights in
graduate students Leon Dean (Sottos Group), University of Texas after taking a materials charting the energy diagram, fundamental
Varun Mohan (Jain Group), and Zihao Ou class and subsequently getting involved interactions, the formation of prenucleation
(Chen Group) are the 2020 Racheff-Intel in undergraduate research with polymer precursors, and interfacial energy of crystals
Award recipients. In memory of Ivan Racheff, materials where, he says, “I was hooked!” using in-situ liquid-phase transmission
a distinguished alumnus of the University electron microscopy (TEM).”
of Illinois, the Racheff-Intel Award is given As a member of the Jain Group, Varun
to current graduate students in MatSE at Mohan focuses on “studies of unusual The three researchers have this advice
the University of Illinois who have shown photochemical transformations in alcohols for fellow students, “It is important to find
excellence in research in any sub-field. The under plasmonic excitation and Lewis the direction that you have passion,” says
award consists of a plaque and up to $1,000 acid catalysis via gold chloride, and low- Zihao. “I sincerely believe in a quote from
financial support to attend a conference at temperature methane chlorination for Richard Feynman, ‘Explore the world.
which the student will present the relevant natural-gas upgradation.” On how he became Nearly everything is really interesting if
research. interested in this sub-field, Mohan said, “My you go into it deeply enough.’ ” Leon says,
longstanding concerns about environmental “you will feel lost and frustrated at times,
Based primarily out of the Beckman degradation and climate change led me to but just remember that is normal, and if
Institute, Leon Dean works on frontal be interested in advancing technological you keep with it, you will eventually have a
polymerization: “rapid, energy-efficient solutions to such issues. The Jain group at breakthrough.” Varun advises that, “taking
manufacturing techniques for bulk polymer Illinois was therefore a natural fit.” imaginative approaches to the established
materials.” Leon, along with collaborators problems in the field is necessary to do good
from a multitude of departments, recently While pursuing his B.S. in physics, Zihao research. The possibilities are immense and
used frontal polymerization “to make Ou says he “constantly asked myself what very simple ideas can yield great benefits. So
highly stretchable elastomers for the first is missing between the seemingly well- be thorough, but also keep an open mind.
time, along with shape memory polymers explained physical laws and complicated real
that respond to temperature by changing nature. This led me to pursue the direction “Having wide ranging interests in a variety
their shape” and is currently developing of self-assembly, where individual building of fields really helps in cross-fertilization of
3D printing methods for these materials. blocks interact with each other and form ideas.”
Leon became interested in materials into large scale structures, with emerging
new properties.” His current research with

mmaattssee..iilllliinnooiiss..eedduu || UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff IIlllliinnooiiss aatt UUrrbbaannaa--CChhaammppaaiiggnn 1111

MMaogmneentitcs WRITTEN BY DANIEL LE RAY

At Illinois, materials Understanding the atomic properties of
scientists are investigating a subset of magnetic materials may be the
a select group of magnetic key to more efficient digital information
materials that could lead to storage, according to David Cahill, a Grainger
innovations in data storage, Distinguished Chair of Engineering and Team
mechanical engineering, and Leader in the Illinois Materials Research
more. Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC).

David Cahill, Grainger Distinguished Chair Founded in 2017, I-MRSEC’s goals are
12 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020 twofold: to advance the fundamental science
of materials with an eye toward applications;
and to provide students, the community, and
historically underrepresented groups with
access to cutting- edge research. Cahill leads
one of I-MRSEC’s two interdisciplinary research
groups, IRG1, which focuses on a group of
materials known as antiferromagnets.

“We’ve taken on this little piece of the
materials world— materials that are metallic
and have antiferromagnetic order,” said Cahill.

Antiferromagnets are not like the magnets
we stick to our fridge doors or study in high
school science class.

These are ferromagnets, which “have
underlying magnetic moments associated
with each atom, and if you add them all up,
they have a net direction,” explained Cahill.
This magnetic direction is useful for things like
making motors, transformers, or magnetic
storage devices.

Antiferromagnets, on the other hand,
consist of atoms with magnetic moments that
are ordered in opposition to one another.

“In these kinds of systems, if you average all
the atoms’ magnetic moments, then it sums to
zero, so there’s no external magnetization that
can be used in the conventional ways,” Cahill
said. There still is an underlying direction—“it’s
just very difficult to observe.”

Observing, measuring, and potentially
manipulating the magnetic moments
associated with the atoms in antiferromagnets
is one of IRG1’s primary goals.

“It’s a new initiative, so that has its own
challenges,” said Cahill, whose background
is in transport properties—how materials
conduct heat or current, for example. “But I
think it’s also quite exciting to have something

“We are working at a very fundamental level, studying the basic
properties of the crystal and the magnetic order, and how it interacts
with current and light. Those are the kind of fundamental, intriguing
sorts of scientific principles that make these materials interesting at a
bigger picture level.”

that everybody can contribute to, and not Cahill elaborated on some of the science magnetic moments in an antiferromagnet are
have the legacy of some other work inhibiting behind their work: “The interaction between not affected by external fields, computer chips
this new direction.” electrons, phonons, and magnons is part made from these materials could also be made
of what we investigate to understand these more compact and use less power.
Cahill explained why IRG1 is targeting fundamental mechanisms of how you can
metallic antiferromagnets in particular. Typical write or manipulate the magnetic order using “Those are basically all the things you want
ferromagnetic materials, like iron or nickel, electrical currents or light.” out of a memory: you want it to be dense, you
tend to be metals and therefore conduct want it to use low amounts of energy, and
electricity; antiferromagnets tend to be Phonons are a quantized wave of how you want it to be fast,” Cahill said, adding that
insulators. the atoms in the material are vibrating, advancing innovation in this area is still very
while magnons are a quantized wave of the much at the level of basic science.
“Because most antiferromagnetic materials spinning motions that the atoms’ magnetic
are not electrical conductors, you can’t moments exhibit. The group’s most recent “We are working at a very fundamental
connect leads to them and currents don’t help paper documents efforts to measure how level, studying the basic properties of the
you,” Cahill said. “But it was discovered four or much energy it takes to change the atomic crystal and the magnetic order, and how it
five years ago that electrical currents could be order of an antiferromagnetic material’s interacts with current and light. Those are
used to change the order and also detect the magnetic moments— something referred to as the kind of fundamental, intriguing sorts of
order in these materials.” magnetocrystalline anisotropy. scientific principles that make these materials
interesting at a bigger picture level.”
This innovation led to a renewed interest Though future applications may be years
in this class of materials. And by honing or even decades away, one area in which In addition to sharing his work with
in on metallic antiferromagnets—that is, IRG1’s research has significant potential is colleagues and students, Cahill is most excited
antiferromagnets that can act as electrical digital data storage—RAM for computers and by the interdisciplinary nature of his research
conductors—the group hopes that its findings cellphones. group.
may have greater potential in the worlds
of technology, electrical engineering, and Cahill explained that if the magnetic The faculty members working with IRG1
beyond. moments of individual atoms in an are an end-to-end research team, “from
antiferromagnetic material could be changed people who grow materials and study their
Because the science behind from opposing one another in one direction to structure to people who do computer models
antiferromagnets is interdisciplinary and opposing one another in a different direction, to understand how electrons and phonons
cutting-edge, IRG1 includes seven faculty “those states, in principle, could be used to and magnons behave, to people who are
members spanning physics, engineering, and store information.” experimentalists studying interactions with
materials science. The team is interested in light or how you might manipulate things with
“both how electrical currents or light from Atoms pointing north and south could be electrical currents,” he said.
lasers can affect the order and how electrical bit zero and atoms pointing east and west
currents or lasers can be used to detect the could be bit one, for example. And because the “There’s a whole set of steps involved that
order in these materials.” have to come together to make advances.”

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 13

Illustration of a bend in bilayer graphene.
Graphic courtesy of Blanka Janicek, Huang Group

GRADUATE STUDENT
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT:

EDMUND HAN, HUANG GROUP

Graphene: Edmund Han is a materials science and
engineering graduate student and co-author
THE MORE YOU BEND IT, THE SOFTER IT GETS of this study.

New research by the Huang group and colleagues in mechanical engineering combines “For the paper and in this research project
atomic-scale experimentation with computer modeling to determine how much energy it generally, I helped with mechanical modelling
takes to bend multilayer graphene,­a question that has eluded scientists since graphene was for determining the bending stiffness of
first isolated. The findings are reported in the journal Nature Materials. 2D materials. I also performed sample
preparation via focused ion beam (FIB) milling,
Most of the current research on graphene targets the development of nanoscale electronic electron microscopy to measure the bending
devices. Yet, researchers say that many technologies – from stretchable electronics to tiny profile of the 2D materials, and image analysis
robots so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye – require an understanding of to extract geometric parameters required
the mechanics of graphene, particularly how it flexes and bends, to unlock their potential. to calculate the bending stiffness of my
specimen.
“The bending stiffness of a material is one of its most fundamental mechanical properties,”
said Edmund Han, a materials science and engineering graduate student and study co- “The most exciting aspect of my research
author. “Even though we have been studying graphene for two decades, we have yet to experience is being on the forefront of
resolve this very fundamental property. The reason is that different research groups have nanotechnology and using cutting edge
come up with different answers that span across orders of magnitude.” instruments to do so.

The team discovered why previous research efforts disagreed. “They were either bending “My research experience has taught me to
the material a little or bending it a lot,” said Jaehyung Yu, a mechanical science and trust and rely on my friends and colleagues
engineering graduate student and study co-author. “But we found that graphene behaves as a strong and supportive network for my
differently in these two situations. When you bend multilayer graphene a little, it acts more graduate career.
like a stiff plate or a piece of wood. When you bend it a lot, it acts like a stack of papers where
the atomic layers can slide past each other.” “Pinshane Huang has been an amazing
mentor and role model through every
“Ultrasoft slip-mediated bending in few-layer graphene” Nature Materials,. DOI: 10.1038/s41563-019-0529-7 milestone in my graduate career. I would not
be where I am today without her guidance.
14 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020
“In the future, I hope to expand my research
capabilities and continue working at the
forefront of materials science, whether in
academia, national laboratories, or industry.”

Tiny sensors GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT:
MARILYN PORRAS-GOMEZ, LEAL GROUP
MEASURE OXYGEN TRANSFER
Marilyn Porras-Gomez is a materials science and engineering
The Leal group and colleagues have developed tiny sensors that graduate student and I-MRSEC fellow. She is a co-author of this
measure oxygen transport in bovine lung tissue. The study – which study.
establishes a new framework for observing the elusive connection between
lung membranes, oxygen flow and related disease – is published in the “This research was a team effort. My role on the team was
journal Nature Communications. to study the lung membranes under healthy and pathological
conditions using various characterization techniques available at
For lung tissue to perform effectively, it must be able to transfer oxygen the Materials Research Laboratory. Later on, I contributed with
and other gases through its membranes, the researchers said. One way this manuscript writing and the review process. I became more and
happens is through a substance—called a surfactant—that reduces lung more involved in the project as time passed.
liquid surface tension to allow this exchange to occur. However, a surfactant
called cardiolipin is known to be overly abundant in tissues infected with “To me, two elements were most exciting: first, finding out
bacterial pneumonia, the study reports. that lung membranes under pathological conditions behaved
significantly differently and changed their structure, and that
The new sensors are thin silicon- and graphene-based films that contain we were able to image those changes through Atomic Force
tiny transistors that measure oxygen permeation between biological Microscopy (AFM).
surfaces. “A thin film of lung membranes is spread out over many tiny
sensors at the device surface, giving us a better picture of what is going on “Second, I found it quite gratifying working in a team of very
over a relatively large area rather than just a spot,” Leal said. smart women since it was my first experience working with women
only; it helped me feel confident and included, especially as an
The team used the sensors to compare oxygen transfer between healthy incoming student.
and diseased membranes. The samples consisted of a bovine lipid-protein
extract commonly used to treat premature infants suffering respiratory “This work was one of my first research experiences in MatSE.
distress, with a portion of the samples combined with cardiolipin. Therefore it was a great opportunity to gain insights about
concepts that have become essential in my PhD research. I also
“We found that more oxygen passes through the tissue diseased by learned from my former lab mate, Mijung Kim, about the specifics
cardiolipin,” Leal said. “Which may help explain previous observations of of materials preparation and characterization, which also led to us
there being an off-balance of oxygen in the blood of pneumonia patients. becoming friends.
Even though an increase in oxygen flow could be perceived as positive,
it is important to keep the natural exchange that occurs in the lung – “Prof. Leal included me in this remarkable project early on
transferring oxygen more rapidly into the bloodstream disrupts this healthy after becoming a MatSE student. She believed I could contribute
equilibrium.” significantly to it, which raised my confidence. She guided the
team through the entire process, and delegated responsibilities
The researchers also compared the structure of healthy and diseased fairly. Her mentoring skills helped me navigate across this research
tissue using microscopic and X-ray imaging. They found that the tissue process. I am always grateful for her constant and insightful
combined with cardiolipin showed damaged spots, which they posit may input, patience, support and kindness. I have learned a lot just by
be responsible for increased oxygen transfer and subsequent off-balance observing how she tackles research problems.
oxygen levels in pneumonia patients.
“This research has become part of the core of my future
The next stage of this research will be to study lung membranes dissertation. I am currently doing follow-up research on these
extracted from healthy and diseased mammalian lungs, Leal said. membranes, and I hope to gain further understanding about their
properties thanks to the continued support and guidance of my
EXCERPTED FROM STORY WRITTEN BY LOIS YOKSOULIAN, ILLINOIS NEWS BUREAU advisor.”

Graphic by Mijung Kim and Marilyn Porras-Gomez matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 15
“Graphene-based sensing of oxygen transport through pulmonary membranes” Nature Communications,
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14825-9

FORMER GRADUATE STUDENT
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT:

ASHISH KULKARNI, BRAUN

GROUP

Researchers gain control over “For this work, I performed the directional
internal structure of self-assembled solidification experiments, microstructure
composite materials characterization using scanning electron
microscopy, and image analysis to
Composites made from self-assembling inorganic materials are valued for their unique determine the factors affecting the
strength and thermal, optical, and magnetic properties. emergent morphologies. I also collaborated
with a former lab mate to fabricate the
However, because self-assembly can be difficult to control, the structures formed can be starting templates using laser interference
highly disordered, leading to defects during large-scale production. The Braun group and lithography and electrodeposition. I was
colleagues have developed a templating technique that instills greater order and gives rise to the lead author on this paper, and I came
new 3D structures in a special class of materials, called eutectics, to form new, high-performance up with the idea of presenting these
materials. morphologies as tiling patterns.

The findings of the collaborative study are published in the journal Nature. “Instead of “It is intriguing how starting from simple
depositing layers of material individually, we start with a liquid that self-assembles as it solidifies. microstructures in the eutectic and the
This can speed up production and allows us to make larger volumes at one time,” said Paul template, we can control the emergent
Braun, professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Lab morphologies that have new and non-native
at the U. of I., who led the project. However, self-assembly can lead to problems, he said, as its symmetries. This is the first time such
uncontrolled nature can form defects. emergent patterns have been seen in self-
assembled inorganic materials.
To demonstrate this process of self-assembling liquid in the lab, the team built templates with
tiny posts arranged in hexagonal shapes to control the resolidification of a melt containing silver “The experience of writing such a detailed
chloride and potassium chloride – a eutectic material that naturally forms layers as it cools. paper for Nature has been simply amazing. I
learnt that there are two halves of publishing
“Templating is a common practice used in organic polymers processing,” said Ashish Kulkarni, research. First, is the actual planning
a recent Illinois alumnus and the first author of the study. “However, it is not something that has and experimental work, and the other is
been explored in inorganic materials processing because inorganic microstructures are more rigid designing and writing the paper. Both are
and harder to control.” equally important.

The team found that as the silver and potassium chloride melt starts to solidify around the “The unwavering support I received from
hexagonal-shaped templates, the posts get in the way of the layer formation and produce a Paul in pursuing this idea for the paper
composite with an array of different square, triangular and honeycomb-shaped microstructures has been crucial. He helped me improve
instead – the specifics of structure depending on the distance between the posts on the template. the presentation of our science in this
manuscript.
“The repeating nature of these templates and newly formed structures reduces the chances for
defects to form,” Braun said. “So, not only did we form exciting new microstructures, but we also “I still remember how we went back and
reduced the number of defects in the resulting composite material.” forth for every word and sentence of the
abstract. Without his support and the time
EXCERPTED FROM STORY BY LOIS YOKSOULIAN, ILLINOIS NEWS BUREAU spent on writing the manuscript, this paper
would not have been possible.”
“Archimedean lattices emerge in template directed eutectic solidification” Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1893-9
Top graphic: A model showing how a simple layered material, depicted in orange and blue, transforms into a complex Archimedean-structured
composite material when it freezes around a template, depicted in gray. Graphic courtesy of Paul Braun.

16 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

New polymer Recyclable electrolyte reverting back to its starting materials. Graphic courtesy of Brian Jing.
material may
help batteries as ceramics or polymers, the researchers strands. In contrast to linear polymers, these
become said. However, many of these materials are networks actually get stiffer upon heating, which
self-healing, rigid and brittle resulting in poor electrolyte- can potentially minimize the dendrite problem,
recyclable to- electrode contact and reduced the researchers said.
conductivity.
Lithium-ion batteries are notorious for Additionally, they can be easily broken down
developing internal electrical shorts that can Past studies have produced solid to recover their monomers, making them
ignite a battery’s liquid electrolytes, leading electrolytes by using a network of polymer recyclable, as well as self-heal after damage to
to explosions and fires. The Evans group has strands that are cross-linked to form a restore their shape and conductivity.
developed a solid polymer- based electrolyte rubbery lithium conductor. “This method
that can self-heal after damage – and the delays the growth of dendrites; however, “Most polymers require strong acids and high
material can also be recycled without the use of these materials are complex and cannot temperatures to break down,” said materials
harsh chemicals or high temperatures. The new be recovered or healed after damage,” said science and engineering professor and lead
study, which could help manufacturers produce Graduate Student Brian Jing. author Christopher Evans. “Our material
recyclable, self-healing commercial batteries, dissolves in water at room temperature, making
is published in the Journal of the American To address this issue, the researchers it a very energy-efficient and environmentally
Chemical Society. developed a network polymer electrolyte friendly process.”
in which the cross-link point can undergo
There has been a push by chemists and exchange reactions and swap polymer “Catalyst-free dynamic networks for recyclable, self-healing solid
engineers to replace the liquid electrolytes in polymer electrolytes” Journal of the American Chemical Society,
lithium-ion batteries with solid materials such DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09811

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: BRIAN JING, EVANS GROUP

“My role in this paper involved synthesizing “From a technical standpoint, I was able scientist and engineer.
and characterizing the material’s mechanical to gain experience with a wide variety of “Prof. Evans has been a wonderful mentor
and conductive properties. For the majority of characterization techniques that expanded
the project, I have been the lead in conducting my knowledge of polymer science. However, to me throughout my time in graduate school.
experiments and analysis of data. the most important thing research has His expertise in polymer chemistry and physics
taught me is patience and perseverance. have been extremely beneficial in guiding me
“Dynamic networks have recently garnered With research, it is almost guaranteed that through the various challenges of my research
a lot of interest as self-healing and recyclable nothing will work on the first try. Failure projects. In my opinion, Prof. Evans’s best quality
materials. We wanted to push the capabilities usually continues for a number of following is his patience. I really appreciated it my first
by creating functional dynamic networks, attempts, but it is important to not get two years when I was still getting my feet wet
where the material we developed in the paper discouraged during this time. Research is with various techniques. He never gets angry
is able to conduct lithium ions. not easy, or else everyone would do it. You when I make mistakes, which really helped me
are trying to answer questions that no one feel comfortable. Additionally, he always values
knows the answer to. Reminding myself of my opinion in regard to data interpretation and
this allowed me to stay focused and sharpen challenges me to think critically.
my critical thinking skills. Another critical
lesson I have learned, and am still learning, “I would like to take the skills I have learned
is the importance of communicating with from research and work in either the field of
your peers. There have been many occasions corporate research or consulting. I am still
where I received insightful suggestions from keeping all options open right now. However, I
my lab mates and friends just from casual am a bit of a sneaker aficionado, so my dream
conversation. These skills will help me job would be to work at Nike.”
become a motivated and skilled polymer
RESEARCH SUMMARY (TOP) EXCERPTED FROM STORY WRITTEN
BY LOIS YOKSOULIAN,

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 17

Illustration of a bend in bilayer graphene. Graphic courtesy of ACS and the Qian Chen Group
Graphic courtesy Blanka Janicek, Pinshane Huang Lab:

Machine learning peeks into nano-aquariums

In the nanoworld, tiny particles such as energy and environmental sustainability and three types of nanoscale dynamics including
proteins appear to dance as they transform in fabrication of metamaterials, to name a motion, chemical reaction and self-assembly
and assemble to perform various tasks while few. of nanoparticles,” said lead author and graduate
suspended in a liquid. Recently developed student Lehan Yao. “These represent the
methods have made it possible to watch and However, it is difficult to interpret the scenarios and challenges we have encountered
record tiny motions, and researchers now dataset, the researchers said. The video files in the analysis of liquid-phase electron
take a step forward by developing a machine produced are large, filled with temporal and microscopy videos.” The team has made the
learning workflow to streamline the process. spatial information, and are noisy due to source code for the machine learning program
background signals – in other words, they used in this study publicly available through the
The new study, led by Professor Qian Chen, require a lot of tedious image processing and supplemental information section of the paper.
builds upon her past work with liquid-phase analysis. “We feel that making the code available to other
electron microscopy and is published in the researchers can benefit the whole nanomaterials
journal ACS Central Science. “Developing a method even to see these research community,” Chen said.
particles was a huge challenge,” Chen said.
Liquid-phase electron microscopy, which EXCERPTED FROM STORY BY LOIS YOKSOULIAN, ILLINOIS
allows researchers to watch nanoparticles “Figuring out how to efficiently get the NEWS BUREAU
interact inside tiny aquarium-like sample useful data pieces from a sea of outliers and
containers, is useful for research in medicine, noise has become the new challenge.” Machine Learning to Reveal Nanoparticle Dynamics from Liquid-Phase
TEM Videos" ACS Central Science, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00430
“Our program processed information for

GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: LEHAN YAO, CHEN GROUP

“Analyzing the liquid phase TEM videos has we regard this work as a contribution to learning, when I get stuck in some puzzles, I can
been a difficult problem in our group, so it’s the whole liquid-phase TEM or the general have a look into the related interdisciplinary
an exciting thing to develop a method that microscopy community. We are excited and areas. That might give me some unexpected
solves the problems not only for me but for proud to bring efficiency to other people surprise!
other group members. And more importantly, struggling in image/video analysis, and
that is also why we chose the ACS Central “I really appreciate my advisor Qian Chen’s
Science, an open-source journal, to publish help! It was she who suggested the whole
our paper. direction of machine learning. She has the ‘big-
picture vision.’ When sometimes I got trapped in
“The most important thing I have learned the specific problems or even technical details,
through this research is to broaden your she can guide me to bypass those problems and
horizon to interdisciplinary areas. Machine get back on the track.
learning was just a buzz word for me before
this research. Through this research, I “This paper is the first publication in my Ph.D.,
learned that machine learning is a very well- and I think it tackled the technical problems
developed area in which you don’t have to for my material research. In the future, with
study from the fundamental mathematical my experience in image/video analysis, I will
and statistical principles, and people in this focus more on solving questions in material
community are very friendly and willing to science like using electron microscopy to reveal
help. So, in the future, not limited to machine nanoparticle self-assembly mechanisms and
pathways.”

18 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

Q&A An Interview with Paul Clem

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI What did you like most about MatSE at or internships, and reading research papers
AWARDEE Illinois? beyond classwork can help find new areas
Clem: I enjoyed collaborating with materials or research that are intriguing and fit your
Before coming to the University of science, physics and chemistry professors interests.
Illinois in 1996 for his PhD in Materials and students at the Materials Research Lab
Science and Engineering and Ceramics, (MRL) and Beckman Institute. During my What experiences in Illinois MatSE led you
undergraduate research, I read papers by to where you are today and how did these
Paul Clem received his BS in Professor David Payne and became interested experiences help you get there?
in electronic ceramics and interdisciplinary Clem: Writing initial research project
Materials Science and Engineering with research. Working in his group and with others proposals and developing collaborations
a concentration in physics and electrical at MRL and Beckman was a great experience with fellow students was great preparation
engineering in 1991 from University of for future research collaborations. for assembling teams for R&D proposals.
California-Berkeley. Now, Clem works Illinois also focused on professional society
in high voltage science, developing What led you to be interested in your area of presentations (e.g. MRS, American Ceramic
capacitors for energy storage and research? Society, IEEE) which helped with networking
conducting lightning and electrical arc Clem: I was a materials science undergrad with and later job opportunities.
effects research. interests in electrical engineering, solid state
physics and chemistry, and wrote a senior What advice do you have for current
thesis on electronic ceramics, which combined students?
many of these interests. Electronic ceramics Clem: I’d really recommend internships,
have controllable dielectric, piezoelectric, research exchanges and developing
electrooptic and electronic properties that collaborations. Those were some of the most
have a broad range of device uses. rewarding experiences I had in undergraduate
and graduate school, and really helped build
What advice do you have to those who are capabilities.
interested in pursuing research similar to
yours?
Clem: Sometimes it can be hard to identify
a discipline that is interesting. Finding
opportunities for undergraduate research

We want to hear from you!

Alumni, do you or someone you know have news or a story to share with us?
Do you know anyone who should be nominated for our alumni awards?
Contact: [email protected]

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 19

Q&A An Interview with Kate Jakubas

EARLY CAREER AWARDEE What job do you have now? Tell us about more artistic/handmade approach. I also run
a small factory after working at several big
Kate Jakubas received her BS in what you do. ones, which helps us tremendously in running
Jakubas: I am the founder at Meliora Cleaning things efficiently.
Materials Science and Engineering Products, where we make people and planet-
from the University of Illinois with a friendly home cleaning products. I run the What experiences in Illinois MatSE led you
concentration in metals and a minor operations at our Chicago manufacturing
in philosophy in 2006. Later, in 2013, facility: figuring out how to make new products, to where you are today and how did these
she went on to get her Masters in optimizing processes, tracking and lowering the
Environmental Engineering from the waste produced, keeping our employees safe experiences help you get there?
Armour College of Engineering at and earning above a living wage. Jakubas: I think every class, lab, and
Illinois Institute of Technology. internship does a little bit to shape where
What steps have you taken to make your you’re headed. Early classes in MatSE showed
20 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020 me I loved time in the lab, but didn’t want to
business successful? do research full time. An off-campus internship
Jakubas: My business is built around a triple- helped me decide to choose Metals over
bottom-line approach. Rather than focus solely Plastics as my concentration, and also helped
on financial returns, we consider 3Ps: People, me figure out that I didn’t want to work for a
Planet and Profit. We even certify our business gigantic corporation when I graduated.
against a third party standard (we are a Certified
B Corporation) to show our commitment to What advice do you have for current
all of these areas. Looking at how we treat
people (customers and employees) and the students?
environment (through ingredient and packaging Jakubas: Seize the resources available to you!
choices) helps improve our overall business A no-cost healthcare service steps away? Use
and contributes to a healthy bottom line — it all it. Extremely smart professors and graduate
works together. I also adopt best practices from students who are literally sitting in their office
anywhere I can find them: past jobs, brewery waiting for you to ask them questions about
tours, friends that share how they work. I’m also the course they are teaching or their research?
an adjunct professor of social entrepreneurship Go talk to them! Fellow students who have
to foster more Chicago businesses that take a cracked the code on that homework set? Study
similar approach. with them.

What led you to be interested in your area of What advice do you have for young

research? entrepreneurs?
Jakubas: The process of elimination and Jakubas: Take an action-oriented approach:
following the next things of interest. Listening what is the next thing you can actually DO to
to that little “ding” that goes off into my move your project forward? Can you do a tiny
head that says, “THAT’s interesting! I wonder version of the giant thing you’re picturing? A
about...” and following where it leads. Noticing one-time event rather than planning an annual
when something I’m doing feels boring, or daily event for the rest of time? We often
uncomfortable in a bad way, or otherwise tells get stuck picturing how amazing and perfect
me there’s a dead end at the end of that. our business or product will be, and it traps us
into being stuck and not putting something
What advice do you have to those who are out there. I’m a recovering perfectionist, and
it can be hard to decide when something is
interested in pursuing a career similar to good enough to call done, but when there is
only one of you, you have to keep moving!
yours? Don’t be one of those people with an amazing
Jakubas: Don’t be afraid of mixing interests fantasy business idea that isn’t taking action
and pursuits. The most interesting and - the disparaging term we have for that is
successful projects are often a hybrid of topics; “wantrepreneur.” You can tell when someone
I’m a blend of materials science training with is a “wantrepreneur” when you ask what the
artisan soap making experience, so I have a next thing they are going to do on their project
much different approach than others with a is, and they have no idea.

Q&A An Interview with Nerissa Draeger (née Taylor)

LOYALTY AWARDEE What job do you have now? department. The department was small
Draeger: I work for Lam Research Corp, a enough to know most of the professors
Nerissa Draeger received her PhD leading semiconductor equipment supplier and other graduate students, but large
for thin film deposition, etch, and other enough to contain a wide variety of experts
from the University of Illinois Materials fabrication processes. I’ve held a number and resources. I gained a lot of hands-on
Science and Engineering program of roles in the company from corporate experience; which is how I learn best. The MRL
in May, 2000 with a specialization in R&D and new product development, to has always been a world-class facility, and I
electronic materials. Her advisor was Joe strategic business and intellectual property benefited from being able to perform my own
Greene and her thesis was titled, “Si(011) development. Currently, I am part of the analyses using the characterization equipment
and SiGe(011) gas-source molecular Strategy & Innovation team within the there. My cohort of graduate students
beam epitaxy: surface reconstructions, Office of the CTO. As Director of Global socialized and studied together, and I’m still
growth kinetics and Ge segregation.” University Engagements, I oversee Lam’s connected to alumni from my research group
academic partnerships and strategic research and remain close to friends I made during my
collaborations in pursuit of disruptive time there.
and enabling technologies to advance the
semiconductor industry. What experiences in Illinois MatSE led you

What led you to be interested in your area of to where you are today, and how did these

research? experiences help you get there?
Draeger: I thought (and still think) that Draeger: I think one of the values of an
electronic devices are amazing: fabricating advanced degree is in learning how to learn
them requires hundreds of steps at the about a technical project from scratch. Beyond
micro- and nanoscale with precise electrical, the classwork, I had to learn how to canvas
chemical, and mechanical properties. There the literature for the current state of the
is a very low tolerance for defects, or your art, devise test plans to explore gaps in that
smartphone and laptop won’t work. I think it understanding, keep the ultra-high vacuum
was that precision and complexity that made deposition system running the way it should,
it interesting, along with the challenges posed and learn how to solve all of the problems that
by device scaling in following Moore’s Law. arose. I started as a fairly reserved student
That’s certainly an aspect which has kept me and I also had to improve my confidence in
in the field for the last twenty years; I enjoy technical discussions and presentations. I
solving problems and this is an industry failed the oral exam part of my qualifying exam
that is continuously innovating and pushing the first time I took it and what I needed was
boundaries of what is thought to be possible. more experience with explaining my thought
process under pressure. That skill translates
What advice do you have to those who are well to presenting to executives! So beyond
the technical learning I gained as part of my
interested in pursuing research similar to PhD, I also developed soft skills that have
made an impact on my career.
yours?
Draeger: This is a great time for students What advice do you have for current
interested in electronic materials. The demand
for mainstream semiconductor devices students?
continues to grow and there are so many Draeger: If you’re interested in industrial
exciting and new directions such as quantum research, consider a graduate degree because
devices, spintronics, nanomagnetics, etc. it will open more doors and prepare you for a
I think there will continue to be room for wider variety of jobs. If you’re already a grad
innovation and growth in this industry. student, I encourage you to diversify your
interests and skills. A PhD will make you into
What did you like most about MatSE at an expert on a particular scientific aspect,
but your career will also depend on being
Illinois? able to make connections between diverse
Draeger: There was a great sense of technologies and ideas.
community at UIUC and within the MatSE

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 21

Hua Wang joins MATSE Charles Schroeder, Ray and Beverly
as assistant professor Mentzer professor of chemical and
biomolecular engineering, joins MATSE
Hua Wang joins the department after completing a postdoctoral
position with Professor David J. Mooney’s group at Harvard Charles Schroeder has been an affiliate faculty in MatSE since
University from 2016–2020. He earned a BS in Polymer Science and 2016. He will hold a joint appointment (25%) with Chemical and
Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China Biomolecular Engineering.
in 2012 and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Urbana-
Champaign in 2016. Schroeder’s research aims to understand the physical and chemical
properties of soft materials using single molecule techniques. In recent
Wang’s research will take advantage of several strong affiliations years, his group has pioneered new methods to precisely interrogate
at Illinois, including the Cancer Center at Illinois, Carle College of single molecules to understand materials properties ranging from non-
Medicine, the Department of Bioengineering, and the Beckman equilibrium dynamics to charge transport.
Institute.
At the Beckman Institute where his research is based, Schroeder is
With a theme of leveraging chemistry and materials tools Co-Leader of the Molecular Science and Engineering Theme. This highly
to address biomedical questions and improve human health, interdisciplinary research theme is focused on several strategic areas
Wang’s lab will work on biomaterials, metabolic cell labeling, and combines faculty and researchers in theory-driven computational
cancer immunotherapy, and immunoengineering for regenerative molecular science and experiments. The group also includes ChBE
medicine. These research directions are built upon his PhD and faculty members Charles Sing and Ying Diao; MatSE faculty Chris Evans,
postdoctoral trainings with his own interpretation of biomedical Ken Schweizer, Dallas Trinkle, and Qian Chen; and MechSE faculty
challenges and opportunities, which he expects will evolve in the Randy Ewoldt.
future.
“This is a great opportunity for experimentalists to work with
“My lab will conduct research at the intersection of computational scientists in the area of molecular materials, combining
multidisciplinary fields across materials science, chemistry, new advances in automated synthesis with data-driven design and
bioengineering, and immunology,” said Wang. “I welcome students understanding of new pathways and molecules,” Schroeder said.
from different departments and who are interested in biomedical
research to join us. They will be able to acquire versatile skill sets
and bring their expertise to interdisciplinary research fields, which
will be beneficial for their career development.”

22 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020

MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

By the Numbers 5,628 FY 19-20 Enrollments

#2 Ranked undergrad and growing PHD 162
program in nation MS 38
U.S. News & World Report MATSE Alumni UNDERGRADUATE 316

10 29 3 8%
21%
Chairs and DOE Early
Professorships Career Awards 20%

51% $12.6M

1 WORLD-CLASS 1 FY20
NIH New Presidential Early Research
Innovator Awards FACULTY Career Award Expenditures

1 8 2 $10.8M

Packard NSF CAREER Sloan Research FY20 New Grants
Fellowship Awards Fellowships
NSF DoE DoD Industry

1 2 $15.4M $568,000 Income

ONR Young Investigator AFOSR Young Investigaror Endowment funds student awards,
Award Awards scholarships, fellowships, faculty
professorships, research and
general operations for FY20

2019-20 Faculty Awards and Achievements

Robert S. Averback Robert Cahn Award 2020 Waltraud Kriven Invited Member, EU Academy of Sciences
Jessica Krogstad 2020 TMS Early Career Faculty Fellow Award
Paul Braun Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering Nicola Perry 2019 NSF CAREER Award and 2019 J. Bruce
Wagner, Jr. Award, Electrochemical Society
David Cahill AAAS Fellow; 2020 Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Laura Nagel 2020 Engineering Council Outstanding
Advisor Award
Drucker Eminent Faculty Award; Grainger André Schleife Promoted to Associate Professor
Daniel Shoemaker Promoted to Associate Professor;
Distinguished Chair in Engineering 2020 Engineering Council Outstanding
Advisor Award
Qian Chen 2020 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Nancy Sottos Elected to National Academy of Engineering;
Professor, Center for Advanced Study
Research Dallas Trinkle 2019 TMS Brimacombe Medal

Chris Evans 2020 3M Non-tenured Faculty Award

Nate Gabrielson Promoted to Senior Lecturer

Axel Hoffmann 2019 Highly Cited Researcher

Pinshane Huang Presidential Early Career Award in Science

& Engineering (PECASE), 2019

matse.illinois.edu | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 23

Materials Science & Engineering [verify indicia]
201 Materials Science Building
1304 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801 MC-246

Support student scholarships at MatSE

DONATE TO THE “I WANTED TO BECOME AN
ENGINEER TO MAKE AN IMPACT
Engineering Visionary Scholarship Fund IN THE WORLD AROUND ME.
grainger.illinois.edu/giving/evs/give WHETHER IT IS CLIMATE CHANGE,
ENERGY INEFFICIENCY, OR FEEDING
University of Illinois Foundation THE MASSES, IT IS AN ENGINEER’S
1305 West Green Street DUTY TO COMBAT SYSTEMIC
Urbana, IL 61801 PROBLEMS.”
– Noah Hanselman, Engineering
For more information, contact: Visionary Scholarship recipient
Ethan Scott, [email protected]

Keep in touch: MATSE.ILLINOIS.EDU

24 Materials Science and Engineering | Fall 2020