NanoCenter Welcomes New Faculty

The Maryland NanoCenter is operating in a major growth mode, well into its plan for adding about 25 new faculty in nano-related areas. It is collaborating closely with relevant departments and research institutes on campus. In addition, it is involved in some joint hiring with institutional partners, including the University of Maryland Baltimore, NIST, and University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.

Recent faculty hires are described below:

Rabin, Oded Materials Science and Engineering Fall 2007 Dr. Rabin joined the MSE department and IREAP in Fall 07. He obtained a Ph.D. at MIT and postdoctorate training at MGH/Harvard Medical School and UC Berkeley. His research program focuses on nanoscale structures and their interaction with their chemical and physical environment. His lab will develop synthetic strategies to make nanoparticles, nanowires, and nano-structured thin films. Areas of interest include (1) chemical sensing and molecule-nanoparticle interactions (2) advanced materials for thermoelectric energy generation, (3) applications of nanoparticles as biomarkers for imaging, diagnosis, and repair, (4) porous anodic alumina scaffolds, and (5) molecular and nanoparticle transport in microfluidic devices.
Li, Teng Mechanical Engineering Fall 2006 LiTumd.edu Personal Website We welcome Dr. Li to the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Maryland. Dr. Li received his Ph.D. from Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University. His research interests include: micro/nano structures in flexible macroelectronics; micro/nanoscale patterns; biomembrane and cytoskeleton of cells.
Rosfjord, Kristine Electrical and Computer Engineering Spring 2007 Department Website Dr. Rosfjord joins UMD as Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department . Following degrees from Georgia Tech (BE) and UC Berkeley (MS, PhD), she worked in the Quantum and Nanostructures and the Nanofabrication group at MIT. Her interests lie in nanowire single-photon detectors, nanofabrication technology, and applications in x-ray and optical regimes.
Seog, Joonil Materials Science Engineering & Bioengineering Spring 2007 joonil.seog@gmail.com Personal Website Dr. Seog is joining UMD with a joint appointment between the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the new Fischell Department of Bioengineering. He received his Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT following degrees in Chemical Technology from Seoul National University, then joined the CBR Institute for Biomedical Research at Harvard Medical School. His research interests are in understanding the molecular origin of biomechanical properties at the cellular and tissue levels, using biomolecular interactions in combination with nanoprobe actuation and measurement techniques (AFM, optical tweezers).
Solares, Santiago Mechanical Engineering Fall 2006 ssolaresumd.edu Department Website Dr. Solares comes to the Mechanical Engineering department after receiving his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. His research interestes include: multi-scale simulations ranging from quantum to continuum mechanics; nanorobotics; surface characterization methods, and surface reconstruction and functionalization.
Waks, Edo Electrical and Computer Engineering Fall 2006 edowaksumd.edu Department Website Dr. Waks received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, aimed at nanophotonic implementations of quantum information processing . His primary research interests are in the application of photonic crystals to quantum information processing, and as practical tools in optical telecommunication and sensing.
Ouyang, Min Physics 2004 LiTumd.edu Personal Website Dr. Ouyang joined UMD in 2004 as assistant professor in the Physics Department after doctoral studies at Harvard University (Chemistry) and postdoctoral research at the University of California at Santa Barbara (Physics). Dr. Ouyang is interested in exploring new physics, chemistry and device applications based on the spin degree of freedom of electrons and nuclei within ordered nano-engineered architectures.
Bergbreiter, Sarah Mechanical Engineering 2008 sarahbumd.edu Personal Website Dr. Sarah Bergbreiter joined UMD's Mechanical Engineering Department and the Institute of Systems Research in January 2008. She received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in Electrical Engineering while working on autonomous mobile microrobots. Her interests include mobile microrobots, low-power microactuators, new microfabrication techniques, and MEMS sensors.