Institute of Materials Science

IMS Annual Newsletter 2017

The issue is filled with inspiring stories of breakthrough research, landmark achievements, and numerous other accomplishments of IMS students, alumni, faculty and staff members.

Visit the UConn-Thermo Fisher Scientific Center for Advanced Microscopy and Materials Analysis.
Watch the video.

Upcoming Events

Apr 24 MCB Seminar: Dr. Monica Medina, Penn State University2:00pm
Apr 24 Condensed Matter Physics Seminar2:00pm
Apr 25 Astronomy Seminar Series2:00pm
Apr 25 Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer: Susan Golden4:00pm
Apr 25 Chemistry Colloquium: Carlos Castaneda, Syracuse4:30pm
Apr 26 MCB 5299 Cell Biology Journal Club12:00pm
Apr 26 Graduate Seminar: Terianna Wax, Zhao Group4:45pm
Apr 27 MCB Graduate Seminar12:20pm
Apr 27 Biology Undergraduate Research Symposia1:00pm
Apr 27 SPS Colloquium4:00pm

MCB Seminar: Dr. Monica Medina, Penn State University

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Storrs Campus
BPB 130

MCB Seminar Series Presents:

Dr. Monica Medina, Penn State University

Seminar title: "Symbiosis and bleaching in coral holobiontsâ

MÃ³nica Medina, Associate Professor of Biology and Associate Head for Equity & Diversity, Penn State, is a marine biologist and the primary focus of her research is cnidarian-algal symbiosis and coral reef ecology. She is one of the leaders in the study of climate-change effects on corals and coral-algae interactions. In 1998 she obtained her Ph.D. in marine biology and fisheries from the University of Miami. She joined the Penn State faculty in 2013 as an associate professor of biology and associate head for equity & diversity. She is interested in a wide range of topics dealing with the ecology and evolution of marine organisms including charismatic invertebrates like corals and mollusks, as well as other less known but equally fun critters like algae, fungi and microbes.

Hosted by Dr. Nyholm

Please join us for light refreshments in the BPB lobby at 1:45.

Contact Information: lisa.dejesse@uconn.edu

Condensed Matter Physics Seminar

Tuesday, April 24th, 2018

02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Storrs Campus
Physics Building, P121

Dr. Maitri Warusawithana,
Department of Physics,
University of North Florida

Emergent New Electronic
Properties in Atomic Layer Complex Oxide Superlattices

Complex oxides exhibit a plethora of collective phenomena such as ferroelectricity, magnetism and superconductivity.
They have been widely studied both in bulk and thin film form. Advances in synthesis techniques have enabled the
formation of atomically precise interfaces between isostructural complex oxide phases with different ground states. Using ozone-assisted molecular beam epitaxy we synthesize such superlattices with sharp interfaces at the atomic layer limit. I will discuss two examples where the interfaces lead to novel electronic properties that do not exist in the bulk constituent phases: asymmetric ferroelectricity in three-component superlattices of titanate phases, and modified
electronic and magnetic properties in ordered pseudo alloys of mixed-valent manganites.

Contact Information: Prof. G. Fernando

Astronomy Seminar Series

Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Storrs Campus
IMS159

Luke Kelley, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Harvard University

LIGO has now detected Gravitational Waves (GW) from numerous, stellar-mass black-hole binary systems. Pulsar Timing Arrays can use the incredibly precise radio flashes from pulsars to measure GW from binaries of supermassive black-holes (SMBH). We use state-of-the-art, cosmological hydrodynamic-simulations ("Illustris") to model the mergers of galaxies and the SMBH they host. In this talk, I will outline the key physical processes which mediate the SMBH-binary merger process, and present our predictions for the GW signals that Pulsar Timing Arrays will observe. I will highlight the physical information about SMBH & SMBH-environments encoded in those GW signals, and discuss how long we'll have to wait for the first detections in this exciting new regime.

Luke Kelley is a finishing PhD student in the Harvard Astronomy Department, working with Prof. Lars Hernquist on Massive Black-Hole Binaries using data from the Illustris cosmological simulations. Luke's work makes important predictions for gravitational wave signals detectable by Pulsar Timing Arrays in the next decade. If you would like to meet with Luke, please email Cara Battersby (cara.battersby@uconn.edu) to set up a time.

Contact Information: Prof. C. Battersby

Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer: Susan Golden

Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Storrs Campus
BPB 130

"How Cyanobacteria Tell Timeâ

Registration begins at 3:30 pm with coffee and cookies. At 4 pm, Dr. Golden will speak. From 5 to 6:30 pm, we will have a reception.

Contact Information: joerg.graf@uconn.edu

Chemistry Colloquium: Carlos Castaneda, Syracuse

Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

04:30 PM - 05:30 PM

Storrs Campus
CHEM A-203

Chemistry Colloquium: Carlos Castaneda, Syracuse

Chemistry Colloquium
"ALS and UBQLN2: Liquid-liquid Phase Separation of UBQLN2 is Modulated by Oligomerization and Ubiquitin Binding"

Carlos Castaneda
Syracuse
Host: Mark Peczuh/Kyle Hadden

Refreshments will be served at 4:15pm. All are welcome.

Contact Information: gael.ung@uconn.edu

MCB 5299 Cell Biology Journal Club

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM

Storrs Campus
TLS 263

All interested are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Contact Information: david.daggett@uconn.edu

Graduate Seminar: Terianna Wax, Zhao Group

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

04:45 PM - 05:45 PM

Storrs Campus
CHEM A-203

Graduate Seminar: Terianna Wax, Zhao Group

Graduate Seminar
"Optoelectronic Interactions of Quantum Dots with Gold Nanoparticles and Bacteriorhodopsin"

Terianna Wax
Zhao Group
Host:

Refreshments will be served at 4:30pm. All are welcome.

Contact Information: gael.ung@uconn.edu

MCB Graduate Seminar

Friday, April 27th, 2018

12:20 PM - 01:10 PM

Storrs Campus
BPB 131

Presenting this week:

David Mouser (hosted by Yutian Feng)

Matt Oulette (hosted by Sara Islam)

Contact Information: victoria.robinson@uconn.edu

Biology Undergraduate Research Symposia

Friday, April 27th, 2018

01:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Storrs Campus
TLS 111 and BPB lobby

Student Presentations
1:00-3:30, TLS 111

Poster Session
3:30-5:00, BPB Lobby

Reception
6:00-7:00, BPB Lobby

Contact Information: Joseph Crivello

SPS Colloquium

Friday, April 27th, 2018

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Storrs Campus
Physics Building, Room PB-38

Prof. Gerald Dunne, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut

Stephen Hawking: His Life and His Physics

Stephen Hawking was arguably the best known scientist of the past 50 years. He had a far-reaching impact both on the public appreciation of science and also on advanced research in theoretical physics and cosmology. This talk will review his life and his major scientific achievements, primarily concerning the remarkable properties of black holes. The talk will be quite general, accessible to a wide audience.

Coffee will be served prior to the talk, at 3:00 p.m., In Room P-103

Contact Information: Prof. B. Wells

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IMS Industrial Affiliates Program 2018 Annual Meeting

MSE-IMS Students Win at 2018 Electronic and Advanced Materials
The Electronic and Advanced Materials Conference (EAM) is geared towards engineers, technologists, researchers and students with an interest in science, engineering and the applications of electroceramic materials. Several MSE students and faculty attended this year’s EAM Conference held in Orlando, FL. MSE Associate Professor and Director for Undergraduate Studies, Serge Nakhmanson, co-organized a symposium at […]

Xingxu Lu Wins Graduate Student Speaker Contest
The student chapter of the Materials Research Society recently announced Xingxu Lu, a second-year graduate student in Professor Pu-Xian Gao’s research group, as the winner of the Graduate Student Speaker Contest. The award recognizes his presentation entitled “Microwave-assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis and Manufacturing of TiO2 Nano-array Integrated Catalytic Converters,” as judged by a panel of students. […]

UConn MSE Featured Prominently at US-Japan Seminar
The US-Japan Seminar on Dielectric and Piezoelectric Ceramics has occurred once every two years for almost 4 decades, bringing together ~100 scientists and technologists from industry, academia and government laboratories. It is one of the premier venues for the exchange of scientific ideas on ceramic materials for electronics and serves to foster relationships between experts […]

UConn Engineers Develop Ceramic/Metal 3D Printing Solution for Navy
The US Navy is a big proponent of additive manufacturing technology, and its use of 3D printers on ships offers self-sustainability in remote areas, allowing sailors and officers to make and repair their own tools, parts, and components on board while out at sea, rather than having to go back in to port. It is […]

More News

The Institute of Materials Science (IMS) supports over 100 graduate students in three primary fields of study, Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, and Materials Science. In addition, graduate students in affiliated departments use IMS facilities to perform materials-related research.

IMS provides superior graduate research education in the interdisciplinary fields of materials science and engineering, and provides materials-related technical outreach to Connecticut’s industries. IMS operates and maintains extensive state-of-the-art instrumentation including a wide range of laboratories. Support facilities include an electronics shop and an instrument and machine shop.

Over 100 faculty members from twenty departments including the UConn Health Center are affiliated with IMS, contributing to the Institute’s interdisciplinary research programs. Primary disciplines represented are chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, polymer science, pharmacy, molecular and cell biology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biomaterials, and biosciences.

The Institute is also home to the Industrial Affiliates Program, an industry outreach program which assists Connecticut companies in their research and development efforts to improve new and existing products. The Industrial Affiliates Program provides many benefits for member companies, including access to facilities and faculty at UConn, short courses, and other resources that can assist in materials-related problem solving for industry.