he/him/his

E-mail: vinod.sangwan@northwestern.edu

Vinod joined the Hersam group as a post-doctoral scholar in 2009 and he is currently a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He did a B. Tech. in Engineering Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai and a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Maryland College Park, where he received the Iskraut award for scoring highest in the Ph.D. qualifier examination.

His current research at NU intersects multiple disciplines including materials science, applied physics, electrical engineering, and chemistry. He leads and supervises projects ranging from materials growth to integrating high-performance scalable electronics and optoelectronics. Fundamental research themes include charge transport, defect dynamics, optical processes, heterojunctions, photonics, photovoltaics, and quantum information science. Vinod’s current interest on neuromorphic computing hardware have been recognized by the 2021 IEEE Chicago Outstanding Senior Research and Development Award.

he/him/his

E-mail: jiantao.li@northwestern.edu

Born in 1991 in China, Jiantao Li is a proud father of a 7-year-old daughter. He likes playing basketball, enjoying friendly game of Texas Hold’em, and cherishes socializing over drinks with a group of friends in a warm and convivial atmosphere.

Jiantao Li earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology in Jun. 2019. He has since gained extensive research experience in electrochemical energy storage and advanced synchrotron-based measurements, particularly during his role as a Research Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory (Dec. 2019 – Dec. 2024). In Jan. 2025, he began his current role as a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University, collaborating with Professors Mark Hersam, Ted Sargent, and Jeff Lopez.

Jiantao Li specializes in developing and utilizing advanced synchrotron-based technologies to advance energy storage solutions. His current research focuses on the technical development of dry coating electrodes for lithium-ion batteries, as well as ionogel-based electrolytes for zinc-ion batteries, with an emphasis on grid-level storage applications.

he/him/his

E-mail: dominic.goronzy@northwestern.edu

Dominic studied at The University of California, Los Angeles for his master’s and Ph.D., studying intermolecular interactions in self-assembled monolayers and self-assembled molecular networks. His current research interests include the characterization, functionalization, and application of 2D boron. He is a first generation American and still speaks German with most of his family. He is a member of ACS, APS, and AVS, in addition to being an International Institute of Nanotechnology Postdoctoral Fellow. Outside of the lab, Dominic enjoys working with K-12 teachers to bring hands on science into their classrooms. He is a former IIN Post-Doctoral Fellow and currently a Intelligence Community Post-Doctoral Fellow.

he/him/his

E-mail: jefford.humes@northwestern.edu

Jefford was born in Belize, Central America but raised on the southside of Chicago, IL in the Hyde Park area. He is currently a visiting scientist from NanoIntegris, part of Raymor Inc. At NanoIntegris, he utilizes his knowledge of his company’s materials to seek new business opportunities for which their innovative technology can be applied. Prior to serving as the Director of Research/ Business Development at NanoIntegris, Jefford received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Morehouse College, studied abroad at the University of Leeds, and was a student of Emergency Medicine at RUSH University Medical College. He hopes to complete his education with a PhD in the near future. He has contributed to and been listed as a co-author within various articles from prestigious publications such as Nature Electronics, the American Chemical Society’s The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and Applied Physics Letters, along with six different nanotechnology-based patents. He has performed scientific research with collaborators at numerous institutions such as the IBM Almaden Research Center, NASA, Japan’s AIST, the University of Chicago, RUSH Medical College, Ohio State University, Unilever, and U.O.P, to name a few.

Outside of research, he is an avid lover of science fiction and fantasy novels, enjoys performing in musicals, and acting in independent films, including his own CGI sci-fi work that is currently listed within IMDB. He loves to sing, song-write, play piano of many genres, specializing in classical, and produce music, having independently released three studio-recorded R&B/ Reggae albums. He has a lovely wife and two adorable children- a boy and girl. He enjoys travel and have been able to visit England, Japan, South Korea and China! He also loves positively impacting disadvantaged inner city children who grew up as he did, currently volunteering as a tutor and inspirational speaker with AMERICORPS’ local Chicago Hope for Kids. He is also a member of NSBE, NOBCChE, ACS, Society for Ecological Restoration International, AMA, and the Professional Management Institute.

he/him/his

Email: shreyash.hadke@northwestern.edu

he/him/his

Email: mibutama@northwestern.edu

Iqbal joined the Hersam group in December 2020 to join the efforts at the Center of Molecular Quantum Transduction. He works on designing and realizing new functionalities from low-dimensional materials and molecules for quantum information science applications. Iqbal completed his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at UC Berkeley in 2020, where he worked on 2D materials with a focus on engineering and controling novel phenomena that are unique to low-dimensional van der Waals materials. Prior to that, Iqbal received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Nanyang Technological University and remained there to work as a research project officer. Iqbal grew up in Indonesia and always lived in a warmer climate before moving to Evanston. He enjoys jogging on the weekends and eating spicy food.

he/him/his

Email: yongkwon.song@northwestern.edu

Yongkwon was born and raised in the Republic of Korea. He joined the Hersam group in September 2023. He received his Ph.D. in the department of chemical and biological engineering at Korea University in 2023, where he mainly focused on unveiling the effects of structural/interfacial design on the characteristics of nanocomposite electrodes, mainly for energy storage applications. Currently, he is developing a new-class of solid-state batteries (SSBs) based on ionogel electrolyte system using 2D nanomaterials. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends, having coffee, playing tennis, and watching YouTube.

she/her/hers

E-mail: wonjeong.suh at northwestern.edu

Wonjeong was born and raised in South Korea and received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from POSTECH, where she designed frequency-dependent ion dynamics for deformable stimuli-decoupling shear sensors. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), developing 3D printing techniques for directly fabricating sensors on complex curved surfaces for humanoid robots. She joined the Hersam Group to work on the exfoliation of 2D materials and superconducting materials. Her research spans from materials design to device implementation, aiming to connect diverse disciplines and bridge fundamental science with practical applications. Outside the lab, Wonjeong enjoys cycling through scenic landscapes, playing tennis, swimming, traveling to new places, and watching fish by the seaside.

she/her/hers

E-mail: zeynepalptekin2029@u.northwestern.edu

Zeynep was born and raised in central Massachusetts. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Chemical Engineering. Her research focuses on working on nanomaterials for neuromorphic computing. She enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with her family, and taking care of her cat. She also enjoys yoga and traveling outside of the country.

she/her/hers

E-mail: rananth@u.northwestern.edu

Riddhi was raised in Bangalore, India before moving to sunny San Diego to pursue her passion for chemistry. She earned her bachelors degree from UC San Diego in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. Now a chemistry Ph.D. student at Northwestern, Riddhi joined the Hersam group in 2020 and works on the optical spectroscopy of chemically functionalized nanomaterials. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing basketball, running, hiking, cooking and is also trained in Bharatanatyam, which is an Indian classical dance form. Riddhi is an avid fan of figure skating and hopes to see her favorite figure skaters compete at the Olympics some day.

she/her/hers

E-mail: shivanichatterji2029@u.northwestern.edu

Shivani was born in Hong Kong and grew up in HK, Mumbai, and Singapore. She attended the University of Chicago for her undergraduate degree, studying Molecular Engineering and Chemistry, along with a minor in Architectural Studies. Her undergraduate research consisted of hydrogel semiconductors for organic electrochemical transistors (UChicago), and battery separators for sodium-ion batteries (Caltech). Prior to graduate school, she worked at a sustainable architecture firm in Singapore, and is continuing her passion for sustainability and design by working on energy/battery materials at Northwestern. Outside of the lab, she likes scuba diving, biking, and visiting museums. She also loves travelling and roaming cities on foot to observe the cultural and architectural elements of new places.

he/him/his

E-mail: pochiu2030@u.northwestern.edu

Po-Hao (Gavin) grew up in Hsinchu, Taiwan’s semiconductor hub, which ignited his interest in materials science. He earned his B.S. from National Cheng Kung University and his M.S. from National Taiwan University, both in Materials Science and Engineering. His undergraduate research focused on nanostructured nitrogen dioxide sensors, and his master’s work centered on ferroelectric high-k dielectrics, both conducted in collaboration with TSMC. After an R&D internship at TSMC, he joined the Hersam Group in 2025. His current work focuses on ferroelectric memtransistors for neuromorphic devices. Outside the lab, Po-Hao enjoys playing badminton, traveling to explore new cities and cultures, and practicing photography with an eye for architecture and natural scenery.

he/him/his

E-mail: sdarauzo@u.northwestern.edu

Santiago grew up in Houston, Texas. He completed his B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin prior to joining the Hersam lab. His research interests are in cross-flow filtration and related scalable eco-manufacturing methods for printable inks. Beyond the lab, Santiago has been involved in coordinating non-curriculum workshops for NURPH, a high-school summer research program. Currently, Santiago is an avid golfer (8 HDCP) and spends his free time practicing or playing.

she/her/hers

E-mail: calliegoins2029@u.northwestern.edu

Callie grew up in Woodstock, Georgia just outside of Atlanta before heading into the city to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating in 2024 with a B.S. in Chemistry focused in polymers & materials. Her undergraduate research under Prof. John R. Reynolds focused on a variety of projects relating to electrochromic conducting polymers, culminating in a thesis investigating the IR switching of these materials. She comes to Northwestern to pursue a PhD in Chemistry as an NSF Graduate Fellow and is co-advised with Prof. Julia Kalow to focus on next-generation hybrid ionic/electronic conductors via studies using 2D semiconductors and photoswitchable ionic liquids. Outside of the lab, Callie is a 3x US Figure Skating gold medalist and remains a competitive figure skater today with Northwestern. She enjoys being active on the ice, going to concerts, and spending any time she can with friends and family.

she/her/hers

E-mail: maryamkhalaj2025@u.northwestern.edu

Maryam was inspired to pursue practical science by a combination of Issac Asimov’s popular science books, her parents and Chemistry Olympiads duing her school years. She graduated as the top student in her B. Sc. And M.Sc. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering in Iran. Her master’s thesis focused on electrochemical energy storage materials and devices, specifically on graphene-based electrodes for supercapacitor applications. She designed and synthesized two novel ternary nanocomposites as electroactive materials by simultaneous incorporation of metal oxide nanoparticles and conductive polymer nanoclusters between the stacks of graphene nanosheets. She also conducted extensive research on the potential application of hexagonal boron nitride for lithium-ion batteries, electrochemical (bio)sensors, and thermally conductive nanocomposites in the framework of review papers. She joined the Hersam group in 2021 and will focus on the wet jet milling exfoliation and printable energy storage devices. Outside of the lab, Maryam’s hobbies include cooking, weaving, knitting bracelets, working out, traveling and photographing, stargazing, watching mystery movies, and listening to a wide range of music. She was the president and vice president of two scientific societies during her previous degrees and hopes to continue participating in STEM outreach and societies during her PhD studies.

she/her/hers

E-mail: heatherkurtz2027@u.northwestern.edu

Heather grew up outside of Denver, Colorado before heading east to Williams College for her B.A. in physics. After graduating, she spent 2 years at a Bay Area startup called Sinovia Technologies, where she worked on printed flexible OLED displays. Heather joined the Hersam group in 2022 to pursue her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, and her research currently focuses on mixed ionic-electronic conductors and ionogels. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing soccer, trail running, cooking, and listening to podcasts (some favorites being Radiolab, The Ezra Klein Show, and 99% Invisible).

he/him/his

E-mail: peter.lim at u.northwestern.edu

Originally from South Korea but raised in China, Peter was an undergraduate student at Northwestern. As a member of Professor Nathaniel Stern’s group, Peter collaborated heavily with the Hersam group to study magnetism in encapsulated two-dimensional transition metal halides, for which he was awarded the International Institute for Nanotechnology’s Outstanding Researcher Award in 2020. After graduating from Northwestern in 2021 with a B.A. in physics and a minor in materials science, Peter went back home to serve in the Korean Army for his national service. Upon completing active duty, he briefly worked as a computational scientist at NeuroXT—a Korea University spin-off company—where he analyzed neuroimaging data to understand the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In 2023, Peter came back to Northwestern to continue his studies, this time for a Ph.D. in applied physics. He currently studies the synthesis and characterization of low-dimensional superconducting materials for quantum information science applications under the joint supervision of Professor Hersam and Professor Vinayak Dravid. Outside of research, Peter enjoys playing and watching all sorts of sports—including baseball, soccer, basketball, and even esports. He also spends his free time working out, listening to K-pop and podcasts, cooking, exploring good food and coffee spots, and keeping up with the latest news in finance and technology. Peter is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national honor society for physics.

he/him/his

E-mail: liujkevin@u.northwestern.edu

Kevin grew up in Philadelphia and attended University of Pennsylvania studying materials science and engineering for undergrad. He joined the Hersam group as materials science Ph.D. student in 2021. His research interests include neuromorphic nanoelectronic materials and devices. Outside lab, Kevin is interested in any and all grappling sports.

he/him/his

E-mail: hongpark2023@u.northwestern.edu

Mike is originally from South Korea, and his family still lives there. Prior to coming to Northwestern, he lived in Toronto for 9 years, during which he met his wife and received his undergraduate degrees in math and physics and his Master’s in physics from the University of Toronto. He also did mandatory service in the Korean army for two years. Since 2018, he has been pursuing a materials science and engineering Ph.D. in the Hersam Group, focusing on UHV-STM studies of 2D materials and heterostructures. In his free time, he likes watching Black Mirror, Arrested Development, or other random shows/movies on Netflix. He also likes occasionally going out for a run.

he/him/his

E-mail: seongjinpark2028@u.northwestern.edu

Born and raised from South Korea. He lived in Seoul and went to school there before coming to Northwestern. He joined the Hersam group in 2023 as a materials science Ph.D student. Currently, his research interests are mixed conductors for electrochemical transistors including synthesis, fabrication, and characterization. Outside of the lab, Seongjin’ hobbies include Brazilian jiu-jitsu, playing soccer, climbing, and watching movies. He also enjoys traveling in his spare time.

he/him/his

E-mail: jakobscroggins2030@u.northwestern.edu

Jakob grew up in a small town north of Kansas City, Missouri before attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he earned his B.S. in materials science and engineering. Jakob joined the Hersam group at Northwestern University in 2025 to pursue his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering. His research focuses on materials for neuromorphic computing devices. Outside the lab, Jakob enjoys reading classics, listening to 70s music, going for long runs and doing crossword puzzles.

he/him/his

E-mail: mingtey2027@u.northwestern.edu

Nicholas grew up in Singapore and received his undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London. He joined the Hersam group in 2022 and his work focuses on 2D magnetic and multiferroic materials. His hobbies include playing and developing computer games, learning new languages and watching Korean shows. Having been raised in a country well known for its food, he also enjoys performing cooking experiments and finding new places to eat.

he/him/his

E-mail: zacharytrdinich2028@u.northwestern.edu

Zach was born and raised in the great city of Pittsburgh, PA. From there, he attended the Pennsylvania State University where he completed his B.S. with Honors in Materials Science and Engineering. During his time at Penn State, he worked with Dr. Joshua Robinson on the synthesis and characterization of novel 2D nitrides and oxides and Dr. Chao-Yang Wang on the engineering of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. At Northwestern, Zach’s work in the Hersam lab is focused on the synthesis and fabrication of neuromorphic nanoelectronic materials and devices. Outside of school, Zach can typically be found on the disc golf course or cheering for his favorite baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

he/him/his

E-mail: zhanpengwang2028@u.northwestern.edu

Zhanpeng was born and raised in Nanchang, a southern inland city in China. Before coming to Northwestern and joining the Hersam group for his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering in 2022, he graduated from Shenzhen University with a bachelor’s degree in physics, along with a minor in chemistry, as well as a master’s degree in materials science and engineering. Currently, his research interests are basically focused on neuromorphic computing 2D materials and synaptic devices. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, playing table tennis and watching films.

she/her/hers

Email: youli2025@u.northwestern.edu

You Li grew up in Changzhou, China, and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. In 2025, she joined the Hersam Group, where her research focuses on solid-state batteries (SSBs) utilizing ionogel electrolyte systems integrated with two-dimensional nanomaterials. Outside of academics, You enjoys traveling and skiing, and she is passionate about exploring new places and experiences that broaden her perspectives.

he/him/his

Email: weizhang2026@u.northwestern.edu

Wei Zhang grew up in China and earned his B.S. in Material Science and Engineering through a joint program between Sichuan University and the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a master’s student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. He joined the Hersam Group in 2025 and focuses on solution-processed two-dimensional (2D) materials. Outside of the lab, Wei enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing table tennis and badminton.

she/her/hers

Email: keyingma2027@u.northwestern.edu

Keying grew up in Guangzhou, China, and earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Technology from Changsha University of Science & Technology. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. She conducts research in the Hersam Group on cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, exploring ways to improve performance and promote sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys photography, traveling, and watching movies.

she/her/hers

Email: Yingzhuzhou2026@u.northwestern.edu

Yingzhu Zhou grew up in China and earned her B.Eng. in Materials Engineering from McMaster University in Canada before joining the Hersam Group at Northwestern University as a master’s student in Materials Science and Engineering. Her work focuses on solution-processed 2D materials and exploring scalable fabrication techniques for next-generation devices. During her undergraduate studies, she combined her interests in data science and materials research by applying machine learning to predict material degradation and performance. Outside the lab, Yingzhu is a passionate dog lover and proud corgi owner. When she’s not with her pup Kiki, she enjoys playing volleyball, skiing, and finding new ways to stay active and inspired.

he/him/his

Email: anuragchapagain2026@u.northwestern.edu

Born and raised in southern Nepal, Anurag (Anu) came to Northwestern on a Buffett Scholarship to study MSE and Physics.  He is also pursuing his Masters in MSE under the BS/MS program. He has conducted research in the Hersam group on topics ranging from 2D optoelectronics and neuromorphic computing to niobium superconducting films. Inspired by the legacy of Bell Labs and the impact of Moore’s Revolution, Anu is passionate about electronic materials, solid-state electronics research, and their applications in AI and energy optimization. Outside the lab, Anu is an avid biker, a movie buff (with a soft spot for Kubrick), an amateur guitar player, and an enthusiastic reader of historical nonfiction, with favorites like Team of Rivals.

he/him/his

Email: peterkim2028@u.northwestern.edu

Peter is an MSE major from Tenafly, NJ. He originally entered Northwestern on the pre-med track, but quickly decided to switch into engineering. Outside the lab, he enjoys binge-watching shows, tennis, and music.

he/him/his

Email: tommybirge2028@u.northwestern.edu

Thomas (Tommy) is from Princeton, NJ, USA. He started at NU as an electrical engineer, but quickly grew interested in materials science before officially switching majors. He loves to rock climb in his spare time and play video games with friends from home!

he/him/his

Email: jamesmacdonald2028@u.northwestern.edu

James was born and raised in the Chicago and is now a 2nd year undergraduate student at Northwestern. James joined the Hersam Group in 2025 to work on ion intercalation into MoS2 for neuromorphic applications. James is passionate about Science and Engineering as he was captain of his high-school Science Olympiad team and is currently a member of the Northwestern Robotics Club. In his free time James enjoys playing both basketball and volleyball as well as creating solid models in CAD and 3D-printing them. James is also a consumer of all kinds of modern entertainment, from film to TV to music.