Barry Bruce, PhD Professor
Associate Director,
Sustainable Energy & Education Research Center
Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology
bbruce@utk.edu
Kane Jennings, PhD
Co-Director, Graduate Studies of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
kane.g.jennings@vanderbilt.edu
In the area of energy conversion, our research team carries out studies of the macrocycle and other functional group bands in the photosystem I & II complexes synthesized par Dr. Cliffel group at Vanderbilt, using modern tools such as new Horiba Jobin-Yvon Raman XploRA spectrometer and a Perkin-Elmer Spectrum, one equipped with attenduated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) and horizontal attenuated total reflection (HATR) devices, available at TSU, and new linear modulation FTIR at Vanderbilt.
East Tennessee State University Faculty
Frank Hagelberg, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy
hagelber@etsu.edu
Preejith Ambuken, MS. Holly Stretz Lab
Department of Chemical Engineer Tennessee Tech University
pvambuken@gmail.com
Brittany Burton, MS.
Yongmei Wang Lab
Department of Chemistry
University of Memphis
bburton1@memphis.edu
Received BA in Chemistry from Arkansas State University and my MS in Physical Chemistry from the University of Memphis. I am currently working on my PhD in Physical Chemistry in Memphis. My dissertation project is focused on the dynamics of ribosomal proteins and their interactions with ribosomal RNA in the ribosome assembly process. For TN-SCORE, I'm performing calculations that we think will help elucidate important aspects of the native function and assembly of Photosystem I, which can then be applied to the development of synthetic energy-capturing systems.
Gongping Chen, BS.
David Cliffel Lab
Department of Chemistry
Vanderbilt University
gongping.chen@vanderbilt.edu
Received my BS from Nanjing University. My research focus on using electrochemical analytical methods to study biological materials which offer inspirations about solutions for daily human utilization, mainly photosystem I (PSI) and Shewanella bacteria.
Shaofang Fu, BS.
Phillip Rack Lab
Department of Material Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
sfu1@utk.edu
I received my BS degree in Wuhan University of Technology, China in 2011. My major was Materials Chemistry. Now I'm working with Dr. Rack to pursue my PhD degree. My research focuses on nanomaterials and my project is solar cell specifically. Because the tradition silicon could not absorb the full spectrum of sun, we intend to enhance the absorption of sunlight by structuring nickel-silicides which are small band gap semiconductors.
Qarlo Namuel Gonzalez, MS.
Phillip Rack Lab
Department of Material Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Received a BSEE, Univ of Nebraska, Lincoln; MS, Ceramic Engineering, Georgia Tech.
My Research focus is IBID Processes, Solar Cells, Thermoelectrics, Dielectrics, Superconductors, Batteries. I have already passed Ph.D. qualifiers and my expected date to receive my Ph.D. is May 2014.
Darlene Gunther, MS.
Kane Jennings Lab
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Vanderbilt University
darlene.gunther@vanderbilt.edu
I rec'd my BS in Physics at Austin Peay State Univ. (APSU) and my Masters in Physics at Fisk Univ. My research is focused on using photosystem I (PSI) extracted from Spinach leaves in biomimetic solar cell devices as a renewable energy source. I am currently investigating means to incorporate PSI in solid-state devices; improving deposition coverage of PSI; and improved efficiency.
Jordan Hachtel, BS.
Sokrates Pantelides Lab
Department of Physics
Vanderbilt University
Jordan.a.hachtel@vanderbilt.edu
I received my Bachelors in Physics, and a Bachelors in Applied Mathematics from University of Colorado: Boulde. I'm studying the surface plasmon modes of Nickel Silicide nanoparticles from two angles. I am performing EELS microscopy studies and verifying my results with first principle calculations. I plan on receiving a PhD in Physics
Bradley Harris, BS.
Paul Frymier Lab
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
bharri17@gmail.com
Recieved undergrad degree from University of Tennessee in Chemical Engineering. My current PhD research focus is in alternative energy, specifically in constructing protein fusions for the biological production of hydrogen from light
Mike Kochemba, MS.
Mike Kilbey Lab
Department of Chemistry
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
wkochemb@utk.edu
I received a BS in Chemistry at Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA
The focus of my research is to improve the power conversion efficiency of hybrid bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics using end-functional poly(3-hexylthiophene)s to create intimate contact between the donor and acceptor phases. I am currently a Ph.D. Candidate
Gabriel LeBlanc, BS.
Kane Jennings and David Cliffel Labs
Department of Chemistry
Vanderbilt University
gabriel.leblanc@vanderbilt.edu
I received a BS in Chemistry from Lyon College.
My work at Vanderbilt is concerned with a series of projects involving the incorporation of PSI new electrodes as well as incorporating PSI into devices for practical applications. While PSI demonstrates promise as a photoactive material due to its unparalleled properties, the fact that it is a protein poses several challenges requiring the use of creativity and alternative methods for its application. My experiments attempt to demonstrate how PSI can be 1.) immobilized and examined on non-gold electrodes, 2.) utilized to photoreduce catalytic
I am currently finishing my second year in the PhD program at Vanderbilt
Cameron Lee, BS.
Mark Dadmun Lab
Department of Chemistry
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
clee50@utk.edu
I received my B.S. Chemistry, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV.
Our group focuses on the morphology, characterization, and crystallinity of Organic Photovoltaic systems and their impact device performance. We specifically study the miscibility, crystallinity, and structural components of the active layer and bulk heterojunction, and how processing methods lead to favorable morphologies.
I am working towards my PhD in Chemistry
Qing Liu, MS.
Bin Hu Lab
Department of Material Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
qliu9@utk.edu
Received both Bachelor's degree and my Master's degree in Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. My area of research is in thermoelectrics, we use organic semiconductors to make the film with the structure of metal/polymer/metal to generate voltage difference by temperature difference. I plan to receive Ph.D.
Mouge Mohagheghi, BS.
Bamin Khomami Lab
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
mmohaghe@utk.edu
I received my B.S. in Chemical Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. My area of research focus on understanding of nanoscale self-assembly of Block-Copolymers which are essential in rational design of new functional devices .To this end, we have applied Self-Consistent field theoretic simulation to predict morphologies of these materials in close comparison with experimental works. We focus on Different lines of research such as investigation of mesoscopic models describing polymeric systems behavior, incorporating nanoparticles in self-assembling and self-assembly under confinement. I am a Ph.D. candidate at University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK).
Ritesh Sachan, BS.
Ramki Kalyanaraman Lab
Department of Material Science
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
rsachan@utk.edu
Bedanga Sapkota, MS.
Sanjay Mishra Lab
Department of Physics
University of Memphis
bbspkota@memphis.edu
Received both B. S. and M. S. degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal - Major physics
My research focuses on the Utilization of solar energy for the removal of organic pollutants from waste water. My current projects include p-n junction oxide Nanoparticles as a Novel Photocatalyst for Solar Applications, Green Synthesis of carbon-Ag nanocomposite as visible light photocatalyst and Reusable CoFe2O4-ZnO core-shell hybride nanocomposite photocatalyst. I am going to receive a Master's degree from University of Memphis.
Eric Spangler, BS.
Mohamed Laradji Lab
Department of Physics
University of Memphis
jspangler@memphis.edu
Received my BS degree at the University of Memphis in Physics and Mathematical sciences. My research focus is on simulating lipid assemblies and processes. Currently we are focused on blebbing, lipid trafficking, and lipid-nanoparticle assemblies. I'm currently working on my MS in physics at the University of Memphis under materials science concentration.
REU Students
Megan Farell
Megan is an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee and was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position in Dr. Paul Frymier's lab at the University of Tennessee.
Simone Hopes
Simone is an undergraduate student at Tennessee State University and was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position in Dr. Barry Bruce's lab at the University of Tennessee.
DeAndra Peoples
DeAndra is an undergraduate student at Tennessee State University and was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position in Dr. Mike Kilbey's lab at the University of Tennessee.
Jacob Jordan
Jacob is an undergraduate student at Tennessee Tech University and was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position in Dr. David Cliffel's lab at Vanderbilt University.
Steven Bell
Steven is currently an undergraduate student at Tennessee State University who was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position working in Dr. Phillip Rack's lab at the University of Tennessee, Department of Material Sciences and Engineering during the 2012 Summer
William Crosby
William is an undergraduate student at UT-Martin and was awarded a TN-SCORE REU position in Dr. Kane Jennings and David Cliffel's lab at Vanderbilt University.
Xuan Anh Ma
Xuan is an undergraduate student at the University of Memphis and was also awarded a TN-SCORE REU position working in Dr. Xuan Zhoa's lab at the University of Memphis during the 2012 summer.
Evan Ornouski
Evan is currently an undergraduate student at Bethel University who was award a TN-SCORE REU scholarship to work in Dr. Paul Frymier's lab at the University of Tennessee Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department during the 2012 Summer.
Callie Todt
Callie is an undergraduate student at King College under the supervision of Dr. John Gilmer Callie has been working in Dr. Mark Dadman's lab during the 2012 Summer to gain undergraduate research experience.
