Education

• Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S.A. (2012–2016)
• Ph.D. in Materials, University of California, Santa Barbara, U.S.A. (2012)
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, U.S.A. (2006)

Appointments

• Harold Chambers Junior Professorship, Lehigh (2022–2023)
• P.C. Rossin Assistant Professorship, Lehigh (2019–2021)
• Assistant Professor, Lehigh University, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering (2016–present)

Honors and Awards

• Rossin Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Lehigh (2022)
• Harold Chambers Junior Professorship, Lehigh (2022–2023)
• Young Scientist Award, American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) (2021)
  “The AACG Young Scientist Award is given to an early career scientist working in the fields of crystal growth research, development, practice, theory, modeling, characterization, application or production to recognize his or her outstanding scientific and technical contributions in the field of Crystal Growth. The criteria for selection shall be scientific excellence, clarity of presentation and impact on the field of crystal growth.”
• Lehigh Early Career Award for Distinguished Teaching, Lehigh (2021)
  “Lehigh University sponsors this award to be given to a member or members of the teaching staff for distinguished teaching performed during the academic year.”
• NSF CAREER Award (Ceramics) (2021)
• P.C. Rossin Assistant Professorship, Lehigh (2019–2021):
  “Awarded to the most outstanding junior faculty in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science who demonstrate high potential for establishing a successful academic career at Lehigh through the integration of teaching and research.”
• Outstanding Researcher — Scientific Achievement Award, SSLEEC/UCSB (2015)
• Outstanding Graduate Student — Scientific Achievement Award, SSLEEC/UCSB (2011)
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow (2007–2011)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Graduate Research Fellow (2006–2008)

Funding

• Industry: Homoepitaxial Growth of cBN Films on cBN Seeds (2022)
• Industry: Corrosion Resistance of Metals to Ammonia/ Hydrogen/Nitrogen Mixtures at elevated Temperature and Pressure (2022)
• Industry: Development of a High Pressure Spatial CVD (HPS-CVD) (2022)
• ARL-DEVCOM: Novel, scalable UWBG material synthesis approach yielding inexpensive, large area, p-/n-type doped cubic BN single crystals (2022)
• Lehigh: FIG: Enabling a platform for extremely fast electronics: Indium Nitride (2021)
• NSF CAREER: Nitride Synthesis via Controlled Decomposition of Precursors under Moderate Pressure (2021)
• Lehigh: CORE: Growth and characterization of AlScN (2021)
• NSF: Ammonothermal cubic boron nitride single crystal growth near ambient pressure and temperature (2018)
• Lehigh: CREF: Acquisition of a Versatile Mass Spectrometry System for Analysis of Reaction Products and Integration with Data Science Methods for Thin Film and Bulk Syntheses (2018)
• NSF MRI: Development of a High Pressure Spatial CVD for Functional Materials (2017)
• NSF Workshop: 10th International Workshop on Bulk Nitride Semiconductors (IWBNS-X) (2017)

Sessions, Workshops, and Conferences Organized

Leadership Positions:

• Program Co-Chair: American Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ACCGE-23) (2023)
• Workshop Chair: International Workshop on Bulk Nitride Semiconductors (IWBNS-XI) (2022)
• Symposium Chair: Boron Nitride Epitaxial Growth & Characterization (ACCGE-22/OMVPE-20) (2021)
• Workshop Co-Chair: International Workshop on Bulk Nitride Semiconductors (IWBNS-X) (2017)
• Organizer: 1^st Ammonothermal Crystal Growth Summer School, Santa Barbara, CA, U.S.A. (2016)

Committee Contributions:

• Technical Program Committee Member:
  • International Conference on Nitride Semiconductors (ICNS) (2023)
  • International Workshop on Physics of Semiconductor Devices (IWPSD) (Crystal Growth & Epitaxy Symposium) (2021)
  • SPIE Optics and Photonics (Wide Bandgap Session) (2018, 2019)
  • IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC): Displays and Lighting (DISL) (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • International Workshop on Nitrides (IWN) (2016)

Professional Service

• Executive Committee Member: American Association for Crystal Growth (AACG) (2021–2025)
• Co-editor Special Issue Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Bulk Nitride Semiconductors (Journal of Crystal Growth)
• Journal Reviewer: Applied Physics Letters, Ceramica, Chemical Engineering Communications, Chemistry – A European Journal, Chemistry of Materials, Crystals, Inorganic Chemistry, Inorganics, Journal of Applied Physics, Journal of Crystal Growth, Journal of Physical Chemistry, Nuclear Science and Techniques, Optics Express, Physica Status Solidi B, Progress in Crystal Growth and Characterization of Materials, Scientific Reports

Teaching

• MAT 350/450: Scientific Communications (new course)
• MAT 395/495: Scientific Data Analysis and Computing (new course)
• MAT 201: Physical Properties of Materials
• MAT 33: Engineering Materials and Processes

Research is a creative process that is substantially enhanced by valuing, encouraging, and experiencing a vibrant, diverse group of individuals who support each other. We value and foster an inclusive environment by actively incorporating an open, supportive mindset while cultivating a culturally rich and diverse group dynamic. 

At Lehigh, we are actively involved in the department and student-led initiatives to listen and grow further to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. We strive to overcome barriers together that are presented to first-generation students and students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. The strength of our group is mirrored in the individuals’ success and our collective, communal effort to support everyone to become the best version of themselves on an academic and a personal level so everyone can grow to become respected and admired leaders. 

Florian Metzger
Ph.D. Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B. Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering (2015), FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg (Germany)
• M. Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering (2017), FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg (Germany)

Research Interests:

• Semiconductor materials (nitrides)
• Crystal growth
• Self-assembling of nanomaterials
• 3D-printing

Fun things in life: Hiking, biking, traveling and let’s not forget the cake baking!

Team member:  2017—Present

Jacob Dooley
Ph.D. Student, (he/him, they/them)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Crystal Growth

Team member:  2019—Present

Jonathan Valenzuela
Ph.D. Student, (he/him)

Education:

• M.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2021), Norfolk State University (USA)
• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2017),  University of Virginia (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Crystal Growth

Team member:  2021—Present

Tenzin Sherpa
Ph.D. Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Engineering Physics (2023), Ramapo College of New Jersey (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Crystal Growth

Team member:  2023—Present

Itzel Esparza
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Material Science and Engineering (2024 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials

Team member:  2023—Present

Isaac Hanish
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Material Science and Engineering (2025 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials

Team member:  2023—Present

Hooman Enayati
Post-Doctoral Researcher, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2007), University of Zanjan (Iran)
• M.S. Mechanical Engineering (2013), Clarkson University (USA)
• Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (2019), The University of Akron (USA)

Research Interests:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Material Synthesis

Team member:  2022—Present

Nathan Stoddard
Research Scientist, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Physics (1999), Villanova University (USA)
• Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering (2004), North Carolina State University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Single Crystal Growth
• Photovoltaics
• Entrepreneur

Team member:  2022—Present

Saskia Schimmel
Post-Doctoral Researcher, (she/her)

Education:

• B.Sc. Materials Science and Engineering (2010), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)
• M.Sc. Materials Science and Engineering (2012), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)
• Ph.D. Engineering (2018), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)

Research Interests:

• Wide bandgap semiconductors
• Crystal growth at high T / high P
• PVT and ammonothermal growth
• Development of X-ray based in situ monitoring methods for ammonothermal processes

Team member:  2018—2019

Moved on to:  Post-doc in Amano’s Lab at Nagoya University

Pedram Yousefian
Master’s Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B. Sc. Materials Engineering (2014), Isfahan University of Technology (Iran)
• M. Sc. Mechanical Engineering (2017), University of North Florida (USA)
• M.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2020), Lehigh (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic & Magnetic Materials
• Solidification and Crystal Growth
• Materials Processing & Additive Manufacturing

Team member:  2017—2020

Moved on to: Ph.D. at Penn State

Chris Mascetti
Master’s Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2018), Lehigh University (USA)
• M.Eng. Materials Science and Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Bulk growth of GaN

Fun things in life: Cross country running

Team member:  2017—2019

Vincent Rienzi
Master’s Student, (he/him)

Education:

• M.Eng. Materials Science and Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)
• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2018), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Optoelectronic devices
• Thin film growth
• Ammonothermal growth

Fun things life: Frisbee!!

Team member:  2017—2019

Moved on to:  Grad Life at UCSB

Bryan Caruso
Master’s Student, (he/him)

Education:

• M.Eng. Materials Science and Engineering (2020 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)
• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Engineering

Team member:  2019

Athiel Mading
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2025 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Materials

Team member:  2022

Catherine Yazdanyar
High School Student, (she/her)

Education:

• High School Degree (2023 exp.), Southern Lehigh High School (USA)

Research Interests:

• Engineering

Team member:  2022

Tri Nguyen
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2021), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Electronic Materials
• Advanced Materials
• Materials Characterization
• Single Crystal Growth

An interesting fact about myself: I won the National Chess Champions Trophy 2015 in New Zealand.

Team member:  2018—2021

Moved on to: Stanford University

Julio Martinez-Cuin
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Electrical Engineering (2021), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Circuits
• Programming

Team member:  2019—2021

Kristine Phan
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Electrical Engineering (2021 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Team member:  2020

Eddie Jeffs
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.E. Computer Engineering and Cognitive Science (2021 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Team member:  2020

Sebastian Galdamez
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Electrical Engineering (2021 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Circuits
• Programming

Team member:  2019—2020

Evan Willmarth
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering (2021 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Research Interests:

• Mechanical Systems
• CFD Modeling
• ANSYS

Team member:  2017—2018

Quot Al Nabhani
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2020 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)

Team member:  2018—2019

Jillian Cowles
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2020 exp.), Lehigh University (USA)
• Minor in Music

Team member:  2018—2020

Derek Hu
Undergraduate Student, (he/him)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)
• Minor in Philosophy

Team member:  2018—2019

Molly Hwang
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (2019), Lehigh University (USA)
• Minor in Mechanics of Materials
• Nanotechnology

Team member:  2018—2019

Maria Castro
Undergraduate Student, (she/her)

Education:

• B.A.Sc. Materials Engineering (2018), Lehigh University (USA)

Team member:  2017