Current Group Members
Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Youn Jue (Eunice) Bae
Ph.D. from Northwestern University
During my Ph.D. my research focused on investigating the down-conversion process in organic chromophores, also know as singlet fission. I used optical- and magnetic- spectroscopy to study how excitons and spins evolve over time and space in various acene and rylene derivatives in the Wasielewski group at Northwestern Unviersity. Here in the XYZ group, I am planning to study spin waves in 2D magnetic materials and many-body interactions in 2D TMDCs. Outside of the lab, I like traveling, eating goood foods, climbing and snowboarding.
Email: yb2505@columbia.edu

Dr. Taketo Handa
Ph.D. from Kyoto University
I am interested in charge-carrier dynamics in optoelectronic materials and try to explore new optical functionalities of materials. I received my Ph.D. from Kyoto University, where I studied unusual thermal and phonon properties and photovoltaic conversion processes in metal halide perovskites and solar cells. After graduation, I worked at Kyoto University for one year and focused on nonlinear optical responses of halide perovskites. In XYZ group, I will work on the ultrafast spectroscopy of energetic carrier dynamics in emerging materials. In my free time, I like walking around the NYC.
Email: th2922@columbia.edu

Dr. Bo Xiang
Ph.D. from UC San Diego
My research focus is to use ultrafast spectroscopy to study the strong light-matter coupling. In my PhD career in Prof. Wei Xiong’s group (UC San Diego), I was focusing on the study of molecular vibrational polaritons using two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. In XYZ group, my research focus is blue-shifted to the visible/UV regime and study the strong coupling between microcavities and perovskites using polarization resolved Fourier space photoluminescence (FS-PL) imaging and other spectroscopy tools. Beyond lab times, I enjoy travel, basketball, and board games.
Email: bx2202@columbia.edu

Dr. Eric Arsenault
Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley
During my PhD at Berkeley, I studied natural photosynthetic and bioinspired model systems in order to understand how electron-nuclear interactions influence the ultrafast dynamics of energy transfer and charge separation. Currently, my research is aimed at investigating the emergence of correlated quantum states in two-dimensional semiconductor systems via ultrafast spectroscopy and microscopy. The unifying theme of my work is to understand how interactions between electrons and nuclei govern the potential energy landscape of a system and ultimately dictate the dynamics of energy and charge flow. Otherwise, I’m running, hanging with my dog Jeffrey, or watching Steve Buscemi movies.
Email: eaa2181@columbia.edu

Dr. Yiping Wang
Ph.D. from Boston College
I am interested in studying the emergent phenomena and quantum phase transition. During my PhD in Boston College, I focused on using collective modes excitations to detect new emergent phase in 2D and 3D quantum materials using inelastic light scattering, photocurrent and transport measurement. Currently, in XYZ group, I am planning to focus more on controlling and tracking the dynamics of excited states in correlated materials. During my spare time, I enjoy playing with my cat, exploring food and reading.
Email: yw4057@columbia.edu
Graduate Students

Yufeng Liu
B.S. in Chemistry from Fudan University
I worked on infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of cluster ions during my undergraduate. Here, bidding farewell to the gas phase and entering the regime of solid state, I resume my connection with optical experiments and clusters by exploring the electron-phonon coupling in superatomic materials. You can constantly find my practicing the piano in the lounge after work
Email: yl3983@columbia.edu

Nicholas Olsen
B.S. in Chemistry with minor in Physics from University of Utah
I crawled out of the Utah desert with a degree in chemistry and a minor in physics from the University of Utah, where I studied the crystallization of simple chiral molecules using molecular dynamics. However, I’m excited to make my return to experiment. Playing with lasers makes light work. Catch me wandering aimlessly around different neighborhoods exploring as much of the city’s culture as I can.
Email: no2331@columbia.edu

Morgan Thinel
B.S. in Honours Chemistry – Measurement from McGill University
I am from Montréal, Canada, where I obtained my B.Sc. at McGill University. At McGill, I studied a negative refractive index plasmonic metamaterial under professor Amy Blum, and acceptor-donor-acceptor molecular semiconductors under professor Dima Perepichka. I travelled south of the border to be co-sponsored in the Zhu and Pasupathy groups in order to combine optical spectroscopies with scanning tunneling microscopy to study a variety of interesting materials. Particularly, I am interested in imaging the structure and dynamics of spin and electronic states in magnetic semiconductors. When I have free time, I practice judo, go on long bike rides and indulge in video games or a science-fiction movie to relax.
Email: mt3458@columbia.edu

Yiliu Li
B.S. in Chemistry from Zhejiang University
During my undergrad at Zhejiang University, I focused on optimizing the measurement of absolute fluorescence quantum yield. In 2019, I attended the “Summer School for Silicon Nanotechnology” at UC San Diego and worked on fabricating porous silicon photonic crystal sensors. Then I find optical spectroscopy really excites me. I am planning to investigate light-matter interaction with various spectroscopic techniques. My leisure activities include hiking, painting and cooking.
Email: yl4495@columbia.edu

Chun-Ying Huang
M.S. in Chemistry from National Taiwan University
I studied the photophysical properties of organic lighting molecules during my time at NTU, where I received my undergraduate and master’s degree in chemistry. Moving to New York, I’m co-sponsored in the Zhu and Roy groups to explore the fantastic magnetic properties of inorganic materials. I’m super excited to make my samples and use spectroscopy to probe their physical properties. After work, going to a music show and playing table tennis are my favorites.
Email: ch3624@columbia.edu
Undergraduate Students

Vinicius Avelar
Columbia College ’26
Vinicius was born and raised in Brazil. He works as a joint student between the Roy and X.Y. Zhu groups at Columbia, exploring coherent magnonics in 2D magnetic semiconductors. He plans to major in Chemical Physics and hopes to go to graduate school. In his free time, Vinicius likes to read fanfiction, study political theory, and listen to rock songs.
Email: vda2106@columbia.edu
Past Group Members
Graduate Students
Shirell Klein (M.A., 2021) – HRL Laboratories
Michael Scott Spencer (Ph.D., 2021) – Postdoc, Fritz Haber Institute (Maehrlein Group)
Felisa Conrad-Burton (Ph.D., 2021) – Assistant Journal Manager, AIP Publishing
Wenjing Wu (M.A., 2020) – Graduate Student, Penn State University (Huang Group)
Andrew Schlaus (Ph.D., 2020) – Technology Specialist, Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.
Jue Wang (Ph.D., 2019) – Postdoc, Harvard University (Kim Group)
Kihong Lee (Ph.D., 2019) – Postdoc, Cornell University (Shan and Mak Groups)
Prakriti Joshi (Ph.D., 2019) – Postdoc, University of Chicago (King Group)
Xinjue Zhong (Ph.D., 2018) – Postdoc, Princeton University (Kahn Group)
Tyler Evans (Ph.D., 2018) – Sigray Inc
Timothy Atallah (Ph.D., 2017) – Assistant Professor, Denison University
Kristopher Williams (Ph.D., 2017) – Postdoc, MIT (Tisdale Group)
Nicholas Monahan (Ph.D., 2015) – Research Scientist, ETH Zurich
Cory Nelson (Ph.D., 2015) – Intel Corporation
Xiaoxi Wu (Ph.D., 2015) – Senior Data Scientist, Pillar Biosciences
Kin-Wai Wesker Lei (Ph.D., 2014) – Novati Technologies Inc.
Adam Garland (Ph.D., 2014) – Water Lens, LLC
Joshua Morris (Ph.D., 2013) – Associate Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College
John Tritsch (Ph.D., 2013) – Intel Corporation
Kenrick Williams (Ph.D., 2012) – Lecturer, Green River College
Williams Tisdale (Ph.D., 2010) – Associate Professor, MIT
Travis Mills (Ph.D., 2009) – Associate Professor, St. Paul’s College
Loren Kaake (Ph.D. 2009) – Associate Professor, Simon Frasier University
Matthew Goertz (Ph.D., 2009) – Donaldson Company
Yang Deng (Ph.D., 2008) – L’Oreal
Chad Lindstrom (Ph.D., 2006) – Air Force Research Lab
Gregory Dutton (Ph.D., 2006) – National Institute of Justice (DOJ)
Taewoon Cha (Ph.D., 2005) – Apple, Inc.
Joo H. Kang (Ph.D., 2005) – Dow Chemical Company
Yong Seok Jun (Ph.D., 2004) – Associate Professor, Konkuk University, Korea
Ryan C. Major (Ph.D., 2003) – Hysitron, Inc.
Hanfu Wang (Ph.D., 2001) – Associate Professor, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China
Postdocs
David Needell (2022)
Yusong Bai (2018-2022) – Assistant Professor, Brown University
Yanan Dai (2019-2022) – Assistant Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology
Qiuyang Li (2019-2021) – Postdoc, University of Michigan (Deng Group)
Mark Ziffer (2018-2021) – Research Associate, Columbia University (Owen and Shuck Groups)
Feifan Wang (2017-2021) – Postdoc, ETH Zurich (Fiebig Group)
Lucas Huber (2019-2021) – R&D Engineer, Sensirion
Yongping Fu (2020-2021) – Assistant Professor, Peking University
Fang Liu (2016-2020) – Assistant Professor, Stanford University
Sebastian Maehrlein (2017-2020) – P.I. at Fritz Haber Institute
Doyk Hwang (2019-2020) – Postdoc, University of Washington (Schlenker Group)
Florian Geyer (2017-2018) – BASF
Kiyoshi Miyata (2015-2018) – Assistant Professor, Kyushu University (Onda Group)
Daniel Niesner (2014-2017) – Postdoc, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Fauster Group)
M. Tuan Trinh (2013-2016) – Assistant Professor, University of South Florida
Haiming Zhu (2014-2016) – Professor, Zhejiang University
Manuel Marks (2013-2015) – Bausch (Germany)
Heungman Park (2011-2013) – Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Lei Shen (2009-2013) – Professor, Wuhan University of Technology
Wai-lun Chan (2009-2012) – Associate Professor, University of Kansas
A. Jailaubekov (2009-2012) – Staff Scientist, Cymer Corporation
Manuel Ligges (2010-2011) – Univ. Essen, Germany
Luis Miaja-Avila (2010-2012) – NIST, Colorado
Abe Wolcott (2010-2012) – Assistant Professor, San Jose State University
Matthias Muntwiler (2005-2009) – Group Leader, Paul Scherer Institute, Switzerland
Qinxing Yang (2007-2009) – Associate Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Vassil Boiadjiev (2000-2002) – Lecturer, Temple University
Research Scientists
Lin Zhou (2018-2019) – Associate Professor, Nanjing University