KIC Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Salva Salmani Rezaie, PhD University of California, Santa Barbara (Materials Science & Engineering)
Salva’s research is focused on using different transmission electron microscopy techniques to reveal high-rank multipolar orders in quantum materials and link these hidden orders to the physical properties. Professors David Muller and Lena Kourkoutis (AEP) are her faculty sponsors.
Dr. Suman Gunasekaran, PhD Columbia University (Chemical Physics)
Suman is investigating the dynamics of molecules in the strong light-matter coupling regime using novel ultrafast spectroscopic techniques. Professor Andrew Musser (Chemistry) is his faculty sponsor.
Dr. Yaqiong Li, PhD Princeton University (Physics)
Yaqiong’s research focuses on probing the large-scale properties of the early universe with innovative superconducting detectors arrays. Professors Mike Niemack (Physics) and Terry Herter (Astronomy) are her faculty sponsors.
Dr. Wenjin Zhao, PhD University of Washington (Physics)
Wenjin’s research will focus on strong correlation physics in 2D materials, including creation of periodic environment and manipulation of the correlation strength. Professors Jie Shan (AEP/Physics) and Kin Fai Mak (Physics).
Dr. Shusaku Shoji, PhD Tokyo Institute of Technology (Energy Science & Engineering
Shusaku is currently working on block copolymer derived nanostructured materials for catalysis. He is sponsored by Prof. Uli Wiesner (MSE).
Dr. Gaël Grissonnanche, PhD Université de Sherbrooke (Physics)
Gaël’s research will focus on the development of microstructures to probe the thermal properties of quantum materials at small scales and under extreme conditions. Professor Brad Ramshaw (LASSP/Physics) is his faculty sponsor.
Dr. Takuya Maeda, PhD Kyoto University (Electronic Science & Engineering)
Takuya’s research will focus on exploring new physics in the new nitride electronic materials (such as a ferroelectric ScAlN film) and its device applications. His faculty sponsors are Professor Huili Grace Xing (ECE&MSE) and Professor Debdeep Jena (ECE&MSE).
Dr. Saien Xie, PhD Cornell University (Physics/Quantum Materials)
Saien’s research will focus on synthesizing atomically-controlled quantum materials and studying their electronic and optical properties. Professors Kyle Shen (Physics) and Darrell Schlom (Materials Science & Engineering) are Saien’s faculty sponsors.
Dr. Xiaolong Liu, PhD Northwestern University (Physics)
Xiaolong Liu’s research will focus on probing strongly correlated materials by developing a platform combining spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy, oxide beam epitaxy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. His faculty sponsors are Seamus Davis and Darrell Schlom.
KIC Graduate Fellows
Jenniffer Bustillos, Knight@KIC Fellow, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Moridi Research Group)
Noah Schnitzer, Webb@KIC Fellow, Materials Science and Engineering (Kourkoutis Research Group)
Kavli Institute at Cornell Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Elisabeth Bianco, Development Scientist, Micron Technology
Dr. Samuel Schmidt, Visiting Scientist, Cornell University
Dr. Chenhao Jin, Assistant Professor, UC Santa Barbara
Dr. Xiao-Xiao Zhang, Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Dr. Yi-Fan Chen, Assistant Professor, National Central University
Dr. Matt Graham, Assistant Professor, Oregon State University
Dr. Michael Lamont, Postdoctoral Associate, Adie Lab, Nancy E. and Peter C. Mening School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University
Phil King, Assistant Professor, University of St. Andrews
Matt Paszek, Assistant Professor, Cornell University School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Kin Fai Mak, Associate Professor of Physics, Cornell University
Jason Kawasaki, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Christopher Evans, Principle Scientist at Physical Sciences, Inc.
Shogo Hamada, Research Associate, Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering, LuoLabs, Cornell University.
Marcos Guimaraes, Assistant Professor, University of Groningen
David Zeb Rocklin (Bethe/KIC Fellow), Assistant Professor of Physics at Georgia Tech
Dr. Marc Miskin, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Lei Wang, Professor, Physics Department, Nanjing University
Dr. Long Ju, Assistant Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Shuolong Yang, Assistant Professor in Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago
Dr. Yi Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University
Dr. Menyoung Lee, Assistant Research Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University
Zuit Tao, Webb@KIC Fellow, School of Applied and Engineering Physics 2019-2020
Chengyu Liu, Knight@KIC Fellow, 2015-16
Nicholas Cothard, Webb@KIC Fellow, 2016-17
Yehou Gnopo, Knight@KIC Fellow, 2016-17
Baris Bircan, Webb@KIC Fellow, 2017-18
Antoine Robin, Knight@KIC Fellow, 2017-18
Berit Goodge, Webb@KIC Fellow, School of Applied and Engineering Physics (
Jeremy Keys, Knight@KIC Fellow, School of Biomedical Engineering (