KIC Postdoctoral Fellows
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. Samuel Schmidt, PhD Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, The Netherlands (Glycomics)
Samuel’s research will focus on uncovering the molecular details of how the cell surface gylcan layer (glycocalyx) adheres to nanometer-scale structure, e.g. collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix. Professors Matthew Paszek (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) and Jan Lammerding (Biomedical Engineering) are Samuel’s faculty sponsors.
Dr. Chenhao Jin, PhD University of California, Berkeley (Physics)
Chenhao’s research will focus on imaging the space-time dynamics of excitations in nanoscale materials, including the emergent excitations in van der Waals heterostructures. Professors Jie Shan (Applied & Engineering Physics), Kin Fai Mak (Physics) and Farhan Rana (Electrical and Computer Engineering) are Chenhao’s faculty sponsors.
Dr. Samuel Lederer, Bethe/KIC Fellow, PhD Stanford University (Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics)
Sam’s research will use a variety of numerical and analytic methods to break new ground in the quantum many body problem, with particular focus on high temperature superconductivity and unconventional transport phenomena. Professor Eun-Ah Kim (LASSP/Physics) is Lederer’s faculty sponsor.
Dr. Elisabeth Bianco, PhD Rice University (Materials Chemistry)
Elisabeth’s research will couple high-resolution electron microscopy and in situ experimentation to study atomic-scale structural re-configurations and the emergence of correlated phases in 2D materials. Her faculty sponsors are Lena Kourkoutis and David Muller (AEP).
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. Yi-Fan Chen
Shogo Hamada, Research Associate, Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering, 
David Zeb Rocklin (Bethe/KIC Fellow), Assistant Professor of Physics at 
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 (