a component of the NanoCenter's Emerging Leaders Program

Background

Though much of nano research is devoted to fabricating and characterizing materials, structures, and their behavior on the nanoscale, it is increasingly important to focus on the behavior of materials and structures as a function of time.  Such a focus helps researchers achieve a more fundamental understanding of materials and structures and identify and more successfully pursue a wide variety of applications.  Critical time scales range from ultrafast phenomena at terahertz frequencies (as found in electrical and optical processes) to multiple though slower time scales (as found in biology). 

Building on a rich history in ultrafast phenomena and a rapidly growing cadre of nano-bio researchers working in the time domain, the Maryland NanoCenter has identified the time domain for nanoscale phenomena as a strategic priority. Our goal is to assist our faculty members and the Williams fellows to achieve major accomplishments in the emerging frontiers of nanoscale research and develop into research leaders of international prominence.   

To honor the outstanding contributions and leadership of Professor Ellen Williams in nanoscience and nanotechnology, the NanoCenter - in collaboration with three Colleges (ENGR, CMPS, CLFS) - has created a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship program to attract the best and brightest researchers to grapple with questions in time-domain nanoscience. NanoCenter faculty members host Fellows for targeted projects of interest.

Implementation

The NanoCenter has solicited time-domain-related research proposals from the center’s more junior faculty members (associate and assistant professors).  Nine Ellen Williams Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded for the projects and faculty listed below.

 

Projects in time-domain nanoscience for
Ellen Williams Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellows

• Nanowire Plasmonics

  Advisor: Prof. Sang Bok Lee
  Researcher: Dr. Samrat Dutta

• Probing Time Dependent Behavior of a Single Peptide Molecule Using Optical Tweezers

  Advisor: Prof. Joonil Seog
  Researcher: Dr. YoungKoan Ko

• Li insertion/extraction behavior in 1-D nano-pore-structures Si anodes for Li ion batteries

  Advisor: Prof. Chunsheng Wang
  Researcher:

• Nanoscale Imaging of Fast Electrochemistry

  Advisor: Prof. John Cumings
  Researcher: Dr. Kai He

• Ultrafast optical and terahertz spectroscopy of molecules

  Advisor: Prof. Ki-Yong Kim
  Researcher:

• Ultra-fast Dynamics of Low-dimensional Carbon Nanostructures

  Advisor: Prof. Teng Li
  Researcher: Dr. Zhao Zhang

• Nanocomposite Materials for use in Terahertz and Optical Devices

  Advisor: Prof. Thomas E. Murphy
  Researcher:

• Surface-Enhanced Absorption

  Advisor: Prof. Amy Mullin
  Researcher: Dr. Carlos Toro

• Nanophotonics

  Advisor: Prof. Edo Waks
  Researcher: Dr. Hyochul Kim