Principle Investigator
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Postdoctoral Scholars
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Max Verkamp
Email: mverkamp@utexas.edu | Max's CV PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2019 (with Josh Vura-Weis) BS, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 2013 Max grew up in Southern Indiana and received BS degrees in Physics and Chemistry from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He then continued his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, getting his PhD in Chemical Physics under Prof. Josh Vura-Weis. While in the Vura-Weis lab, he helped build a transient extreme ultraviolet spectrometer and used it to probe hot carrier behavior in hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites for photovoltaic applications. Max joined the Roberts Group in September 2019 to examine singlet fission in perylenediimide (PDI) and its derivatives to augment silicon solar cells. Outside of work, Max enjoys music (writing, playing, and listening to) and tabletop gaming. |
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Laura Estergreen (Joint with Baiz Group)
Email: lkestergr@utexas.edu PhD, University of Southern California, 2020 (with Stephen Bradforth) BS, University of Washington, 2014 (with Munira Khalil) Laura grew up in Seattle Washington and received her BS in Chemistry from the University of Washington. She did her undergraduate research with Munira Khalil in collaboration with Brandi Cossairt, where she synthesized organometallic complexes for the study of proton-coupled electron transfer. After graduating from the University of Washington, she pursued higher education at the University of Southern California, getting a PhD under the advisement of Stephen Bradforth. While working in the Bradforth group, she primarily worked on studying electronic excited state processes of organic systems in either a film or in solution. This work included using techniques such as transient absorption spectroscopy and time resolved photoluminescence. Laura has a joint appointment with Sean Roberts and Carlos Baiz where her project focuses on building a high resolution microscope for both transient absorption microscopy and high spectral resolution imaging. Outside of the lab Laura enjoys playing the guitar/violin, hiking and sketching. |
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Kelly Wilson (Joint with Baiz Group)
Email: kelmaxx@utexas.edu PhD, University of Oregon, 2020 (with Cathy Wong) BS, Brigham Young University - Idaho, 2014 Kelly was raised in American Fork, Utah. He earned his BS degree in chemistry and taught a Python for Chemists course at Brigham Young University – Idaho. Working with Prof. Cathy Wong at the University of Oregon, Kelly designed and built a single-shot transient absorption spectrometer to measure the excited state dynamics of chemical systems during processes such as nanocrystal growth and molecular aggregation. Kelly began working with Sean Roberts and Carlos Baiz in 2021 to build a time-resolved, super resolution microscope which will be integrated into the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at UT Austin. Kelly spends the rest of his time reading and adventuring with his wife and kids. |
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Jacob Strain (Joint with Rose Group)
Email: jacob.strain@utexas.edu | Jacob's CV | Website: jacobstrain.com PhD, University of Louisville, 2020 (with Joshua Spurgeon) BS, Western Kentucky University, 2012 Jacob grew up in Bowling Green, KY and received his BS in Chemistry and Biotechnology from WKU in 2012. He then worked at the Institute for Environmental Health in Scottsville, KY testing food products for microbial pathogens. In 2014 he decided to get back into research by joining Dr. Hemali Rathnayake's group at WKU to synthesize new organic solar cell materials and fabricate organic photovoltaics. In 2015 he began his graduate career at University of Louisville where he mainly worked on the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Jacob joined the groups of Dr. Rose and Dr. Roberts at the University of Texas at Austin in November 2020. He is working on the electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis of functionalized Si substrates. Outside of science, Jacob enjoys playing guitar, running, and reading history. |
Graduate Students
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Daniel Cotton
Email: decotton@utexas.edu BS, Washington University, St. Louis, 2016 Daniel (Danny) Cotton was raised up and down the California coast. While studying at Washington University, St. Louis, he worked under Dr. Julio D’Arcy developing processing methods for conductive organics for use in electrochemical capacitors. Danny joined the Roberts group in 2016, and is working understanding the electronic structure of thin film organic chromophores via sum frequency generation and related spectroscopies. When not in lab, Danny enjoys camping, reading, music, and trying new things with friends. |
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Brittany Pollok (Joint with Rose Group)
Email: brpollok@utexas.edu BS, Texas Lutheran University, 2018 Brittany is from Seguin, Texas. She received a BS degree in chemistry from Texas Lutheran University. Brittany joined the Roberts group in the fall of 2018. Outside of lab she enjoys hiking and swimming. |
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Honghao Wang
Email: hhwang@utexas.edu BS, University of Arizona, 2018 Honghao was born and raised in Shenyang, China. He received a BS in chemistry from the University of Arizona, where he studied Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy with Dr. Stephen Kukolich. He joined the Roberts lab in fall 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys road trips, watching Sci-Fi movies and eSports games. |
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Danielle Cadena
Email: dcadena@utexas.edu BS, University of California Los Angeles, 2019 Danielle was born and raised on California's Central Coast. She received her BS in Chemistry and Materials Science with an organic concentration from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her undergraduate research sought to understand photodegradation processes in molecular aggregates of cyanine dyes. She joined the Roberts group in the fall of 2019. Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking. |
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Boxi (Cam) Li
Email: bli0611@utexas.edu BA, Franklin & Marshal College, 2019 Cam was born and raised in Beijing, China. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and German from Franklin and Marshall College, where she worked with Dr. Kate Plass on tuning cation exchange rates using various chemical dopants. Cam joined the Roberts group in fall 2019. She likes playing African drum, reading and eating cookies in her free time. |
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Tanner Volek
Email: tsv@utexas.edu BS, Sam Houston State University, 2021 Tanner was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas. He earned his BS in Chemistry with minors in Biology and Mathematics from Sam Houston State University where he worked with Dr. Darren Williams on studying the application of solubility parameters, ultrasonic cleaning, vapor degreasing, and vacuum cyclic cavitation in precision cleaning science. Tanner joined the Roberts group in the fall of 2021 and in his free time he likes to play board games and go birdwatching. |
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Seth Allen
Email: seth.allen@utexas.edu BS, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, 2017 Seth was raised in Saegertown, Pennsylvania. He received his BS in chemistry from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate, he synthesized organometallic catalysts under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Gung at Miami University and studied indoor air chemistry at Syracuse University with Dr. Tara Kahan. After graduating, Seth worked as an analytical chemist at PPG Industries and then as a product development chemist at Teledyne FLIR. Seth joined the Roberts group in the fall of 2021. In his free time, Seth enjoys bouldering, spending time outdoors, and exploring new places. |
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Celena Marsters
Email: cmarsters@utexas.edu BA, Whitman College, 2021 Celena was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She received her BA in chemistry from Whitman College, where she worked under the supervision of Dr. Jon Collins on exploring the substrate specificity of the enzyme benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase. Celena joined the Roberts group in the fall of 2021. Outside of lab, she enjoys petting dogs, playing tennis, and being with friends. |
Undergraduate Students
Jessica Tanner Boette
Jess is from Belton, TX. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, and joined the Roberts group in the spring of 2021. In her free time, she loves baking, distance running, hiking, sewing, and is an avid gardener.
Jess is from Belton, TX. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, and joined the Roberts group in the spring of 2021. In her free time, she loves baking, distance running, hiking, sewing, and is an avid gardener.
Thomas Goodman
Tom is from the UK and is currently pursuing an MSci in chemistry from University of Bristol in the UK. He is studying at UT for one year as part of an exchange program before returning. In his free time he enjoys climbing and kayaking.
Tom is from the UK and is currently pursuing an MSci in chemistry from University of Bristol in the UK. He is studying at UT for one year as part of an exchange program before returning. In his free time he enjoys climbing and kayaking.
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Eden Chen
Eden was born in Dallas, Texas. He is currently pursuing a BS in physics at the University of Texas at Austin. He joined Robert's group in the Spring of 2021. Some of his pastimes are playing "Go", listening to classical music, and learning about Eastern Philosophy including Asian Traditional Medicine and Martial Arts. |
Gulu (Kevin) Xiong
Kevin was born in Beijing, China and went to high school in Houston, TX. He is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in chemistry and joined the Roberts group in Spring 2022. In his free time, he enjoys watching anime and playing badminton.
Kevin was born in Beijing, China and went to high school in Houston, TX. He is currently pursuing a B.S. degree in chemistry and joined the Roberts group in Spring 2022. In his free time, he enjoys watching anime and playing badminton.
Group Alumni - Postdoctoral Scholars
Ravindra Pandey, PhD (Fall 2014 - Spring 2017)
Email: rpandey.fcy@iitr.ac.in
Currently an Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee
Email: rpandey.fcy@iitr.ac.in
Currently an Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee
Group Alumni - Graduate Students
Emily Raulerson, PhD (Fall 2016 - Spring 2021)
Email: Emily.Raulerson@nrel.gov
Currnetly a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Beard Group at NREL
Jon Bender, PhD (Fall 2014 - Fall 2020)
Email: jonbender@utexas.edu
Currently a Scientist at Nulixir Inc.
Michelle Blemker, PhD (Fall 2015 - Summer 2020)
Email: mblemker@utexas.edu
Currently a Senior Scientist at Synexis, LLC
Michael Azzaro, PhD (Spring 2014 - Spring 2019)
Email: azzaro.m@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at Intel
Aaron Moon, PhD (Spring 2014 - Spring 2019)
Email: apmoon@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at TowerJazz
Aaron Le, PhD (Spring 2014 - Summer 2019)
Email: aaron.k.le@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at TowerJazz
Atlantis Frost (Fall 2016 - Fall 2017)
Email: Emily.Raulerson@nrel.gov
Currnetly a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Beard Group at NREL
Jon Bender, PhD (Fall 2014 - Fall 2020)
Email: jonbender@utexas.edu
Currently a Scientist at Nulixir Inc.
Michelle Blemker, PhD (Fall 2015 - Summer 2020)
Email: mblemker@utexas.edu
Currently a Senior Scientist at Synexis, LLC
Michael Azzaro, PhD (Spring 2014 - Spring 2019)
Email: azzaro.m@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at Intel
Aaron Moon, PhD (Spring 2014 - Spring 2019)
Email: apmoon@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at TowerJazz
Aaron Le, PhD (Spring 2014 - Summer 2019)
Email: aaron.k.le@utexas.edu
Currently an Engineer at TowerJazz
Atlantis Frost (Fall 2016 - Fall 2017)
Group Alumni - Undergraduates
Mark Babin (Spring 2014 - Summer 2016)
Email: markcbabin@berkeley.edu
PhD in Chemistry at UC Berkeley, 2022
Currently a Postdoctoral Scholar, Harvard
Mirna Gonzalez (Fall 2015 - Fall 2016)
High School Science Teacher, Pasadena, CA
John Gao (Spring 2016 - Fall 2016)
Jacob Anderson (Fall 2016)
MD Candidate, Harvard Medical School
Zachary Tobin (Fall 2016)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at Texas A&M
Diana Zhang (Fall 2016 - Spring 2017)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
Brooks Clingman (Fall 2016 - Spring 2017)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at MIT
Benny Renard (Fall 2015 - Fall 2017)
Jim Hall (April 2018 - August 2018)
Cole Hoffman (September 2018 - May 2019)
Annie Zhang (January 2018 - May 2019)
Currently Attending Graduate School in Communications at the University of Michigan
Inki Lee (January 2018 - May 2019)
Currently Pursing a PhD in Chemistry at Columbia University
Mitchell Haecker (GREAT: Summer 2017)
Currently Attending Texas A&M
Adam Peasley (GREAT: Summer 2018)
Currently Attending UT Dallas
Kira Daniel (GREAT: Summer 2019)
Kelly Biv (CDCM REU Student: Summer 2021)
Alex Friestman (CDCM REU Student: Summer 2021)
Email: markcbabin@berkeley.edu
PhD in Chemistry at UC Berkeley, 2022
Currently a Postdoctoral Scholar, Harvard
Mirna Gonzalez (Fall 2015 - Fall 2016)
High School Science Teacher, Pasadena, CA
John Gao (Spring 2016 - Fall 2016)
Jacob Anderson (Fall 2016)
MD Candidate, Harvard Medical School
Zachary Tobin (Fall 2016)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at Texas A&M
Diana Zhang (Fall 2016 - Spring 2017)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
Brooks Clingman (Fall 2016 - Spring 2017)
Currently Pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at MIT
Benny Renard (Fall 2015 - Fall 2017)
Jim Hall (April 2018 - August 2018)
Cole Hoffman (September 2018 - May 2019)
Annie Zhang (January 2018 - May 2019)
Currently Attending Graduate School in Communications at the University of Michigan
Inki Lee (January 2018 - May 2019)
Currently Pursing a PhD in Chemistry at Columbia University
Mitchell Haecker (GREAT: Summer 2017)
Currently Attending Texas A&M
Adam Peasley (GREAT: Summer 2018)
Currently Attending UT Dallas
Kira Daniel (GREAT: Summer 2019)
Kelly Biv (CDCM REU Student: Summer 2021)
Alex Friestman (CDCM REU Student: Summer 2021)
Group Alumni - Welch Summer Scholars
Kelby Erickson (Summer 2015)
Currently pursing a BS degree at UT Austin
Lauren Dossett (Summer 2016)
Currently pursuing a BS degree at MIT
Abhilash Potluri (Summer 2017)
Currently pursing a BS degree at UT Austin
Benjamin Li (Summer 2018)
Currently pursuing a BS degree at UT Austin
Currently pursing a BS degree at UT Austin
Lauren Dossett (Summer 2016)
Currently pursuing a BS degree at MIT
Abhilash Potluri (Summer 2017)
Currently pursing a BS degree at UT Austin
Benjamin Li (Summer 2018)
Currently pursuing a BS degree at UT Austin