MatSE graduates recognized at MRS spring meeting

Two MatSE graduate students received awards at the 2016 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting in San Francisco. The MRS Graduate Student Awards recognize students of exceptional ability who show promise for future substantial achievement in materials research. The criteria for selection are excellence in the conduct of materials research, promise for future substantial achievement in materials research, and clarity of the presentation and discussion.

[figure="" class="align-center" width="360"]Hanze Ying, Ph.D. student in the Jianjun Cheng group, was awarded the MRS Gold Graduate Student Award for his presentation on Bioinspired Dynamic Materials—Synthesis, Engineering and Applications. After earning his B.S. in chemistry from Peking University, Ying set off for the University of Illinois to study at “the best materials Ph.D. program in the world.” His research on dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) that have reversible bonding/debonding properties earned him the top award at MRS. “We seek to develop a novel platform for dynamic materials design using a new type of DCB – hindered urea bond (HUB),” Ying explained. “We demonstrated that HUB enables the facile designs of self-healing materials, hydrolyzable polymers, and malleable thermosets.” He plans to finish his Ph.D. this summer and will either stay at the University of Illinois to build his startup, Hindered Polyurea Technology (HPT), or look for a post-doc position and a future career in academia. [figure="" class="align-center" width="360"]Nuri Oh, Ph.D. student in the Moonsub Shim group, received the MRS Silver Graduate Student Award for his presentation on Materials for Next-Generation Displays. Oh received his B.S. and M.S. in materials science and engineering from Hanyang University in South Korea. His interest in novel materials and their unique properties prompted him to continue his graduate studies in the U.S. Oh developed Double-Heterojunction Nanorods (DNHR) as a new subclass of nanocrystals. “The DNHR incorporate both type I and type II band offsets where the heterojunctions are active rather than passive insulators,” Oh said. “Band offsets designed into the nanorods can facilitate both charge recombination and separation, ultimately allowing one device to function as both high performance LED and PD.” The new design and functionality could have commercial application in the design of future electronic devices. Oh defended his Ph.D. on April 6 and will continue to work with Prof. Shim over the summer, with plans for a post-doc position in the fall.

Hanze Ying and Nuri Oh are pictured with Kristi Anseth, 2016 MRS President.