Group Members

Dr. Jay Foley
Associate Professor

Postdoctoral Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory (2012-2015)
Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago (2012)
B.S. in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2006)
Studied Chemistry at St. Ambrose University (2002-2003)
jfoley19@uncc.edu

Nam Vu
Postdoctoral Fellow (2022-Present)

B.S. in chemistry, Hanoi university of science (2008-2013)
M.S. in chemistry, Korea institute of science and technology (2013-2016)
Ph.d. in Chemistry from Florida State University (2017-2022)

Project: "Developing ab initio methods for polariton chemistry"
nvu12@uncc.edu

Ruby Manderna
Graduate Student

B.Sc. in Physical Science with Computer Science from Delhi University (2019)
M.Sc. in Physics from Delhi Technological University (2021)
Ph.D. in Chemistry and Nanoscale Science from University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2022-Present)

Project: "Developing ab initio methods for polariton chemistry"
rmandern@uncc.edu

Kenny Ampoh
Graduate Student(Ph.D. in Chemistry and Nanoscale Science) (2024-Present)

B.S. in Chemistry from University of Ghana (2021)

Project:
" Light matter interactions in correlated systems using QED-CASSCF/ Intermolecular interactions in optical cavities"
kampoh@uncc.edu

Fiwasaye Xavier
Undergraduate Student (2024-Present)

B.S. in Chemistry from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Project: "Generating Bell states between molecular qubits using cavity coupling"
fxavier@charlotte.edu

Peyton Roden
Graduate Student(Chemistry MS) (2022-2025)

B.S. in Chemistry and Computer Science from University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2023)

Project: "Light-Matter Interactions in Molecules: Unitary Transformation in ab initio Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics and Vibronic Coupling Modification in Optical Cavities"
proden@uncc.edu

Stroud Snider
REU Student (2025)

Dual Degree in Chemistry and Political Science from Duke University

Project: "opesmo: a machine learning model"

Lane Tolley
Research Technician (2022-2024)

B.S. in Chemistry from University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2023)

Project: "Simulating Exciton Dynamics and Spectra in Organic Semiconducting Thin Films"

M. Ellijah Wangeman
REU Student (2024)


B.S. in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology (2025)

Project: "Engineer multi-qubit Hamiltonians through optical cavity design"

Margaret Paczkowski
REU Student (2023)


B.S.in Nano Science from Georgia Insitute of Technology

Project:"Designing materials for PV/STPV devices to overcome recombination losses in next-generation solar cell materials"

Paul Olagbemiro
Project SEED student (2023)


Project:"Simulating Exciton Dynamics and Spectra in Organic Semiconducting Thin Films"

Praneeta Veluri
Undergraduate Researcher (2022)


B.S. from University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Project:

Reem Eldabagh
Graduate Student (2018-Present)


B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from William Paterson University (2018)

Project: Experimental and Theoretical studies of photocatalytic activity of Eosin Y

James Varner
Graduate Student (2019-Present)


B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2019)

Project: Virtual design of nanomaterials with tailored optical and thermal radiation properties

Figen Suchanek
Graduate Student (2019-Present)


Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

Project: Time-domain simulation of optical properties of nanomaterials

Dayanara Wert
Undergraduate Student (2019-Present)


B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2019)

Project: Virtual design of high-efficiency incandescent sources

Raghad Nofal
Undergraduate Student (2019-Present)


B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2019)

Project: Virtual design of high-efficiency decorative solar cells

Aya Matari
Undergraduate Student (2019-Present)


B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2019)

Project: Virtual design of high-efficiency decorative solar cells

Noor Eldabagh
Graduate Student (2017-2019)

B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2016)

Project: Composite nanoparticles as novel photosensitizers

Current Position: Scientist at Roche

Shivi Chauhan
High School Student, Wayne Hills High School (2016-2019)



Project: Controlling thermal emission for highly-efficient light-bulb filaments

Current Position: Business Major at NYU's Stern School of Business

Derek Volta
Undergraduate Student (2018-Present)


B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (expected 2018)

Project: Multi-objective optimization for the virtual design of novel nanostructured thermal emitters

Samantha Nieves
Undergraduate Student (2017-2018)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2018)

Project: Applications of Inhomogeneous Surface Waves

Current Position: Graduate Student in Materials Chemistry, WPU

Pablo Gonzalez
Undergraduate Student (2017-2018)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2018)

Project: Emergent Strong Coupling in Composite Nanoparticles

Jonathan Roman
Undergraduate Student (Spring and Summer 2018)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2019)

Project: Controlling Thermal Emission with Nanostructures

James Tsatsaros
High School Student, Montclair Kimberly Academy (2016-2018)



Project: Multi-objective optimization for the virtual design of novel nanostructured thermal emitters

Current Position: Computer Science Major at Brown University

Kim Fernando
Undergraduate Researcher (2016-2017)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2017)

Project: Elucidating hot-carrier dynamics driven by scattering-mediated absorption

Current Position: Chemist at Pfizer, Pearl River NY

Matt Micek
Undergraduate Researcher (2016-2017)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2017)

Project: Resonance energy transfer mediated by composite nanostructures

Jason Codrington
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2017)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2017)

Project: Controlling light with composite nanostructures
Current Position: Masters Student at Rutgers University

Jessica Czarnecki
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2017)

B.S. in Chemistry from William Paterson University (2017)

Project: Fundamentals of Scattering Mediated Absorption

Current Position: Pursuing a Ph.D. in Oceanography at The University of Delaware

Jon Hernandez
NSF Bridges to Baccalaureate Scholar (Summer 2016)


Project: Virtual Design of Selective Thermal Emitters
Current Position: Mechanical Engineering student at New Jersey Institute of Technology