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 (Ph.D. in Chemistry and Nanoscale Science) (2022-Present)

B.Sc. in Physical Science with Computer Science from Delhi University (2019)
M.Sc. in Physics from Delhi Technological University (2021)

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:
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 atoms using cavity coupling"
sayexavier@gmail.com

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