My Research Interests

My research career started while I was a McNair Scholar and undergraduate in the chemistry department at the University of California, Davis. I hoped to involve myself in work that would have a broad scientific impact and eventually, help society more broadly. I found work in the lab of Professor Delmar Larsen, where I learned about the photophysics of conjugated polymers, a class of materials that could potentially be used in low-cost, light-weight, and flexible/stretchable solar cells.

After graduating, I started my PhD program in the Materials Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara, working on functional electronics that utilize conjugated materials with Professor Guillermo Bazan, an expert in molecular design of conjugated molecules. There I developed a love for soft matter, particularly polymer science and engineering, after taking classes with Professor Ed Kramer. During my first year of graduate school, Professor Kramer brought samples of plastic - what most people would call garbage - into the classes that he taught. I remember thinking, “now that’s the passion for science that I want to convey.” (And since then, I’ve taught classes on polymer science and engineering where I brought my own “garbage” to teach students about materials properties/recycling!)

My research at UCSB was closely tied to industry partners, which motivated me to think about the potential technological applications of my work while also answering fundamental questions about charge transport, thin film morphology, and device engineering. I still strive for that balance of broad impact and fundamental science in my work. In my last two years as a graduate student, I was excited to explore new challenges and started taking classes outside my graduate program - classes on physics of semiconductors, cleanroom processing, group theory, physics of solar cells, nanophotonics, neuroscience, energy in society, and soft robotics - with the goal of learning how I could tie my previous research into a new field.

The class on soft robotics, taught by Professor Elliot Hawkes in the Mechanical Engineering Department, had the biggest impact. I could easily see how I could tie ideas from my previous research on organic semiconductors with soft robotics and related materials. For my post-doctoral research, I sought positions in areas of soft robotics and stretchable electronics. I was lucky to land a position in the Soft Machines Lab at Carnegie Mellon University, where my skills and expertise lined up perfectly with a project involving a multifunctional soft composite.

More recently, I’ve noticed a gap in my skills/knowledge and my research goals. I knew I needed more experience in polymer chemistry to fully realize my vision of participating in the synthesis of next generation soft materials. An opening at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a polymer chemist seemed like a great fit. At LLNL, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of projects that heavily involve polymer chemistry and will benefit my future research. I envision a future research career aligned with my interests - where I’ll answer challenging questions by using analytical and creative problem-solving skills that I’ve developed thus far.