Diversity inspires creativity in many ways. Our team has a broad range of expertise which contributes to our innovative endeavors. One of our goals is to inspire early career researchers to explore their scientific ideas to make an impact on sustainability.
We welcome highly motivated students to contact any of our team members to learn about our research activities and research opportunities.
Current members
 | Dr. Laurene Tetard Associate Professor NanoScience Technology Center Physics Department Secondary appointment in the Material Sciences Engineering Secondary appointment in CREOL Associate Chair of the Physics Department Email: Laurene.Tetard@ucf.edu Publications Teaching activities |
 | Guntis Rutins (2021-present) – MS in Nanotechnology ’22 (Thesis) Now PhD student in CREOL Past Degrees: B.S. in Optics, M.S, in Nanotechnology Research Interests: Plasmonics, nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy, nanofabrication Current Project Description: Techniques for Broadband Frequency Signal Enhancement in atomic force microscopy through use of plasmonic structures |
 | Rebecca Young-Reddin (2020-present) Now PhD student in Physics Past Degrees: B.S. in Physics Research Interests: Atomic force microscopy, imaging, instrumentation, biophysics Current Project Description: Quantifying the probing depth of nanoIR spectroscopy |
| Federico Rivas (2021-present) Now PhD student in Physics Past Degrees: B.S. in Physics Research Interests: physics, light-matter interaction, nanoscale characterization Current Project Description: Light-driven nano- and micro-manipulation for 3D carbon microprinting | |
 | Saqib Shahzad (2021-present) Now PhD candidate in Material Science and Engineering Past Degrees: B.S. in Physics (Gold Medal) from the University of Karachi, Pakistan; M.Phil. in Physics Research Interests: material science, characterization, catalysis, solid state physics, experimental techniques Current Project Description: Studying Pyrolants as an energy source for space missions (a project funded by NASA and the Florida space institute carried out in Dr. Blair’s group) |
Former members
McKenna Williams (2022) – BS in Health Sciences
Dr. Fernand Torres-Davila (2016-2021) – MS and PhD in Physics
Now employed at Honeywell
Dr. Karima Lasri (2018, 2020-2021) – Postdoctoral fellow
Chance Barrett (2016-2021) – MS in Physics
Now employed at Nanospective
Briana Lee (2014-2021) – BS in Health Sciences, MS in Nanotechnology (Thesis)
Now employed at the UR Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Dr. Raphael Coste (2016-2021) – PhD in Physics
Now employed at French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) | INRAE ยท Fractionnement des AgroRessources et Environnement (FARE)
Khadijah Wright (2019-2020) – BS in Physics (Honors in the Major Thesis)
Now J.D. Candidate at Florida A&M University, College of Law
Nicholas Ciaffone (2016-2018) – MS in Nanotechnology (Thesis)
Now employed at Reynolds American Inc.
Dr. Negar Otrooshi (2014-2019) – PhD in Physics
Now employed at NIST
Dr. Yi Ding (2014-2019) – PhD in Material Science Engineering
Now employed at Bruker Nano Surfaces
Dr. Mikhael Soliman (2014-2018) – PhD in Material Science Engineering
Now employed at Orange County Public School System, Seminole State College
Ahmad Khater (2017-2019) – BS in Chemistry
Angela Corrigan (2014-2017) – BS in Biomedical Sciences
Now PhD student at University of Pennsylvania, Cell and Molecular Biology
Eric Calkins (2013-2015), BS in Physics, MS in Nanotechnology
Brandon Wolfson (2013-2015), BS in Health Sciences