May 2022
Center for Materials Research
Clifford Denize, Doctoral Student at the Center for Materials Science and CREST CREAM scholar, advisor Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, received A $3,000 Academic Excellence Scholarship from the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)- an organization that provides a life-changing leadership program that helps students achieve personal growth, career success, and empowers them to have a positive impact in their communities. Mr. Denize was among the twelve candidates selected this year nationwide for this recognition. Click her to learn more about the NSLS Awards.
Jasmine Beckford, Doctoral student at the Center for Materials Science and CREST CREAM scholar, advisor Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, received the “Outstanding Teaching Award” from the NSU’s Graduate Students Association and the School of Graduate Studies during the annual 2021-22 Celebration of Graduate Students. She has been helpful by teaching two undergraduate students and also assisting with her duties as a Teaching Assistant. She demonstrated excellent management of both tasks while still progressing in her research. Ms. Beckford was offered an internship this summer with LAM Research in Tualatin, OR. She will work on PECVD/Deposition Materials Engineering, characterizing processes, and collecting data.
Jacob Strimaits, Doctoral student at the Center for Materials Science and CREST CREAM scholar, advisor Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, received the “Outstanding Research Award” from the NSU’s Graduate Students Association and the School of Graduate Studies during the annual 2021-22 Celebration of Graduate Students. Mr. Strimaits joined the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering in August 2018. He has worked on multiple research projects in Dr. Bahoura’s lab group since then, including synthesizing quantum dots for solar cell applications and developing solid-state batteries for next-generation electric vehicles. He was recently accepted into the Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship-forservice program, where he will receive full funding to complete his Ph.D. research and will eventually work as a scientist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, IN after graduating in Spring 2023. Mr. Strimaitis published three peer-reviewed journal papers and presented his research at seven national and international conferences.
Mya Jones-Whitehead, an undergraduate engineering student and CREST CREAM scholar, advisor Dr. Messaoud Bahoura, presented a poster titled "Investigation of Gallium Doped Zinc Oxide (GZO) as a Transparent Conductive Alternative to Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)", at the 2022 Virginia State University (VSU) Annual Research Conference, April 1, 2022. Click here to visit the VSU Annual Research Symposium webpage.
Jordan Graham, an undergraduate engineering student, and CREST CREAM scholar presented a poster titled " Investigation of Photovoltaic Effect under Non-Uniform Illumination ", advisor Dr. Sam Sun, at the 2022 Virginia State University (VSU) Annual Research Conference, April 1, 2022. Click here to visit the VSU Annual Research Symposium webpage.
Department of Engineering
Renny Fernandez and his former graduate student Michael Adetunji published a collaborative paper titled "Impedance Sensor for Real-Time Ammonium Detection based on MWCNT/ZnO Nanocomposites" in the journal of IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience The work describes fabrication and characterization of a soil ammonia sensor using Carbon nanotube-Zinc oxide conjugates. Impedance Sensor for Real-Time Ammonium Detection based on MWCNT/ZnO Nanocomposites