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Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Raymond Unocic Research Lab

Research

Advancing cutting-edge electron microscopy methods to uncover atomic-scale insights in materials science

Atomic-Scale Microscopy

Exploring structure and chemistry at the level of individual atoms

Why It Matters

Bridge Scale and Function
By observing materials at the atomic level under real-world conditions, we reveal the interplay between composition, structure, and performance—crucial for next-generation materials design.

Machine Learning in Microscopy

Explore the intersection of artificial intelligence/machine learning in microscopy to unlock new insights in materials characterization. As part of this research, you’ll leverage machine learning algorithms to enhance the analysis and interpretation of microscopy data, revolutionizing how we understand, control, and manipulate functional material properties.

atomic pattern

Cryo- and In Situ/Operando Methods

Capturing material behavior in real-time under operating conditions

Why It Matters

Enabling New Discoveries
Dive into the world of cryogenic and in situ/operando microscopy, where you’ll investigate material behavior in real-time and at high spatial resolution under external stimuli (temperature, electrical bias, stress, liquid, and gas). This research will allow you to directly observe and analyze dynamic material transformations, providing invaluable insights into the functional behavior of nanomaterials.

Cryo- and In Situ/Operando Microscopy

Our lab specializes in real-time, environment-responsive imaging: from observing materials under varying temperature, pressure, or electrical conditions to dynamic behavior in liquid and gas environments. These methods enable direct observation of structural transformations and performance under functional conditions.

heat stress

Nanoscience Characterization

Developing techniques to connect functions in nanoscale materials

Why It Matters

Atomic Engineering
Reignite your childhood curiosity of building with Legos, but this time, at the atomic scale. Explore the world of advanced materials, where you’ll use aberration-corrected STEM to observe and manipulate the atomic structure to control properties and functional behavior of cutting-edge materials. Unlock the building blocks of the future, one atom at a time.

Innovations in Characterization Methods

We’re pioneering new microscopy workflows and data-analytic tools to enhance the fidelity and interpretability of electron microscopy. This includes image simulations, processing pipelines, and emerging machine learning approaches to correlate structure, property, and function at unmatched resolution.

lattice