2023 MRS Officers

President: Christopher Wheatley

Christopher is a second year PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering working in the groups of Drs. Andrea Arguelles and Clive Randall. His research focuses on using ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation to characterize the cold sintering process (CSP) we have pioneered here at Penn State. His eventual goal is to expand the scale of what we can make with CSP to make it attractive for industrial applications. He became involved with MRS because growing and learning with his fellow materials undergrads was essential for his development as an engineer. He wants to do everything to make our MatSE graduate student community as inviting as possible, so every feels they have a space here at Penn State. Outside of school and research, he likes to collect vinyl records and read 1950’s sci-fi short stories. Also, he is on a quest to find the perfect cheese quesadilla.

 

 

Vice President: Emilee Fortier

Emilee is a first year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering working in the Dr. Jon-Paul Maria Research Group. Her research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel ferroelectric thin films for application in memory devices. She joined MRS to stay involved in the MatSE community and hopes to use her position to create and expand opportunities for peer mentorship and outreach with the department and local communities. Beyond research, she enjoys hiking, reading, rock climbing, and visiting museums. At Penn State, she is also involved in the Science Policy Society, GWIS, and the Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club and is an AGU local science partner.

 

 

 

Treasurer: Gokul Nanda Gopakumar

Nanda is from Kerala, India, which is known for its backwaters, beaches and scenic greens! He is a first year PhD student in Dr. Stephanie Law’s lab and works in the 2DCC MBE lab in MSC. His research focuses on III-V semiconductor materials grown using MBE. He is trying to design a device consisting of rolled up nanotube of semiconductor materials for applications in subwavelength optical imaging. Semiconductors is a new field for him. Before this, he worked on high-temperature ceramics. Mostly, he’s just happy to be doing a whole lot of experiments, particularly synthesis. You’ll never catch him in front of computational software! A favorite creative outlet is Dungeons & Dragons – it has a special place in his heart. If anyone knows how it can find a special place in his grad school schedule, let him know. He’s also super into watching Formula 1. Every race weekend is a watch-party at his place. He joined MRS because he is a strong proponent of doing things that are not just research work. He likes to take initative to get things done and wants MRS to continue as a fun and creative outlet for him and his friends. It’s also nice to be in control of so much $$$.

 

Secretary: Andrew Balog

Andrew is a second year Materials Science and Engineering PhD student working in Professor Nasim Alem’s group. His research focuses on using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the atomic scale and defect behavior of Ga2Ofor future use in high power, high throughput electronics. He also uses advanced spectroscopy and machine learning tools to further understand the atomic-level workings of materials. Andrew became involved with MRS because he wanted to get involved in the MatSE graduate student community and form connections with the people he’ll spend the next 5(?) years growing around and learning from. Outside of school and research, he loves wine, cooking Italian food, reading history books, following his favorite soccer and lacrosse teams, and outdoors stuff like hiking, skiing, and gardening.”

 

 

Community Outreach Chair: Kelly Varnell

Kelly is a second year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering.  She works under Dr. Hojong Kim studying the electrochemistry of high temperature molten salt systems for sustainable energy technology applications.  She became involved in MRS to help create a fun and inviting community for present and future students and hopes to use her position in MRS to expand the impact and connections that the department has in its local community.  When she’s not attempting to befriend every cat she meets, she enjoys hiking, travelling, cooking, and licking rocks (i.e. geology). 

 

 

 

Professional Development Chair: Beril Tonyali

Beril is a second year PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She works under Dr. Allison Beese on the computational design and fabrication of functionally graded materials via directed energy deposition additive manufacturing (DED AM). The goal of her project is to uncover a fundamental understanding of phase formations that occur in the DED AM process which will allow for the design and creation of new multifunctional materials applicable to a variety of industries. Beril joined MRS so that she could form new connections within the MatSE graduate community. Being a part of MRS, her goal is to create a friendly environment where students can learn and grow through networking with peers and professionals and participating in outreach and social activities. Outside of research, Beril enjoys cooking, going on walks, and reading books.

 

 

Social Chair: Lauren Shepard

Lauren is a first year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering advised by Dr. Susan Sinnott. In her research, she utilizes atomistic computational methods, such as density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD), to study correlated ion transport at polymer-ceramic interfaces in composite polymer electrolytes, with potential applications in energy storage and conversion. Lauren became involved in MRS to strengthen relationships within the MatSE graduate student community and hopes to use her position to foster a welcoming, strong social culture within the department. Outside of research, she enjoys cooking, travelling, watching crime/courtroom dramas, and watching sports (particularly, football, basketball, hockey, and baseball).

 

 

 

Marketing Chair: Kaleigh Curtis

Kaleigh is a first year PhD student working under Dr. Reinhart in the department of Materials Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on creating an inverse design scheme based on generative deep learning for predicting the aggregate structures of sequence-defined macromolecules, specifically for applications in medicine and biomaterials. She became involved in MRS due to the community that MRS provides and the friendships she has made with other first-years due to MRS. Outside of research and school, Kaleigh enjoys reading, playing D&D with her friends, and attempting to learn how to cook. 

 

 

 

Wellness Chair: Meghan Leger

Meghan is a second year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. She works under Dr. Joan Redwing studying metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of transition metal dichalcogenide lateral heterostructures for single photon sources. She became involved with MRS because she was a lonely first year 🙂 But really, she wanted to dive headfirst into the MatSE community here at Penn State. MRS offered not only a network, but also a way way to socialize with her peers and build a strong community. Outside of the lab, she enjoys weightlifting, cooking new vegetarian dishes, and cuddling with her cats.

Past Officers

2023 MRS Officers:

  • President – Christopher Wheatley
  • Vice President – Emilee Fortier
  • Treasurer – Gokul Nanda Gopakumar
  • Secretary – Andrew Balog
  • Community Outreach Chair – Kelly Varnell
  • Professional Development Chair – Beril Tonyali
  • Social Chair – Lauren Shepard
  • Wellness Chair – Meghan Leger
  • Marketing Chair – Kaleigh Curtis

2022 MRS Officers:

  • President – Stiphany Ta Tieu
  • Vice President – Christopher Wheatley
  • Treasurer – Haley Jones
  • Secretary – Andrew Balog
  • Community Outreach Chair – Kelly Varnell
  • Professional Development Chair – Beril Tonyali
  • Social Chair – Meghan Leger

2019-2021 MRS Officers:

  • President – Ama Agyapong
  • Vice President – John Shimanek
  • Treasurer – Angela Cleri
  • Secretary – Caleb Meredith
  • Student Engagement Chair – Katy Gerace

2018-2019 MRS Officers:

  • President – Michelle Kuzma
  • Vice President – Preeya Kuray
  • Treasurer –  Alexander Wilson-Heid
  • Secretary – Caleb Meredith
  • Social Chair – Joseph Nasr
  • Outreach Chair – Gerry Knapp (Saiphaneendra Bachu, Interim)
  • Recruitment Chair – Kleyser Agueda Lopez

2017-2018 MRS Officers:

  • President – Lyndsey Denis
  • Vice President – Preeya Kuray
  • Treasurer –  Alexander Wilson-Heid
  • Secretary – Lourdes Bobbio
  • Social Chair – Michelle Kuzma

2016-2017 MRS Officers:

  • President – Lourdes Bobbio
  • Vice-President – Lyndsey Denis
  • Treasurer – Ethan Kahn
  • Secretary – Jared Carter

2015-2016 MRS Officers:

  • President – Cassie Marker
  • Vice-President – Nathan Martin
  • Treasurer – Lakshmy Pulickal
  • Secretary – Jared Carter

2014-2015 MRS Officers:

  • President – Cassie Marker
  • Vice-President – Nathan Martin
  • Treasurer – Lakshmy Pulickal
  • Secretary – Jared Carter

2013-2014 MRS Officers:

  • President – Beth Carroll
  • Vice-President – Jason Chan
  • Treasurer – Cassie Marker
  • Secretary – Michael Abraham

2012-2013 MRS Officers:

  • President – Ashwin Raghavan
  • Vice-President – William Yi Wang
  • Treasurer – Nuerxida Pulati
  • Secretary – Ashwin Raghavan
  • Webmaster – Haoting Shen

2011-2012 MRS Officers:

  • President – Kyle Hart
  • Vice-President – Medhi Ghaffari
  • Treasurer – Lauren Abbott
  • Secretary – Sasha Perkins
  • Mentor – Melanie Disabb-Miller

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