Dr. Celia S. Chari is the Beal Family postdoctoral fellow at the Straus Center in Harvard University. With a background in materials science, she investigates the synthesis-structure-property relationships of materials across disciplines, from aerospace engineering to cultural heritage science.

Her research focuses on material degradation in extreme environments, spanning high-temperature ceramics used in aerospace propulsion to the alteration of mineral pigments in historic artworks. At the Harvard Art Museums, she collaborates with scientists, conservators, and curators on the scientific examination of artworks, applying advanced spectroscopic, crystallographic, and microscopic techniques to uncover ancient materials processing methods. Her research on historic materials has extended to collaborations with ENS Paris-Saclay, SOLEIL Synchrotron, MIT’s Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and has been featured in exhibitions and gallery talks to the public at the Harvard Art Museums.

Dr. Chari earned her MSc and PhD in Materials Science from the California Institute of Technology, where she worked closely with scientists at NASA/Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was awarded an Amelia Earhart fellowship by Zonta International. Her unique background and expertise in materials science and art conservation have led her to pursue research on radiation damage in ancient materials, and the accelerated degradation of “outdoor” artworks in the face of climate change.

Designing Ceramics to Operate Like the Human Brain

The human brain is an inspiration for future sensing and computing architectures to overcome the converging issues of (1) dramatically increasing demand for computing capacity, as artificial intelligence and machine learning become commonplace, and (2) current energy efficiency issues associated with the von Neumann architectures used in modern computers. In this talk, I hope to ease into the topic of neuromorphic sensing and computing and give examples of how common materials can be altered to display brain-like functions. I will discuss chemical tailoring of vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) to enable artificial vision sensors with broader light detection than the human eye and neuron-like spiking behavior for next-generation neural networks. The talk may not blow your mind, but I will strive to at least give your brain a few more wrinkles.

Development of a Time-Resolved Structural Probe for Dynamic Local Structure in Crystalline Ion Conductors

Solid-state ion conduction is a fundamental transport phenomenon with broad implications for energy storage, sensing, and information technologies. A conventional picture of ion transport describes mobile ions hopping between adjacent unoccupied sites, navigating an energy landscape shaped by local structural dynamics. While theoretical models suggest that lattice vibrations play a crucial role in facilitating these ion hops, direct experimental evidence remains scarce due to the ultrafast, sub-angstrom nature of the process.

Recent advances in time-resolved X-ray total scattering offer a new opportunity to capture atomic pair-distribution functions at 30 femtosecond intervals, enabling the direct observation of lattice-driven ion transport mechanisms. I will discuss ongoing efforts to develop an ultrafast X-ray total scattering methodology for probing transient local structure, as well as opportunities to use THz excitation to drive the lattice modes that mediate ion transport in solid ion conductors.

Wayne is a second-year materials science PhD student in the Brennecka lab. He works on high acoustic velocity piezoelectrics in the thin film world. He earned his undergraduate Materials Science and Engineerining degree at The Pennsylvania State University. He recently became a delegate for both the ACerS CO Section and the President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA). Outside of the lab, he enjoys exploring new places and playing basketball.

Margaret “Molly” Brown is a second year Materials Science PhD student from Colorado School of Mines working under Dr. Geoff Brennecka. Her research is focused on identifying and understanding the role of defects in Al-N based ferroelectrics. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and playing board games. 

Sienna Gonzalez is a second year Materials Science PhD student and Coorstek Fellow at the Colorado School of Mines, co-advised by Prof. Ryan Richards and Prof. Ryan O’Hayre. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from this institution, as well. Currently, Sienna is working on the adaptation of solgel methods for the synthesis of high entropy perovskites, useful in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. She hopes to one day become a teaching professor, serving as a role model for Hispanic students and other underrepresented groups in the STEM field. In her free time, Sienna enjoys hiking, crocheting, and listening to Kpop!

Brooke is a first-year PhD student in Materials Science, advised by Dr. Geoff Brennecka. Following her graduation with a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering at Washington State University, Brooke spent a year as a post-bachelor student at Los Alamos National Laboratory working on advanced ceramic synthesis. She is in her 1st year serving as an ACerS PCSA delegate. Her current work is on textured PMN-PT via aerosol spray deposition. Brooke’s hobbies include skiing, hiking, wildlife photography, and teaching her cat about ther-meow-dynamics.

Nathan Cretegny is a first year graduate student in the Material Science Program researching hybrid perovskites for sensor applications. He started his PhD at Colorado School of Mines after receiving a B.S. and M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Clemson University, where his research focused on protonic ceramic fuel cells.