Ye Eun Song is an undergraduate student at Rice and joined the group in 2017. Her research interest is the high rate deformation study and energy absorption behavior of polymer thin film using laser induced particle impact test (LIPIT) system.

Lin’s research focuses on simulation and numerical calculations of electromagnetic wave-material interaction and mechanical behavior of materials.

Gagan came to MIT after receiving a Bachelor’s degree from Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi, India) and a Master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, USA). He is now a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Interested in the mechanical characterization of polymeric materials and novel materials under high strain rates generated using laser-induced shock loading.

Dr. Ramathasan Thevamaran joined the Thomas group as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in 2014 after earning his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He received his M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (2010) also from Caltech, and received his B.Sc.Eng.(Hons.) degree in Civil Engineering (2008) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is interested in the structure-function relations of hierarchical and structured materials, and the high-strain-rate mechanical responses of such multiscale materials.

Dr. Ori Stein received his MSc. and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Hebrew university in Jerusalem, Israel. His research concentrated in surface science, developing two dimensional surface lithographic techniques via single laser pulse and physisorbed buffer material. Current research interests include laser assisted 3D direct patterning, shock mitigation through periodic structures and the effect of high strain rates on different materials.

Wale is a graduate student in the Materials Science and NanoEngineering Department. He is currently working on the micorballistics research using the alpha-LIPIT setup. His research focuses on studying the dynamic behavior of materials at high velocities. Specific research is conducted on high velocity micrometal deformation and impact analysis of carbon nanomaterial. Before coming to Rice, he was a undergraduate at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs majoring in Materials Science.

Rachel Pytel is alumni of MIT and a current senior scientist at Dow Advanced Materials, working on redispersible polymer powders for cement modification.

Sisi is interested in fabrication of 3D periodic structure using electroactive polymeric materials, or other smart materials and generate novel mechanism for various advanced application.

Dr. Markus Retsch worked on nano-structuring of surfaces and tailoring their interface. His interests lie on photonic, phononic, and mechanical properties of emerging materials.

Dr. Ji-Hyun Jang worked on the fabrication of 2D and 3D nanoscale polymer/ceramic strucutres via interference lithography and the applications of these structures.