Mentorship
I believe the quality of mentorship in a research environment can make-or-break a young scientist's experience. I strive to mentor students with empathy while helping them achieve their potential. I have had the privilege to mentor many students throughout my Ph.D. and help them achieve several milestones throughout their careers (such as their first co-authored paper, admission to college and Ph.D. programs, and their first public research presentation). Without my mentees' contributions, much of my own research would have come to fruition much later.
Divine Mbachu
June 2024 - Present
Divine is a Stanford electrical engineering Ph.D. student interested in next-generation photovoltaic technologies. In the lab, I mentor him regarding the fabrication and characterization of singlet fission solar cells. Recently, I have taught Divine various deposition techniques as well as built several optoelectronic measurement set-ups to facilitate his initial project directions. I also advise Divine on how to navigate the first year of his Ph.D. program - including balancing coursework and research as well as independently designing his future experiments.
William Michaels
November 2021 - June 2024
Will was previously a Stanford undergraduate studying electrical engineering and physics. In the lab, I mentored him regarding the fabrication, characterization, and optimization of Mn2+ doped perovskite LEDs. Previously, Will engineered his own perovskite LEDs using new molecular additives for stability enhancement, studied the feasibility of integrating plasmonic electrodes in a perovskite LED configuration, and explored fully thermally-evaporated perovskite LEDs. Will is interested in and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering or physics after graduating from Stanford.
Will has joined MIT EECS in Fall 2024 as an NSF Fellow and Ph.D. Student.
Natalia Murrietta
June 2022 - June 2024
Natalia was previously a Stanford undergraduate studying electrical engineering. In the lab, I mentored her regarding charge carrier recombination dynamics in perovskite semiconductors via time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy on Mn2+ doped perovskite LEDs. Previously, Natalia investigated UV and Violet-emitting perovskite LEDs. Natalia is interested in and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering or materials science after graduating from Stanford.
Natalia has joined Stanford EE in Fall 2024 as a Stanford Graduate Fellow, NSF Fellow, GEM Fellow, and Ph.D. Student.
Jazmine Guzman, Rhyan Schweyk, and Layka Traore
June 2021 - August 2021
Jazmine, Rhyan, and Layka joined the Congreve Lab during the summer of 2021 as part of the STEM2STHEM Program for high school students. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I designed a virtual project for them to work on as a team. The team of three sought to quantify and analyze the commercial viability of perovskite LEDs for display and solid-state lighting applications. To start, I taught them fundamental concepts in semiconductor device physics and quantum mechanics so that they could then effectively read the perovskite LED literature. Next, Jazmine developed a model to predict when blue perovskite LED efficiencies as well as stabilities would become commercially viable, Rhyan calculated the amount of electrical power is needed to power perovskite LEDs across the visible spectrum, and Layka investigated the economical demands of fabricating perovskite LEDs to replace current solid-state lighting and displays. Together, they published their article online.
Jazmine, Rhyan, and Layka are now undergraduates studying engineering at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and Princeton University, respectively.
Gabriella Bertran
May 2021 - September 2021
Gabriella is a Stanford undergraduate within the School of Engineering. Throughout her time in the Stanford EE REU Program, I mentored her regarding the fabrication of bright perovskite thin films to be integrated in an LED configuration.
Gabriella presented her work as both a poster and oral presentation to the Stanford EE department.