VINSE - Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Meet Elena Harvey, a rising fourth-year undergraduate at Lipscomb University, majoring in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. This summer, she is conducting research at Vanderbilt University in Dr. Janet Macdonald's nanoparticle synthesis lab under the mentorship of graduate student Elizabeth Hays.

"I'm so thankful to have this opportunity to apply all my knowledge of chemistry to real research! It's been so much fun to participate in a hands-on lab where impactful research on nanoparticle synthesis is being conducted. It's inspiring to see so many scientists working together to solve problems in our world."

After graduation, Elena plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and build a career in academia, where she hopes to train the next generation of doctors, scientists, and teachers.

She is one of just 13 students selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 500 applicants for the NSF REU program, an intensive 10-week experience dedicated to hands-on, interdisciplinary research in nanoscale science and engineering.

Meet Demetrios Koutsoukos, a rising second-year undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Data Science and General Music. This summer, he is conducting research at Vanderbilt University in Dr. Jason Valentine's lab under the mentorship of Mackey "Trey" Long III, where he is exploring how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the research workflow.

"I am excited for the opportunity to combine my interests in engineering, data science, and emerging technology through research at VINSE," said Demetri. "As I begin this project, I look forward to learning more about Dr. Valentine's field while developing tools that can support and improve the research process."

He is particularly interested in the intersection of engineering, data science, and artificial intelligence and looks forward to expanding his research experience while contributing to innovative projects at VINSE.

Demetri is one of thirteen students selected from a competitive pool of more than 500 applicants to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, an intensive 10-week initiative focused on hands-on, interdisciplinary research in nanoscale science and engineering.

Congratulations to Courtney Ragle! Courtney’s paper, “Tuning Vibrational Coupling Strength Between Hyperbolic Media and Organic Molecules,” published in Nanophotonics, has been selected as this week’s Spotlight Publication. This work was a collaborative effort between VINSE faculty members Lauren Buchanan and Josh Caldwell.

Authors: Courtney L. Ragle, John E. Buchner, In‐Ho Lee, Youngji Kim, Byung‐Il Noh, Saurabh Dixit, Joseph Matson, Jiahan Li, Siyuan Dai, J. H. Edgar, Sang‐Hyun Oh, Lauren E. Buchanan, Joshua D. Caldwell
👉Link to article - https://bit.ly/44gHhGR

Spotlight on Emmanuel Dabuo: Finding New Paths in Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors. Emmanuel Dabuo, a graduate student in Interdisciplinary Materials Science, focuses on developing scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM).

As part of the Caldwell Research Group, he is transforming next-generation electronics and energy technologies. Looking ahead, Emmanuel hopes his research will help improve the performance and reliability of wide-bandgap semiconductors, especially GaN, by developing advanced characterization techniques to better understand defects and carrier behavior.

Outside the lab, Emmanuel enjoys preparing Ghanaian dishes and beverages, riding his bike, and tending his pepper and ginger plants. One of his favorite activities is simply watering them and watching them grow.

👉Link to article - https://bit.ly/4ghRsCn

Meet Rebekah Hogue, a rising second-year undergraduate at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Physics. This summer, she is conducting research at Vanderbilt University in Dr. Matthew Day's Quantum Optoelectronics Lab under the mentorship of Ph.D. student Antony Peng.

"My project at VINSE sits at the forefront of quantum materials research. By optimizing NbN thin-film fabrication, we can achieve superconductivity at higher temperatures, making quantum technologies more practical and sustainable," Rebekah said. "I'm so excited for the opportunity to learn valuable nanofabrication techniques and work alongside such talented individuals. I look forward to seeing how this program strengthens my skills as a scientist and researcher."

She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics and aims to build a career in research, focusing on experimental condensed matter physics and superconducting devices.

Rebekah is one of thirteen students selected from a competitive pool of more than 500 applicants to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, an intensive 10-week initiative focused on hands-on, interdisciplinary research in nanoscale science and engineering.

Meet Ryan Svenson, a rising fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Delaware majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Biochemical Engineering. This summer, Ryan is conducting research at Vanderbilt University in Dr. Craig Duvall’s Advanced Therapeutics Lab under the mentorship of graduate student Patricia Poley.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be working on my research project this summer,” said Ryan. “The VINSE program has given me an incredible opportunity to build on my background in cell culture and particle synthesis, applying those skills to an entirely new process and disease state. I've already begun making meaningful progress, and I'm eager to absorb everything I can from this experience and carry it forward into my future career.”

Outside of the lab, Ryan has been enjoying Nashville’s renowned live music and food scene and hopes to attend as many concerts as possible during his stay.

Ryan is one of thirteen students selected from a competitive pool of more than 500 applicants to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. This intensive 10-week experience provides hands-on, interdisciplinary research opportunities in nanoscale science and engineering.

We are excited to welcome our 2026 NSF-REU students to VINSE! This talented group of undergraduates from across the country will spend the summer conducting research and becoming part of Vanderbilt's interdisciplinary scientific community. We kicked off the summer with some favorite REU traditions, including a Memorial Day BBQ, an escape room challenge, and a kickball game at Centennial Park hosted by REU Program Director Professor Josh Caldwell. Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce each student and share more about the exciting research projects they'll be working on this summer. Stay tuned!

This summer program is funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program.

Investigating the Vagus Nerve for Enhanced Brain-Computer Interface Learning: Thaissa Piexoto, a graduate student in Biomedical Engineering, conducts research to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of VNS and its potential to enhance learning in Brain-Computer Interfaces.

As part of the Gonzales Research Group, she is experimenting with methods to fabricate cuff electrodes and electroplate materials to enhance signal properties. Her research focuses on using flexible electrode arrays to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of VNS and its potential to enhance learning in Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Outside the lab, she is learning horsemanship, trying to fix a boat with the love of her life, and finding secret campsites.

👉Link to article - https://bit.ly/4fxhWj3

Congratulations to Emma Endres, Ph.D., a recent graduate from the Janet Macdonald Lab! Emma’s paper, “Directing Cation Coordination and Phase in Nickel Sulfide Nanocrystals through the Addition of Phosphines,” published in Chemistry of Materials, has been selected as this week’s spotlight publication.

This work was a collaborative effort between VINSE faculty members Janet Macdonald and De-en Jiang. Using a collection of monodentate and bidentate phosphine ligands, they evaluated how different bite angles, steric bulk, and electronic properties affect the metal coordination in the resulting nanoparticle phase.

Authors: Emma J. Endres, Yiming Chen, De-en Jiang, Janet E. Macdonald
👉Link to article - https://bit.ly/4uYD0nb

Unlocking New Reactivity in Organometallic Chemistry: Michael McNeill, a graduate student in Chemistry, conducts research to synthesize novel organometallic molecules and leverage mechanochemistry to enhance their synthesis and reactivity.

As part of the Hanusa Lab here at Vanderbilt, Michael's work leverages mechanochemistry to access novel organometallic compounds and explore their reactivity under solvent-free conditions.

Outside of the lab and classes, Michael has taken up weightlifting, running, and cycling. He's now biking to the lab, completed his first 5K and half-marathon, and enjoyed exploring the city along the way.

👉Link to article - https://bit.ly/4umcSlq