Shulenberger Lab

Semiconductors are ubiquitous in modern life. From TVs in our living rooms to solar panels on our roofs to the cell phones in our pockets, it is nearly impossible to go through the day without interacting with a semiconductor-based device. In the Shulenberger Lab we investigate nanocrystal materials for next-generation devices. While these devices almost exclusively operate in solid state thin-film morphologies, optical characterization of nanocrystal materials is often performed either in solution or in very dilute films—conditions which may not capture the dynamics of the environment they will ultimately be implemented in. Therefore, we develop and adapt optical characterization techniques that can unravel the properties of nanocrystals and films in device-relevant environments. We utilize both single-particle measurements and ultrafast optical characterization to bridge the gap between existing ensemble and single-particle techniques. Through these methodologies, we are building comprehensive understandings of thin-film properties based on intrinsic nanocrystal excited state dynamics and interparticle interactions. These new understandings will help to inform design principles for better efficiency or performance in next-generation semiconductor devices.

Commitment to Diversity and Student Wellness

The Shulenberger lab is a space for all scientists to grow, learn, and flourish as chemists, researchers, community members, and global citizens. We recognize, celebrate, and respect group members’ lives both in and beyond the lab by prioritizing individualized career trajectories and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive group environment which respects and supports group members of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and religions. We embody the founding ideal of Brandeis University that education should be accessible and available to all and work actively towards that ideal every day.