Current Students
Current Students
Stephen Bard, 2025 – Present
Stephen Bard, 2025 – Present
Topic: Carbon Materials for Sensing
Topic: Carbon Materials for Sensing
Dede Mendoza, 2025 – Present
Dede Mendoza, 2025 – Present
Topic: A Smart Water Irrigation System
Topic: A Smart Water Irrigation System
Noah Leighton, 2025 – Present
Noah Leighton, 2025 – Present
Topic: A Smartphone-Based Time-Resolved Imaging System
Topic: A Smartphone-Based Time-Resolved Imaging System
Past Students
Past Students
Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Research Associates
Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Research Associates
Vala Kafil, Ph.D., 2022 – 2025
Vala Kafil, Ph.D., 2022 – 2025
Achievements: 5 Journal Papers as First Author
Achievements: 5 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: Nobel-Metal-Based Nanomaterials and Their Biosensing Applications
Topic: Nobel-Metal-Based Nanomaterials and Their Biosensing Applications
Benjamin Sreenan, 2022 – 2025
Benjamin Sreenan, 2022 – 2025
Placement after Graduation: Bioanalyst in Charles River Laboratories, Reno.
Placement after Graduation: Bioanalyst in Charles River Laboratories, Reno.
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers and 1 Book Chapter as First Author
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers and 1 Book Chapter as First Author
Topic: Carbon-ZnO Hybrid Luminescent Nanomaterials and Their Sensing Applications
Topic: Carbon-ZnO Hybrid Luminescent Nanomaterials and Their Sensing Applications
Gita Kharal, 2023 – 2024
Gita Kharal, 2023 – 2024
Topic: Development of Au-Pt Nanoflowers as Nanoenzyme for Highly Sensitive
Topic: Development of Au-Pt Nanoflowers as Nanoenzyme for Highly Sensitive
Immunoassay: Application to the Detection of Melioidosis Biomarker
Immunoassay: Application to the Detection of Melioidosis Biomarker
Alex Cano, 2022 – 2024
Alex Cano, 2022 – 2024
Placement after Graduation: Engineer in Across International, Sparks, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Engineer in Across International, Sparks, Nevada
Topic: Atmospheric Water Harvesting Using Thermoelectric Peltier Coolers: Single Module and Prototype Characterizations and Design
Topic: Atmospheric Water Harvesting Using Thermoelectric Peltier Coolers: Single Module and Prototype Characterizations and Design
Bryan Lee, 2021 – 2023
Bryan Lee, 2021 – 2023
Placement after Graduation: Engineering Patent Examiner in the DOD Patent Office
Placement after Graduation: Engineering Patent Examiner in the DOD Patent Office
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers as First Author
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: The Application of Mn-Doped Nanocrystal Signal Transducers Towards Sensitive Point-of-Care Bioassays
Topic: The Application of Mn-Doped Nanocrystal Signal Transducers Towards Sensitive Point-of-Care Bioassays
Haodong Lu, 2020 – 2021
Haodong Lu, 2020 – 2021
Placement after Graduation: Engineer in Alfa Tech, Sparks, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Engineer in Alfa Tech, Sparks, Nevada
Achievements: 1 Conference Paper as First Author
Achievements: 1 Conference Paper as First Author
Topic: Reduced-Graphene-Oxide/ Gold-Nanoparticles Modified Glassy-Carbon-Electrode for the Detection of Adrenaline
Topic: Reduced-Graphene-Oxide/ Gold-Nanoparticles Modified Glassy-Carbon-Electrode for the Detection of Adrenaline
Masoumeh Saber Zaeimian, Ph.D., 2017 – 2021
Masoumeh Saber Zaeimian, Ph.D., 2017 – 2021
Placement after Graduation: Scientist at Siemens Healthineers
Placement after Graduation: Scientist at Siemens Healthineers
Achievements: 2 Journal Papers as First Author; Dean’s merit scholarship 2018-2019; Dean’s merit scholarship 2019-2020
Achievements: 2 Journal Papers as First Author; Dean’s merit scholarship 2018-2019; Dean’s merit scholarship 2019-2020
Topic: Development of Mn:AgZnInS/ZnS Fluorescent Nanocrystals and Dendritic Au-Pt Nanozymes for Biosensing
Topic: Development of Mn:AgZnInS/ZnS Fluorescent Nanocrystals and Dendritic Au-Pt Nanozymes for Biosensing
Brandon Gallian, 2017 – 2019
Brandon Gallian, 2017 – 2019
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Achievements: 2 Journal Papers as First Author
Achievements: 2 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: A Time-Gated Fluorescence Instrument and Its Applications Using Mn-Doped I(II)-III-VI Nanocrystal Probes
Topic: A Time-Gated Fluorescence Instrument and Its Applications Using Mn-Doped I(II)-III-VI Nanocrystal Probes
Masoumeh Saber Zaeimian, 2017 – 2018
Masoumeh Saber Zaeimian, 2017 – 2018
Placement after Graduation: Continued as a PhD candidate
Placement after Graduation: Continued as a PhD candidate
Achievements: 1 Conference Paper as First Author
Achievements: 1 Conference Paper as First Author
Topic: Au@Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Solid Contacts in Ion Selective Electrodes for Ammonium Detection
Topic: Au@Pt Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Solid Contacts in Ion Selective Electrodes for Ammonium Detection
Omar Mahmoud, 2015-2017
Omar Mahmoud, 2015-2017
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in Nevada Energy
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in Nevada Energy
Topic: Development of an Optical System for Measuring Fluorescence Lifetimes
Topic: Development of an Optical System for Measuring Fluorescence Lifetimes
Siqi Chen, 2013 – 2016
Siqi Chen, 2013 – 2016
Placement after Graduation: Scientist
Placement after Graduation: Scientist
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers as First Author
Achievements: 4 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: Heat-up Synthesis of Photoluminescence Tunable Silver Indium Sulfide Based Nanocrystals and Their Cellular Imaging Applications
Topic: Heat-up Synthesis of Photoluminescence Tunable Silver Indium Sulfide Based Nanocrystals and Their Cellular Imaging Applications
Joshua Larkin, Ph.D., Research Associate, 2014-2015
Placement after Graduation: A local company in Reno
Placement after Graduation: A local company in Reno
Topic: Image Analysis
Robert Shrake, 2014 – 2015
Robert Shrake, 2014 – 2015
Placement after Graduation: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at UNR
Placement after Graduation: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at UNR
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Topic: Facilitated Preparation of Bioconjugatable Zwitterionic Quantum Dots Using Dual-Lipid Encapsulation
Mingxia Liao, Research Associate, 2013-2015
Placement after Graduation: Wuhan University
Placement after Graduation: Wuhan University
Topic: Cell Culture and Lab Management
Violeta Demillo, Ph.D., Postdoc, 2013-2016
Placement after Graduation: Research Scientist at UNR Chemistry Department
Achievements: 3 Journal Papers as First Author, and 1 Patent as Co-inventor
Topic: Polymer Development and Surface Modification
Liming Huang, Ph.D., Postdoc, 2012-2013
Placement after Graduation: Research Assistant Professor at UNR Microbiology Department
Achievements: 2 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: Organic Chemistry for Sensing Applications
Chad Cowles, Ph.D., 2008 – 2012
Chad Cowles, Ph.D., 2008 – 2012
Placement after Graduation: Senior Scientist of an industrial analytical lab in Arizona
Placement after Graduation: Senior Scientist of an industrial analytical lab in Arizona
Achievements: 6 Journal Papers as First Author
Achievements: 6 Journal Papers as First Author
Topic: Signal Amplification of Bioassay Using Zinc Nanomaterials
Topic: Signal Amplification of Bioassay Using Zinc Nanomaterials
Robby Liebherr, 2008 – 2011
Robby Liebherr, 2008 – 2011
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in OptiCom, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer in OptiCom, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Topic: Development of a Magnetically Enhanced Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Topic: Development of a Magnetically Enhanced Quartz Crystal Microbalance
Hari Kishore Nune, 2008 – 2010
Hari Kishore Nune, 2008 – 2010
Placement after Graduation: MicroStrategy Developer at V-Soft Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
Placement after Graduation: MicroStrategy Developer at V-Soft Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
Topic: Hardware Modifications for Electro-Hydraulic Conversion and Implementation of Computer-Assisted Control on a Large Mining Shovel
Topic: Hardware Modifications for Electro-Hydraulic Conversion and Implementation of Computer-Assisted Control on a Large Mining Shovel
Undergraduate Researchers ( > 20, Selected)
Undergraduate Researchers ( > 20, Selected)
Alim Gulbag, 2023-2024
Alim Gulbag, 2023-2024
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer at Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer at Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Micheal Huang, 2024-2024 (REU Student from Purdue University)
Micheal Huang, 2024-2024 (REU Student from Purdue University)
Achievement: Participated in a NSF-funded REU Program
Achievement: Participated in a NSF-funded REU Program
Tristan Hegseth, 2021-2022
Tristan Hegseth, 2021-2022
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer at Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Placement after Graduation: Electrical Engineer at Hamilton, Inc., Reno, Nevada
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author
Bryan Lee, 2019-2021
Bryan Lee, 2019-2021
Placement after Graduation: Continued as a BME MS student
Placement after Graduation: Continued as a BME MS student
Achievement: Nevada NSF EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Award
Achievement: Nevada NSF EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Award
Haodong Lu, 2019-2020
Haodong Lu, 2019-2020
Placement after Graduation: Continued as an EE MS student
Placement after Graduation: Continued as an EE MS student
Achievement: The first-place award in the 2020 NV Space Grant and NV NASA EPSCoR Virtual Poster Competition
Achievement: The first-place award in the 2020 NV Space Grant and NV NASA EPSCoR Virtual Poster Competition
Clay Harrison, 2017-2019
Clay Harrison, 2017-2019
Placement after Graduation: Data Scientist in a local company in Reno
Placement after Graduation: Data Scientist in a local company in Reno
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author; Nevada Undergraduate Research Award
Achievement: 1 Journal Paper as First Author; Nevada Undergraduate Research Award
Anita Savell, 2014
Anita Savell, 2014
Placement after Graduation: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at UNR
Placement after Graduation: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program at UNR
Achievement: Presidential Scholar Student
Achievement: Presidential Scholar Student