Group Culture & Core Values
Our group emphasizes creating a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environment where diverse perspectives thrive, and every voice is valued. Members are encouraged to take ownership of their research, lead projects, and actively shape their scientific careers.
Safety First – We prioritize a culture of safety, responsibility, and integrity in all research activities. Every group member shares responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
Inclusive Community – We foster an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are welcomed, respected, and empowered to succeed.
Collaboration and Teamwork – We believe that impactful discoveries emerge from open communication, mutual support, and the exchange of ideas across disciplines and backgrounds.
Enjoy the Journey – We pursue scientific excellence through creativity, critical thinking, and a commitment to rigorous and ethical research. Science is challenging, and we strive to create a positive environment where learning and having fun.
Join the Group
We are always interested in hearing from motivated students and researchers who are excited about optical spectroscopy, quantum materials, and data-driven approaches to materials science. If you are interested in joining the group, please review the opportunities below and contact Prof. Zhang.
We welcome inquiries from outstanding candidates with expertise in spectroscopy, ultrafast optics, nanomaterials, materials characterization, data science, or related fields. Interested applicants should email Prof. Zhang with:
CV
Contact information of two references
A brief (approximately 1-paragraph) description of the research you wish to undertake in our group.
Prospective postdoctoral researchers are also strongly encouraged to identify potential extramural postdoctoral funding and work with Prof. Zhang to develop competitive research proposals.
We are actively recruiting graduate students from the Physics Graduate program at Binghamton University.
Prospective students should:
Apply and be admitted to the Physics graduate program.
Contact Prof. Zhang to discuss research opportunities and potential projects.
For full consideration for the graduate program, applications must be submitted by Jan. 15. The department offers a limited number of application fee waivers for qualified PhD candidates who submit a request by Jan. 1 through an additional application process. Students are also encouraged to explore funding opportunities, such as external scholarships and fellowships.
We welcome highly motivated undergraduate students from Binghamton University who are interested in gaining research experience. To express interest, please email Prof. Zhang with:
A brief description of your academic background
Your research interests
Your anticipated time commitment
Including a CV and unofficial transcript is encouraged but not required.
To ensure a meaningful research experience, undergraduate researchers are generally expected to commit at least 5 hours per week for one semester.
Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy
Binghamton University
Smart Energy Building (SN)
4400 Vestal Parkway
Vestal, NY 1390
Email: kzhang53@binghamton.edu