Plasma & Ultrafast Laser Science & Engineering Graduate Students

Manfred Virgil Ambat

Manfred Virgil Ambat

Mechanical Engineering Department

BS Electrical Engineering/Computer Sciences and Nuclear Engineering, 2019 from the University of California at Berkeley

Technical Advisor: Dr. Jessica Shaw Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

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Soham Banerjee

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science – Pilani

Advisor: Dr. Hans Rinderknecht

Zach Barfield

Zach Barfield

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Astrophysics, 2019 from SUNY Geneseo

Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis Title: Heat Transport in High Magnetic Fields

Photo portrait of Debramitra Chakraborty

Debamitra Chakraborty

Materials Science

BSc Physics Honors, 2014 from University of Calcutta (India)

Advisor: Prof. Roman Sobolewski

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Jing Cheng

Materials Science

BS Materials Science, 2019 from Northeastern University

Advisor: Prof. Roman Sobolewski

Photo Portrait of Amanda Elliot.

Amanda Elliot

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics, 2023 from Florida Institute of Technology

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Daniel Gitlin.

Daniel Gitlin

Institute of Optics

BS Physics, 2020 from University of California, Santa Barbara

Technical Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Pigeon Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Abram Konzel

Abram Konzel

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics and Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Isabelle LaBelle.

Isabelle LaBelle

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics, 2023 from Utica University

Advisor:  Prof. Jessica Shaw

Lavonne Mack.

Lavonne Mack

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics, 2023 from Texas Tech University

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Photo Portrait of Zachary Manning.

Zachary Manning

Institute of Optics

BA Physics, 2019 from Lawrence University

Technical Advisor: Prof. William Donaldson Academic Advisor: Dr. Wayne Knox

Hunter Markland

Hunter Mackland

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Electrical Engineering, 1999 from University of Pittsburgh

Technical Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Pigeon Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Kyle McMillen

Kyle McMillen

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics from Missouri University of Science and Technology

Technical Advisor: Dr. Jessica Shaw Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Matthew VanDusen-Gross

Matthew VanDusen-Gross

Physics and Astronomy Department

BS Physics, 2020 from Rutgers University Associate of Arts in Physics, 2017 from Palm Beach State College

Advisor: Dr. Hans Rinderknecht

Graduated Students

Sara Bucht

Sara Bucht

MS Physics, 2015 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2010 from University of Puget Sound

Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula Technical Advisor: Dr. Dan Haberberger/Dr. Jake Bromage

After Degree: Senior Laboratory Engineer, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY

Andrew Davies

Andrew Davies

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2019 from University of Rochester
BS Astrophysics, 2012 from St. Cloud State University

Technical Advisor: Dr. Dan Haberberger Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Picosecond Thomson-Scattering Spectroscopy Investigation of Thermodynamics in Laser-Plasma Amplifiers

After Degree: Senior Scientist, Topcon Healthcare Solutions, San Jose, CA

Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2017 from University of Rochester
BS Engineering Physics, 2012 from University of Arizona

Technical Advisor: Dr. Tomline Michel Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Laser Ablation and Hydrodynamic Coupling in Direct-Drive Inertial-Confinement-Fusion Experiments

After Degree: National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellowship, Washington DC

Russ Follett

Russell Follett

PhD Physics, 2015 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2008 from Colorado State University

Technical Advisor/Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: The Multiple-Beam Two-Plasmon-Decay Instability

After Degree: Assistant Scientist, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY

Phil Franke

Philip Franke

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2022 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2016 from University of Texas at Austin

Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Spatiotemporal Pulse Shaping for Laser-Plasma-Based Applications

After Degree: Laser-Plasma Interaction Scientist, Tau Systems, Austin, TX

Aaron Hansen

Aaron Hansen

PhD Physics, 2021 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2015 from University of Minnesota: Twin Cities

Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Cross-Beam Energy Transfer Saturation

After Degree: Postdoctoral Fellow, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

Robert Henchen

Robert Henchen

PhD Mechanical Engineering, 2018 from University of Rochester
BA Mathematics, BA Physics, 2011 from SUNY Geneseo

Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Direct Measurements of Nonlocal Heat Flux in Laser-Produced Coronal Plasmas using Thomson Scattering from Electron-Plasma Waves

After Degree: Image Science Engineer, Harris Corporation, Rochester, NY

Luis Leal.

Luis Leal

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2022 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2012, University of California, Santa Barbara

Technical Advisor: Prof. Andrei Maximov Academic Advisor: Prof. Riccardo Betti

Thesis: Plasma Dynamics in Magnetized Laser-generated Plasmas

Avi Milder

PhD Physics, 2021 from University of Rochester
BS Physics & Math, 2015 from University of Massachusetts Amherst

Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: Electron Velocity Distribtuion Functions and Thomson Scattering

After Degree: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Candida

Khanh Linh Nguyen

Khanh Linh Nguyen

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2023 from University of Rochester
BS Mathematics and Physics, 2017 from University of Mount Union

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Thesis: Kinetic Study of Cross-Beam Energy Transfer

After Degree: Scientist, Focused Energy

Soumtochukwu (Somto) Nwabunwanne

Solumtochukwu (Somto) Nwabunwanne

PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2023 from University of Rochester
M.Eng in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2013 from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
B.Eng in Electrical Engineering, 2007 from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

Advisor: Prof. William Donaldson

Thesis: Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Efficient and Ultrafast Ultraviolet Photodiodes Based on Aluminum Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride Heterostructures

Brent Plansinis

Brent Plansinis

PhD Optics, 2017 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2011 from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

Technical Advisor: Prof. William Donaldson Academic Advisor: Prof. Govind Agrawal

Thesis: Applications of Space-Time Duality

After Degree: Senior Specialist, Optical Engineering, L3Harris Technologies, Orlando, FL

Dillon Ramsey

Dillon Ramsey

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2023, University of Rochester
MS Physics and Astronomy, 2020, University of Rochester
BS Physics and Mathematics, 2018, SUNY Geneseo

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Thesis: Electron Dynamics and Radiation Generation in a Flying Focus

After Degree: Assistant Scientist, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, NY

Tanner Simpson

Tanner Simpson

PhD Physics, 2024 from University of Rochester
MA Physics, 2019 from University of Rochester
BS Physics, 2018 from Oregon State University

Advisor: Prof. John Palastro

Thesis: Spatiotemporal Control of Photoionization and Terahertz Generation

After Degree: Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

Colin Stillman.

Colin Stillman

National Nuclear Security Administration Fellow

PhD Physics and Astronomy, 2018 from University of Rochester
BA Physics, 2013 from SUNY Geneseo

Technical Advisor: Dr. Phil Nilson
Academic Advisor: Prof. Dustin Froula

Thesis: High-Energy-Density Radiative and Material Properties Studies using Picosecond X-ray Spectroscopy

After Degree: Image Scientist, L3Harris Technologies, Rochester, NY

Junchi Zhang

Junchi Zhang

PhD Optics and Optical Sciences, 2024 from University of Rochester
B.Eng, 2019 from Tsinghua University

Technical Advisor: Prof. Wiliam Donaldson Academic Advisor: Prof. Govid Agrawal

Thesis Title: Temporal Reflection of Optical Pulses on a Moving Boundary

After Degree: Scientst at Lumentum, San Jose, CA

Yiming Zhao.

Yiming Zhao

PhD Materials Science, 2018 from University of Rochester
BS Materials Science and Engineering, 2012 from Central South University, China

Advisor: Prof. William Donaldson

Thesis: AlGaN Metal-Semiconductor-Metal UV Photodetectors

After Degree: Senor Reliability Engineer, SLD Laser, Fremont, CA