The purpose of the PARADIM PREM partnership is to increase the number of minority students in the STEM pipeline, retain students in the pipeline and encourage them to seek graduate degrees in materials-related fields. The program begins with undergraduate students (termed Matter Smiths) conducting academic year research as co-curricular activities to eliminate attrition during this critical period. The idea is to build on our experience with local REU programs in that retention after the summer experience is virtually guaranteed. The PREM is supporting the REU programs at CAU, Spelman, and Cornell. We see anecdotally that the underrepresented minorities and women participating in these programs favorably continue their studies toward the graduate degree. Our goal is to achieve rather rapidly (2-4 years) a steady-state cohort of 28 Matter Smiths per year in our pipeline. Both graduate and undergraduate students will carry out experimental and theoretical studies of interface materials through the PREM collaboration between CAU, Spelman, and Cornell/Johns Hopkins faculties. The goal is to provide a pool of talented Matter Smiths prepared and motivated to enroll in a graduate degree.
PARADIM Summer REU Participants
Ms. Jordan Brown (2022)
Intern Major and College: Chemistry, Clark-Atlanta University
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Betul Pamuk
PARADIM REU Project: Electronic and vibrational properties of electron-doped transition-metalnitride halidesRNX(R= Zr, Hf andX= Cl, Br, I) from first principles
Jordan Brown is from Atlanta, Ga and she is a rising Senior at Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta, Ga. She is in the Dual Degree program at her institution pursuing a Chemistry degree and will transfer to a partnering institution for her engineering degree. At CAU, she is working with Dr Dinadayalane Tandabany in conducting computational research on various subtopics. She is currently working on calculating Thermochemistry in Gaussian 16. Jordan is also a leader in the Mighty Marching Panther band and has an online business. In her free time, Jordan enjoys creating art, cooking, and reading.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report
Ms. Jayda Shine (2022)
Intern Major and College: Physics and Astronomy at Spelman College
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Evan Yilin Li
PARADIM REU Project: Can BaFe12O19 be Transmuted into a Room-Temperature Ferrimagnetic Ferroelectric?
Jayda Shine was born in Clarksville, Tennessee and attends Spelman College where she is majoring in Physics and Aerospace Engineering. Jayda has a goal to work someday for NASA. She is happy to participate in PARADIM as it is her first REU experience. In her free time she loves to watch Marvel movies, and have read dystopian novels.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report
Ms. Bianca Brown (2022)
Intern Major and College: Chemistry, Clark Atlanta University
PI: Tyrel McQueen
Johns Hopkins Mentor: Tyrel McQueen
PARADIM REU Project: Development of Novel Polar and Ferroelectric Substrates for Heterostructure Integration
Bianca Brown was born in Bronx, NY, but was raised in Georgia and is currently attending school at Clark Atlanta University. She is majoring in Chemistry and hopes to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and then go on to medical school. At CAU Bianca is doing research with Dr.Li trying to create a reversible covalent organic framework and discover polymers. In her free time, Bianca enjoys time with her friends, reading, and spending time trying out different recipes.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report
Selena Coye (2023)
Major and College: BS in Physics, Clark-Atlanta University
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Katie Azizie
PARADIM SREP Project: Surface analysis of b-ga2o3 growth by suboxide molecular beam epitaxy
BIO: Selena Coye graduated Clark Atlanta University Cum Laude with a Bachelor of science in Physics. She will be returning to Clark Atlanta University this fall to pursue a Master of Physics. She has done undergraduate research in characterization of tungsten disulfide on sapphire, and MoS2 on sapphire and silicon. In her free time, she enjoys stargazing and shopping.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report PUBLISHED
Clara Jackson (2024)
Intern Major and College: Physics, Clark Atlanta University
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Anna Park/Evan Li
PARADIM REU Project: Controlling the p-type conductivity of SnO thin films
BIO: Clara is originally from Macon, Georgia. She has completed her undergraduate studies at Clark Atlanta University as a dual-degree student where she pursued a degree in physics. However, her academic journey doesn't end there. In the fall, Clara will be transferring to Georgia Institute of Technology, a partnering school, to pursue her material science and engineering degree. At CAU, She has done undergraduate research in characterizations where she used different substrate samples for the synthesis for VS2. She is hoping to pursue a PhD in the future in materials science. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, painting, and gardening.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report
Kedar Johnson (2024)
Intern Major and College: Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Morehouse College
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Luka Mitrovic
PARADIM REU Project: Strain-stabilized superconductivity in binary oxide rutiles
BIO: Kedar currently lives in Dallas, Georgia and is a rising senior from Morehouse college dual majoring in electrical engineering and applied physics. Working with the PREM program at CAU, Kedar performs research on the growth and characterization of transition metal dichalcogenides and other ultrathin materials under the supervision of Dr. Indika Matara Kankanamge and Dr. Michael D. Williams. He hopes to pursue a career in the electrical engineering field and use what he has learned in his research to make more informed decisions and provide insights during his career path. In his free time he likes to draw, do digital art, read compelling fiction, and even do some baking.
Final presentation Research Poster Research report
Robin Rouseau (2024)
Intern Major and College: Physics, Clark Atlanta University
PI: Darrell Schlom
Cornell Mentor: Hari Premakumari
PARADIM REU Project: Probing materials at atomic scale
BIO: Robin Rouseau is from Detroit, Michigan and she is currently a rising junior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in physics at Clark Atlanta University. Robin’s past research includes a Material Science Research Project studying the properties of polymers at Penn State University. In the future, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree and a future in mechanical engineering. In her free time, Robin enjoys going out/exploring the city, being social, listening to music, and watching sports.
