Current members

Dr. Jin-Woo Cho

Research Associate (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Advanced Materials Engineering), Kyung Hee University
Ph.D and M.S. (Physics), Kyung Hee University

Awards and Recognition

• MRS Fall Meeting Best Poster Award; the 2019 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, USA, 2019

• 2021 Best Poster Presentation Award; the 12th International Conference on Advanced and Devices, South Korea, 2021

Jin-Woo's research interests are focused on manipulating thermal emission spectra for mid-infrared photonics, which includes radiative cooling, energy-harvesting, and directional thermal beaming.

Dr. Yeonghoon Jin

Scientist (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Information Display), Kyung Hee University
Ph.D and M.S. (Electrical Engineering), KAIST

Awards and Recognition

• College of Engineering Ph.D. Dissertation Award, KAIST, 2023

Yeonghoon’s research interests are in the areas of nanophotonics and optoelectronic devices, including tunable optical materials and active photonic devices.

Rabeeya Hamid

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Lahore University of Management Sciences
M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering), University of Wisconsin–Madison

Awards and Recognition

• Honorable mention, MERI vision sciences poster presentation award (2025) 

• Optica Hilbert Memorial Student Travel Grant (2024)

• Chancellor's Opportunity Fellowship (2021)

Rabeeya's interest lies in nanophotonic design and fabrication, frequency conversion, and imaging techniques

Tanuj Kumar

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.E. (Electrical & Electronics Engineering), BITS Pilani
M.S. (Chemistry), BITS Pilani

Awards and Recognition

• Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) (2025)

• Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Research Grant (2025)

• David G. Walsh Research Travel Award (2024)

• Graduate Student Service Award (2024) 

• Marie Christine Kohler Fellowship (2023)

• Student Research Grants Competition (SRGC) Research Travel Award (2022)

• Chancellor's Opportunity Fellowship (2021)

Tanuj's interests lie in nanofabrication, light-semiconductor interactions and optical forces.

Chengyu Fang

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Physics), ShanghaiTech University
M.Eng. (EECS), Oregon State University 

Awards and Recognition

• Finalist, WQI best paper award (2025)

Chengyu's research interests are in the area of nanophotonics and optics for quantum applications.

Minjeong Kim

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Electrical Engineering), Pusan National University

M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering), University of Wisconsin–Madison

Awards and Recognition

• Finalist, WARF Innovation Award (2025)

• Finalist, WQI best paper award (2025)

• Best Poster Award, Materials Research Society Fall Meeting & Exhibit (2024)

Minjeong’s research interests are in nanophotonics and quantum sensing using crystalline silicon.

Shenwei (Erick) Yin

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B. S. (Applied Math, Engineering, and Physics), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Awards and Recognition

• Chancellor’s Opportunity Fellowship (2022) 

Shenwei’s research is focusing on the characterization of optical materials using spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Justin Edwards

PhD Student (Physics)

B.S. (Physics), Texas Tech University

Awards and Recognition

• DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship (2024)

Justin’s research interests are in the areas of nanophotonics, vision engineering, and the optical and thermal properties of materials.

Jacob Schopp

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Electrical Engineering), University of Louisville
M.Eng. (Electrical Engineering), University of Louisville

Awards and Recognition

• Claude and Dora Richardson Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship (2024)

• Bennett M. Brigman Award, University of Louisville (2024)

• Samuel T. Fife Scholarship Award, University of Louisville (2024)

Jacob’s interests include multidisciplinary research in optics, photonics, and sensing.

Tianyang Huang

PhD Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Applied Math, Engineering, and Physics), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Tianyang’s research is focusing on using Machine learning to automate spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Zheng Bian

Master Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

B.S. (Electronic Engineering), Nanjing University

Zheng’s interests include nanofabrication and studying the optical properties of materials.

Francesca Sofia Cicmil

Undergraduate Student (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Frankie’s interests include nanophotonics and optics.