Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Awardees Announced
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis, has selected its recipients for the Professor Amiya Mukherjee Memorial Fellowship and Sangtae Kim Memorial Award.
Emma Bernard and Huijue Liu, both Ph.D. students in the department, have received the Amiya Mukherjee Memorial Fellowship and Sangtae Kim Memorial Award, respectively. Both awards support promising graduate students studying materials science and engineering and honor former faculty members who greatly impacted the department.
Emma Bernard
Bernard is in her third year pursuing a Ph.D. under Associate Professor Roopali Kukreja. She explores laser control of magnetic materials for next-generation spintronic devices, aiming to enable faster, more efficient data storage and processing. Using ultrafast laser pulses, Bernard investigates how magnetization can be switched on femtosecond timescales and uses advanced techniques like coherent soft x-ray free electron lasers and synchrotron sources to study ultrafast domain dynamics.
“It is an honor to be recognized for this award, especially as it emphasizes both science and mentorship,” said Bernard. “Being able to now share my science with high school and undergraduate students as a mentor is very fulfilling and is what really inspired me about Professor Mukherjee's legacy. Receiving this fellowship will enable me to further my research and continue mentoring students.”
Huijue Liu
Liu is a fourth-year Ph.D. student working under the mentorship of Seung Sae Hong, assistant professor of materials science and engineering. Liu uses optical characterization methods such as Raman spectroscopy and second harmonic generation to study the structural and ferroelectric properties of freestanding oxide membranes. She also studies the synthesis and characterization of twisted bilayer structures of oxide membranes.
“Receiving the fellowship is hugely encouraging,” said Liu. “Research into unknown areas can involve a lot of challenges, but the earning the fellowship shows that I have the support and belief of the department’s faculty and alumni.”
Due to the support of fellowships like these — including the newly established Dr. Andy Nieto Memorial Excellence Scholarship, which will support first-generation undergraduate students pursuing materials science and engineering once it is fully endowed — students like Bernard and Liu can continue their education, research and pursuit of engineering a better world for all.