Group Members
Principal Investigator
Prof. Takashi Ito
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Akash Nathani (2021-)
Dr. Saurav Kayal (2024-)
Graduate Researchers
Anuththara Karunarathna (2023-)
Elise A. Skinner (2024-)
Undergraduate Researchers
Erin Frenk (2023-)
2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship
2025 PLU Undergraduate Research Award - KSU
2025 Undergraduate Classroom Award (junior) - KSU
2025 Setser Undergraduate Research Fellowship for Summer 2025 - KSU
2025 Undergraduate Research Amplification Project (Spring) - KSU
2025 Spring 2025 Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Scholarship - KSU
2024 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) at Argonne National Lab (Summer)
2024 Undergraduate Classroom Award (sophomore) - KSU
2024 Featured in the SEEK magazine
2023 Undergraduate Classroom Award (freshman) - KSU
Mikynzie Tatro (2024-)
(April 2025)
Alumni
Postdoc, Visiting Scientists
7. Dr. Lianjie Xue (2019-2022, with Prof. Higgins): Assistant Professor, Liberty University
6. Dr. Sheela Thapa (2020)
5. Dr. Jay Narayan Sharma (2019-2020)
4. Dr. Rajib Pramanik (2011-2013, with Prof. Higgins): Postdoc at LANL
3. Dr. Yongxin Li (2007-2008): Professor, Anhui Normal Univ., China
2. Dr. Iwona Szymanska (2006-2007): Assistant Professor, Polish Acad. Sci.
2006-7 Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowship
1. Dr. Ahmad A. Audi (2006): Chemistry Faculty, College of Lake County
Graduate
11. Dr. Zeinab Harandizadeh (PhD, 2020): In Baltimore
“Application of Block Copolymer Thin Film as a Platform for Electroless Deposition and Biosensor"
2019 Meloan Award-KSU (summer fellowship)
2017 International Coordinating Council (ICC) Scholarship-KSU
2017 PLU Graduate Student Classroom Award-KSU
10. Dr. Herman Coceancigh (PhD, 2019): ICP supervisor, Saskatchewan Research Council, Canada
"Material Modification and Characterization Based on Small Molecule Diffusion"
2019 Invited talk at the 54th ACS-MWRM, Wichita, KS, October 2019.
2019 PLU Graduate Research Award-KSU
2018 Fateley-Hammaker Collaboration Award-KSU
2018 PLU Alumni Award-KSU
2016 PLU Graduate Student Classroom Award-KSU
2014-16 Fulbright Scholar
9. Dr. Govinda Ghimire (PhD, 2019): Postdoc at Florida International Univ.
"Charge Transport and Molecular Diffusion within Self-Assembled Nanostructures"
2018 PLU Alumni Award-KSU
2017 Meloan Award in Analytical Chemistry-KSU
8. Dol Raj Sapkota (MS, 2016) in Texas
“Single Molecule Tracking Studies of Solvent-Swollen Microdomains in Cylinder-Forming Polystyrene-Poly(ethylene oxide) Diblock Copolymer Films”
7. Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (PhD, 2015): Assistant Professor at Towson Univ., MD.
“Single-Molecule Diffusion Measurements for Material Characterization in One-Dimensional Nanostructured Polymer Films”
2014 PLU Graduate Research Award
2013 Ohno Award-KSU
2012 Clifton E. Meloan Graduate Analytical Chemistry Scholarship-KSU
2012 Fateley-Hammaker Collaboration in Research Award-KSU
2011 PLU Graduate Student Classroom Award-KSU
2011 Travel Award from Scott Fateley Memorial Fund–KSU
2010 Twelfth National School on Neutron and X-ray Scattering at ANL and ORNL
6. Dr. Bipin Pandey (PhD, 2013): Assistant Professor at Pensacola State College, FL.
“Self-Organized Nanoporous Materials for Chemical Separations and Chemical Sensing”
2013 PLU Chemistry Department Research Award-KSU
5. Dr. Feng Li (PhD, 2013): Senior Scientist at Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Self-Assembled Thin Polymer Film Used For Sensing Application"
2012 PLU Chemistry Department Research Award-KSU
2010 Travel Award from Scott Fateley Memorial Fund–KSU
4. Chrishani M. De Silva (Chrishani T. Devaadithya Gardiya Wasam Li) (MS, 2013): unknown
“Adsorption of Primary Substituted Hydrocarbons onto Solid Gallium Substrates”
3. Dr. D. M. Neluni T. Perera (PhD, 2010): Lecturer at Central College, IA
“Study of permeability changes induced by external stimuli on chemically modified electrodes”
2. Dr. Shaida Ibrahim (PhD, 2010): in Houston, TX.
“Fabrication and characterization of sub-micron and nanoscale structures in commercial polymers”
2009 PLU Chemistry Departmental Research Award-KSU
2007 PLU Graduate Student Classroom Award-KSU
1. Dr. Helene C. Maire (PhD, 2008): in France.
“Characterization of cylindrical nano-domains in thin films of polystyrene-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer studied via atomic force microscopy”
Undergraduate
17. Ryan Meany (2022, from St. Olaf College, REU)
16. James Unzaga (2021, from Montana State Univ., Billings, REU)
15. Samantha Jenkins (2020-23)
2023 Undergraduate Research Award
2021 Award for Undergraduate Research in the College of Arts & Sciences (Fall 2021)
14. Mikaela Moore (2018-20)
2020 PLU Undergraduate Research Award
13. Alex Peterson (2017-18)
12. Jared Hague (2017-18)
2017 Undergraduate Research Award in the College of Arts & Sciences (Fall)
11. Trevor Elwell-Cuddy (2014-16)
10. Roberto Espinoza (2016, from California State University Northridge, REU)
9. Christian Cox (2012-14)
8. Freya Bunga (2012)
7. Jason Finley (2010-12)
6. Ruben Diaz (2009, from Metropolitan University, PR, SUROP)
5. Evgeniy Shishkin (2008-10, DSP)
4. Khanh Hoa Tran Ba (2008-09, exchange student from University of Giessen, Germany)
3. Sarah Forman (2005-07)
2. Deletria Battle (2005, from Alabama A&M Univ., SUROP)
1. Gregory Dible (2005)
(February 2024)
(September 2019)
