I am currently studying the strongly correlated electron behavior of various compounds grown by employing Flux Growth and Floating Zone synthesis methods. These compounds are then measured using Calorimetry, Magnetization, and other electronic transport property apparatus’. I have studied many of these compounds in the context of various doping studies.

I have worked with the Mirror Furnace employing the Floating Zone synthesis method to grow large single phase crystals of various compounds such as Nd_xCe_1-xCuO_4-δ. I have also worked with the Arc Furnace as a means to synthesize polycrystalline boules of Li₂BPt₃, and have some considerable experience with Flux Growth techniques for the filled skutterudite PrOs₄Sb₁₂ and the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn₅. I am currently learning to use the Calorimeter in place of our recent graduate student Todd Sayles’ departure, as well as involving myself in the lab’s interest in the Oxypnictides.

The Oxypnictides have sparked recent interest in the condensed matter community due to their unusually high Tc that is evidently related to the layering of the crystalline structure in stark similarity to the cuprate high Tc superconductors. The Li₂BPt₃ system has generated interest in its uncommon and evident coexistence of spin singlet and spin triplet mediated intermediate superconductivity.

As a second year graduate student I am looking forward to staking my claim on a project of interest to the lab to include any of the strongly correlated electron behavior studies available with our wide range of techniques.