Felipe d
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Stanford University
Expertise
Materials Science | Materials Engineering | Physics | Optics & Diffraction | Electrochemistry | Polymer Science
Bio
Hi! I am a Materials Scientist who uses light and electrons as tools to “film” and study how materials behave in real time. I first became interested in this work as an undergraduate researcher at MIT, where I used light-based techniques to probe dynamically changing bio-inspired polymers. I then pursued and completed my PhD at Stanford, where I developed physical models and designed experiments centered on ultrafast lasers and electron-based methods to understand how different “tuning knobs” affect the atomic structure and properties of crystals thousands of times thinner than a human hair. My goal is to use these insights to design better technologies, including more energy-efficient electronic memories, more responsive optical sensors, and ultrathin thermal devices. I enjoy working at the intersection of physical modeling, experiments, and device principles, and I especially like developing hands-on experiments to explore the behavior of a wide range of materials. Outside the lab, I enjoy staying active and playing music— you will likely find me swimming, playing soccer or recording a funky drum groove.Project ideas
Decoding Polymer Secrets
From structural aircraft components and battery electrolytes to drug-delivery systems and wearable sensors for monitoring health data, polymers continue to play a pivotal role in many technological innovations that shape our modern world. The versatility and broad set of properties of this class of materials stem from its unique structure and diverse chemical make-up. Fundamentally, polymers are made up of large molecules, so-called polymer chains, each comprising many repeating units of a smaller molecule, a monomer. Unlike orderly atomic arrangements in crystalline materials, like metals and ceramics, polymer chains tend to arrange into a spectrum of semi-crystalline or even amorphous structures. In this project, the student and I will work together on a hands-on exploration of polymer's properties and structure. The student will identify key experimental parameters, construct a custom-built thermal system from inexpensive items, and perform a series of controlled experiments to collect relevant data from paraffin wax samples. The student will then analyze the data against a simple thermodynamic model and interpret the findings. Potential outcomes of this project could be a research paper that will be published in a high school journal or a short video that discusses the experiments, methods and learnings.
Build Your Own Wearable Breathing Monitor - With Pencil and Paper
Flexible electronics and sensors lie at the heart of revolutionary wearable device technology, enabling everything from implantable medical devices and skin patches to smart contact lenses with in-built micro-displays and smart clothing. Integration of these devices with Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises new possibilities for early disease detection through real-time physiological signal monitoring, as well as personalized feedback and recommendations, such as personalized exercise plans. Advances in flexible electronics and sensors continue to be made by innovations in thin, lightweight electronic materials that maintain their functionality while subjected to continuous and cyclic mechanical stresses, including stretching, bending and folding. In this project, the student and I will work together to build a wearable respiratory monitor using nothing more than pencil and paper, to gain a deeper appreciation for the role that materials play in wearable device technology. The student will investigate the relationship between the structure and composition of pencil lead with its electrical resistance, prototype various circuit geometries on flexible substrates to optimize sensitivity, and analyze the ability of the device to withstand continuous stresses. Potential outcomes for this project could be a research paper detailing the device design and materials investigations, a video that documents the research process or even a podcast episode discussing project learnings.