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Hi! This is Hongyan Mei, which also goes by May
I am a researcher specializing in nanophotonics, optical materials, and thermal physics for clean, renewable, and sustainable energy applications. Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the supervision of Prof. Mikhail A. Kats. My research interests include exploring novel materials and structures for photonic and thermal energy applications, as well as understanding the fundamental physics of light-matter interactions. I am passionate about harnessing the power of science and technology to address the global energy challenges.
Hongyan (May) Mei
Ph.D. student and Research Assistant
Email:
Address:
1415 Engineering Drive, Room 3553,
Madison, WI 53706
" Ever tried, ever failed.
No matter, try again.
Fail again, fail better. "
——Samuel Beckett
Talks about optics, photonics, materials, nano science and technology, thermal physics, and energy-oriented applications
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Sep 2018 - present
Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor: Mikhail A. Kats
Sep 2018 - Sep 2020
M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Advisor: Mikhail A. Kats
Sep 2014 - June 2018
B.Sc. in Optical Science and Engineering
Zhejiang University
Advisors: Limin Tong, Lei Zhang
RESEARCH INTEREST
RESEARCH INTEREST
Nanophotonics
Design and optimization of novel materials and structures for photonic and thermal energy conversion. Characterization and analysis of light-matter interactions using advanced optical spectroscopy and microscopy techniques.
Thermal Physics
Investigation of fundamental physics of heat transfer and thermodynamics at the nanoscale. Development and optimization of thermal management systems for electronic and photonic devices.
Energy Applications
Reinvent new devices and systems for thermal management and radiative cooling. Create more efficient and practical energy harvesting and conversion systems for sustainable, efficient, and clean energy solutions.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Sep 2018 - present
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Research Assistant
Supervisor: Prof. Mikhail A. Kats
Reinventing Infrared Optical Systems with New Materials and Engineering Methods
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Developed comprehensive optical characterization methods to fully extract the complex refractive index of anisotropic materials from UV to LWIR with the combination of spectroscopic ellipsometry and polarized infrared spectroscopy, which yielded the discovery of a material with world-record infrared birefringence originated from atomic-scale structural modulation and non-stoichiometry.
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Designed anti-reflection coatings for highly anisotropic materials, realizing ultra-thin polarization optics such as polarizers and waveplates.
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Designed a polarized narrowband thermal emitter based on materials with giant optical anisotropy.
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Demonstrate the local modulation of optical properties of ZnO and VO2 using a commercially focused ion beam (FIB) system. We realized variable doping of ZnO and defect-engineering of VO2. Such area-selective modification of materials by direct writing using an FIB provides a simple, mask-less, lithography-free route to the fabrication of optical structures toward reconfigurable infrared optics.
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Nanofabrication of silicon metasurfaces for creating an optical bottle-beam trap using e-beam lithography at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
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Group responsibility in Kats Group: in charge of FTIR system and accessories
Sep 2016 - May 2018
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Advisors: Prof. Limin Tong, Prof. Lei Zhang
Zhejiang University
Study on Micro/Nano Fiber (MNF) Absorbance Sensor
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Designed and fabricated a new structure integrated with MNF and microfluidic chip for absorbance sensing. Facilitated high-sensitivity absorbance sensing and achieved high sensitivity and repeatability of biochemical sample detection.
June 2017 - Oct 2017
Undergraduate Research Intern
Advisors: Prof. Jiming Bao, Prof. Tianfu Wu
University of Houston
Biosensing-Colorimetric Array Detection with Urinary Angiostatin
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Printed protein arrays using Scienion AG printer and assembled array well matrix. Selected proper spot (Seramun Blau Spot Dark Kit, SciSpot protein D1 buffer, and SciColor T2) to dye, and collected colorimetric results using portable microscope platform. Programmed an Android app using Java platform to directly analyze results of health indicators.
SKILLS
SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
Programming
Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, LabVIEW
Simulation
Lumerical FDTD, Comsol, Tidy3D, RSoft, Zemax, TracePro, LightTools, Multisim
Other software
LaTeX, 3D-Max, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Adobe CC (Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, InDesign), OriginLab, Discovery Studio Visualizer, VESTA
Deposition
LPCVD, magnetron sputtering, spin coating, thermal and e-beam evaporation
Nano/micro fabrication
photolithography, e-beam lithography, laser lithography, wet etching, dry etching
Characterization
microscopy (optical, SEM/EDS, AFM), spectroscopy (FTIR, XPS, Raman, PL), Spectroscopic Ellipsometry,
Hyperspectral Imaging, Infrared Imaging,
X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Hall measurement, Two-Point Probe, Four-Point Probe, customizing optical setups (transmission, reflection, absorption, and thermal emission measurements)
Publication
PUBLICATIONS
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B. Zhao, H. Mei, Z. Du, S. Singh, T. Chang, N. Settineri, S. J. Teat, Y. Chen, S. B. Cronin, M. A. Kats, and J. Ravichandran, “Infrared optical anisotropy in quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenide BaTiSe3”, submitted, arXiv:2402.02323, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2402.02323
H. Chen, S. Singh, H. Mei, G. Ren, B. Zhao, M. Surendran, Y. Wang, R. Mishra, M. A. Kats, J. Ravichandran, “Molten flux-grown single crystals of hexagonal chalcogenide BaTiS3”, submitted, arXiv:2403.05869, https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.05869
B. Zhao*, G. Ren*, H. Mei, V. C. Wu, S. Singh, G. Y. Jung, H. Chen, R. Giovine, S. Niu, A. S. Thind, J. Salman, N. S. Settineri, B. C. Chakoumakos, M. E. Manley, R. P. Hermann, A. R. Lupini, M. Chi, J. A. Hachtel, A. Simonov, S. J. Teat, R. J. Clément, M. A. Kats, J. Ravichandran and R. Mishra, “Giant modulation of refractive index from correlated atomic-scale disorder”, accepted by Advanced Materials, arXiv:2310.04615, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2310.04615
H. Mei*, G. Ren*, B. Zhao*, J. Salman*, G. Y. Jung, H. Chen, S. Singh, A. S. Thind, J. Cavin, J. A. Hachtel, M. Chi, S. Niu, G. Joe, C. Wan, N. Settineri, S. J. Teat, B. C. Chakoumakos, J. Ravichandran, R. Mishra, M. A. Kats, “Colossal optical anisotropy from atomic-scale modulations”, Advanced Materials, 2303588 (2023)
S. Rosas, K. A. Schoeller, E. Chang, H. Mei, M. A. Kats, K. W. Eliceiri, X. Zhao, F. Yesilkoy, "Metasurface-enhanced mid-infrared spectrochemical imaging of tissues", Advanced Materials, 2301208 (2023)
H. Mei*, A. Koch*, C. Wan*, J. Rensberg, Z. Zhang, J. Salman, M. Hafermann, M. Schaal, Y. Xiao, R. Wambold, S. Ramanathan, C. Ronning, M. A. Kats, “Tuning carrier density and phase transitions in oxide semiconductors using focused ion beams”, Nanophotonics, 11, 3923 (2022)
B. Zhao, M. S. B. Hoque, G. Y. Jung, H. Mei, S. Singh, G. Ren, M. Milich, Q. Zhao, N. Wang, H. Chen, S. Niu, S. J. Lee, C. T. Kuo, J. S. Lee, J. A. Tomko, H. Wang, M. A. Kats, R. Mishra, P. E. Hopkins, J. Ravichandran, "Orientation controlled anisotropy in single crystals of quasi-1D BaTiS3", Chemistry of Materials, 34, 5680 (2022)
A. Koch, H. Mei, J. Rensberg, M. Hafermann, J. Salman, C. Wan, R. Wambold, D. Blaschke, H. Schmidt, J. Salfeld, S. Geburt, M. A. Kats, and C. Ronning, "Heavily doped zinc oxide with plasma frequencies in the telecommunication wavelength range", Advanced Photonics Research, 2200181 (2022)
C. Yao, H. Mei, Y. Xiao, A. Shahsafi, W. Derdeyn, J. L. King, C. Wan, R. O. Scarlat, M. H. Anderson, M. A. Kats, “Correcting thermal-emission-induced detector saturation in infrared spectroscopy”, Optics Express, 30, 38458 (2022)
Y. Xiao, Z. Yu, R. Wambold, H. Mei, G. Hickman, R. Goldsmith, M. Saffman, M. A. Kats, “Efficient generation of optical bottle beams”, Nanophotonics, 10, 2893 (2021)
Y. Xiao, C. Wan, A. Shahsafi, J. Salman, Z. Yu, R. Wambold, H. Mei, B. E. Rubio Perez, W. Derdeyn, C. Yao, M. A. Kats, “Precision measurements of temperature-dependent and nonequilibrium thermal emitters”, Laser & Photonics Reviews, 14, 1900443 (2020)
H. Mei, J. Pan, Z. Zhang, L. Zhang, L. M. Tong, “Coiled optical nanofiber for optofluidic absorbance detection”, ACS Sensors, 4(9), 2267-2271 (2019)
presentations
PRESENTATIONS
[First-author only; co-authored talks not listed]
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H. Mei, IR-EMPOWER 2024 Workshop on emissivity measurements, invited talk, forthcoming, September (2024)
H. Mei, G. Ren, B. Zhao, J. Salman, et al., “Infrared optics with highly anisotropic materials”, MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit, MRS (2023)
H. Mei, G. Ren, B. Zhao, J. Salman, et al., “Colossal optical anisotropy from atomic-scale modulations”, SPIE Optics + Photonics, SPIE (2023)
H. Mei, G. Ren, B. Zhao, J. Salman, et al., “Colossal optical anisotropy from periodic structural modulations”, CLEO: Science and Innovations, Optical Society of America (2023)
H. Mei, J. Salman, B. Zhao, G. Ren, et al., “Optical characterization of A1+xBX3 crystals with giant optical anisotropy”, SPIE Photonics West, San Francisco (2022)
H. Mei, A. Koch, C. Wan, et al., “Engineering optical materials using focused ion beams”, Advanced Photonics Congress NOMA, Optical Society of America (2021) Best student paper, 1st prize
H. Mei, J. Salman, B. Zhao, et al., “Optical characterization of A1+xBX3 crystals”, Advanced Photonics Congress NOMA, Optical Society of America (2021)
H. Mei, A. Koch, C. Wan, et al., “Toward frequency-selective surfaces via doping of zinc oxide with a focused ion beam”, CLEO: Science and Innovations, Optical Society of America (2020)
H. Mei, A. Koch, J. Salman, C. Wan, et al., "Toward frequency selective surfaces using doping of zinc oxide with a focused ion beam", Photonics Online Meetup (2020) [virtual poster]
H. Mei, “Colossal optical anisotropy from atomic-scale modulations”, UW-Madison ECE Open House poster (2024)
H. Mei, “Colossal optical anisotropy from atomic-scale modulations”, UW-Madison ECE Open House poster (2023)
H. Mei, “Toward frequency selective surfaces using doping of zinc oxide with a focused ion beam”, UW-Madison ECE Open House poster (2021)
H. Mei, “Toward frequency selective surfaces using doping of zinc oxide with a focused ion beam”, UW-Madison MSE Open House poster (2020)
awards
SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
• ECE 2023 Dissertator Travel Award (UW-Madison)
• ECE 2021 Dissertator Travel Award (UW-Madison)
• OSA Student Paper Award Winner (2021 OSA Advanced Photonics Congress)
• CLEO Incubic Milton Chang Travel Grant
• Scholarship for Outstanding Students (top 1% in Zhejiang University)
• Scholarship for Outstanding Student Leaders (top 2% in Zhejiang University)
• First-Class Scholarship for Research and Innovation (top 1% in Zhejiang University)
• Scholarship for Excellent Social Practice (top 2% in China)
• National Second Prize, Chinese Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling (top 5% in China)
• Meritorious Winner, Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM)
2023
2021
2021
2020
2015-18
2017
2016
2016
2016
2016
professional activities
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
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Referee for Nature Review Physics, Advanced Materials, Advanced Optical Materials, Science Advances, Optica, ACS Photonics, Nanophotonics, Optics Express, Optical Materials Express, Small, Langmuir, APL Photonics, Journal of Applied Physics, Thin Solid Films, Advanced Sensor Research, Optics and Laser Technology, Optical Materials, Communications Physics
[Peer-reviewed 20+ submissions]
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Member of Optica (formerly OSA), SPIE, IEEE, MRS, APS
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Teaching Assistant
Instructor: Prof. Srdjan Milicic (ECE 313 Optoelectronics Lab)
Grader
Instructor: Prof. Mikhail A. Kats (ECE 747 Nanophotonics)
Instructor: Prof. Mikhail A. Kats (ECE 610 Seminar in ECE
Madison, WI
Spring 2020
Fall 2020
additional
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Outreach Activities
High School Science Expo with Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) 2023 at East High School, Madison, WI
Science Expo at Wisconsin Science Festival (WiSciFest) 2023 at Discovery Building, Madison, WI
Engineering EXPO 2021/2022/2023 at UW-Madison, Madison, WI
• Hosting a microscopy demo with the SPIE/Optica Student Chapter to primary/middle school students and public community
RealScientists Nano (Twitter curator) 2021
• Curating the @RealSci_Nano Twitter account for a week for sharing interesting research to public
• Introducing and podcasting my own research projects to the public on YouTube
Voluntary Service
Love Madison 2019 (Project Captain)
• Landscaping clean up and planting for a senior community
Tour of Madison 2019 (Tour Guide)
• Worked as a tour guide for exploring places of interest in Madison to welcome new international students.
BakerRipley (volunteer) 2017
• Worked as a volunteer in NRG Shelter after Hurricane Harvey and flooding in 2017
Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics (ETOP) 2017 (instructor and volunteer)
• Taught children of migrant workers Math, Science, English and Engineering courses
Social Practice Activities
Pilot Project Program (Team Leader) 2016
• Awarded National First Prize Team and Excellent Project in 2016 for “The Belt and Road” Urban Evolution Summer Social Practice project in Xi’an, Shanxi
CONTACT
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