Cherie R Kagan Research Group
The Kagan group’s research is focused on studying the chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials and in integrating materials with optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and thermal properties for (multi-)functional devices. We combine the flexibility of chemistry and bottom-up assembly with top-down fabrication techniques to design materials and devices. We explore the properties of materials and measure the characteristics of devices using spatially- and temporally-resolved optical spectroscopies, AC and DC electrical techniques, electrochemistry, scanning probe and electron microscopies, and analytical measurements.
Announcements
- Congratulations to Gary on Winning VIEST Graduate Fellowship!
Every year, the VIEST Graduate Fellowship is awarded competitively to exceptional University of Pennsylvania graduate students in SAS and SEAS whose Ph.D. research demonstrates a distinct focus on energy. Gary was awarded this Fellowship for the 2026-2027 year with his work on using optical spectroscopy… Read more: Congratulations to Gary on Winning VIEST Graduate Fellowship! - Congratulations to Cherie on Being Elected a 2025 AAAS Fellow
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a society with a mission to “advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all,” has named a class of Fellows since 1874. Cherie is being recognized as a 2025 Fellow in… Read more: Congratulations to Cherie on Being Elected a 2025 AAAS Fellow - Congratulations to Cherie on Signing the Academy’s Book of Members during her Induction!
On Oct. 11, 2025, Cherie joined the 2025 Class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’s Induction Ceremony to become an official member. - Welcome, Michelle!
Michelle Riemann has joined our group as a first-year PhD student in the Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) department. - Welcome, Quinn!
Quinn Haverstick has joined our group as a first-year PhD student in the Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) department.
Research Highlights
Chitosan-Infiltrated TiO2 Nanocrystal Composite Optical Metasurfaces for Colorimetric Leaf Sensing Journal Article
In: ACS Nano, 2026.
Observing Kinetic Selectivity in Anthracene Photodimerization through Selective Quenching by Excited States of Proximate Rare Earth Cations Journal Article
In: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2026.
Optical Metasurfaces with Double-Sided Guided Mode Resonances for Dual-Band Sensing Journal Article
In: Nano Letters, 2026.
Non-Newtonian Binary Cu Nanocrystal–Microcrystal Colloidal Inks for Printable Nanoscale-Soldered Conductors and RF Electronics Journal Article
In: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2026.
