Category Archives: People and Events

We are happy to welcome Jeffrey Tejada to the Gagliardi Group as a new graduate student. Jeff joins the group with a strong background in computational chemistry and quantum science, having conducted research at Brown University and through multiple SULI internships. His prior work includes studies of entanglement in the Hubbard model, applications of machine learning to accelerate lattice QCD calculations, and investigations of finite-size effects in Quantum Monte Carlo simulations. He has also been actively involved in undergraduate education in quantum information science and quantum computing.

We are delighted to have Jeff join the group and look forward to his contributions and future research in the Gagliardi Group.

The Gagliardi Group came together in high spirits for a lively and memorable holiday celebration, embracing the excitement and joy that define this festive time of year. This year’s event featured a catered dinner showcasing A Taste of Italy at Your Table menu, along with a spirited Secret Santa gift exchange that kept everyone laughing and engaged.

The night was all about enjoying each other’s company: sharing stories, discovering the surprises behind each gift, and simply having a great time together. With plenty of fun moments and a fantastic meal, the gathering offered a chance for everyone to unwind and connect in a relaxed, upbeat setting.

Looking ahead, the Gagliardi Group is energized by the momentum of 2025 and the strong sense of teamwork that continues to grow within the group. Celebrations like this highlight the importance of coming together, appreciating one another, and carrying that positive spirit into the year to come.

Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and a bright year ahead!

We are excited to welcome Dr. Eun Mi Kim and Dr. Arpan Choudhury as the newest postdoctoral researchers joining the Gagliardi Group.

Eun Mi recently completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Penn State University, where her work integrated advanced computational methods with molecular-scale design. She also earned an M.S. in Chemistry (2019) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (2017) from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), reflecting her strong interdisciplinary training across chemistry and engineering.

Arpan joins us after completing his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, where he focused on developing and applying electronic structure methods. His academic background includes an M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Hyderabad (2018) and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Calcutta (2016), marking a steady progression toward expertise in theoretical chemistry.

Both Eun Mi and Arpan bring deep computational experience, diverse scientific perspectives, and enthusiasm for tackling challenging problems in chemical research. We are thrilled to have them on board and look forward to the contributions they will make to our community.

We are delighted to welcome Yi Deng to the Gagliardi Group!

Yi recently earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University (2025). During his time there, he worked with Prof. Chen Li on the analytic structure of wave functions, uncovering a factorized form of the ground state and developing a ladder-operator approach for excited states using supersymmetric quantum mechanics.

Welcome Yi—we are thrilled to have you on board!

We are delighted to share that Dr. Hilal Daglar will be joining UL Research Institutes as she embarks on the next chapter of her professional journey. This new role is a testament to Hilal’s dedication, expertise, and the enthusiasm she has brought to her research and collaborations during her time with us.

We recently came together to celebrate Hilal’s accomplishments and to wish her well in this exciting new endeavor. It was a moving occasion, an opportunity to reflect on her many contributions, her thoughtful approach to science, and the positive spirit she brought to every project and discussion.

Hilal’s transition to UL Research Institutes marks a wonderful step forward, and while we will greatly miss her presence and insight, we are eager to see the impact she will continue to make in her new role.

Congratulations, Hilal! Best of luck as you take on this exciting next adventure!

We are thrilled to congratulate Helen and Younghwan on successfully passing their candidacy exams. Their commitment and effort have led to this well-earned achievement.

Best wishes to both as they continue making great strides in their research!

We’re thrilled to celebrate the success of the 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Catalysts and Advanced Materials for Environmental Solutions (SURF-CAMES) symposium!

This year’s fellows — Azeem Currah (Anderson group), Eva Devlin (Wuttig group), Caroline Hou (Wuttig group), Maya Martinez (Gagliardi group), Srimaye Peddinti (Anderson group), and Ashok Tate (Wuttig group) — shared their outstanding research with the community, marking an exciting conclusion to the first year of this summer program.

A special thank you to their mentors, who supported and guided these talented students throughout the summer — and joined them in the celebration (pictured).

We’re incredibly proud of our SURF-CAMES fellows and look forward to seeing their continued growth and contributions to science.