Cooper Chiarino started working as a lab assistant at ACMAL in the Spring of 2024. He is graduating with a degree in Applied Physics and a minor in nanoscience. As he prepares to graduate and say goodbye to ACMAL and Michigan Tech, we got an interview about his future plans, past experiences, and advice.
ACMAL is pleased to support the 2025 Conferences for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) held at Michigan Tech January 24-26. Dr. Erico Freitas and Isabella Jaszczak led the Transmission Electron Microscopy Workshop during the event. Seventy attendees joined the TEM Workshop at the STEM Lab on January 25 and 26. Participants were able to see in real time the acquisition of atomic resolution images, electron diffraction patterns, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis during the event. The hands-on workshop allowed great discussions about the physics behind the TEM with the students.
ACMAL is pleased to welcome Joey Tomei to the ACMAL team as a full-time Research Engineer I.
Joey completed his BS in material science and engineering from MTU in 2023 and is currently completing his MS in material science and engineering. During his graduate studies, he investigated biodegradable magnesium alloys for cardiovascular implants. He worked with SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD, and TEM to characterize these alloys. He has also worked on the ICON Olympus Off Planet Construction project where he characterized simulated lunar soils using XRD and SEM techniques. His areas of expertise include characterization of anorthite minerals, sample preparation, XRD analysis, and SEM imaging and analysis. When he’s not working, he enjoys exploring the Copper Country on his mountain bike or skis.
Please contact Joey for help with SEM, XRD,or sample preparation.
I am delighted to share we had a wonderful Electron Microscopy Workshop at Michigan Technological University, in ACMAL shared core facility. Graduate students, postdocs and staff attended the event this Fall 2024.
Dr. Erico Freitas conducted one-on-one hands-on SEM and STEM sessions utilizing the ThermoFisher Apreo2 Field-Emission SEM and the FEI Titan Themis STEM to help ACMAL user community to get the most of these cutting-edge research instruments.
“Thank you for the opportunities ACMAL is providing. The workshop gave me more expertise in Apreo 2 SEM” (Shebeer A Rahim, Postdoctoral Scholar, Materials Science and Engineering).
“While I didn’t necessarily get the data I was looking for, I learned quite a bit about the process and know how I should move forward if I want to utilize this instrument in the future” (Ben Jewell, PhD candidate – Mechanical Engineering).
“It was interactive and very informative” (Raksha Dubey D., PhD candidate; Physics).
“This is a very useful and inspiring workshop that allows us to explore the interesting features in microscopy and x-ray diffraction from many aspects” (Dr. Peijia Lin, Research Associate, Chemical Engineering)
ACMAL will be closed next week on Thursday, July 4th, in observance of the holiday.
Please note the following availability of our team members during that week:
- I will be out of the office all week.
- Erico is still on leave in Brazil.
- Ed will be available Monday through Wednesday.
- Izzy will be available Monday through Wednesday, and possibly Friday.
- Tim will be available by appointment.
- Cooper will be available on Monday and Tuesday.
- Alyssa will be available on Monday.
Plan accordingly for any deadlines or projects that may be affected by the closure. If you have any urgent matters that require attention, please reach out to the respective available team members listed above.
You’re invited to join us for a special Lunch and Learn event sponsored by Tescan.
Advancements in FIB-SEM and STEM Technologies with Tescan
Explore the latest developments in Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) technologies. Learn about their application for multiscale and multimodal chemical imaging of materials, including batteries and semiconductors.
Topic: Advancements in FIB-SEM and STEM Technologies for high throughput, multimodal characterization of materials
Date and Time: Thursday, April 18th, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Location: M&M 610
Lunch Provided: Enjoy lunch while learning about cutting-edge microscopy technologies.
Additionally, they will briefly introduce the Tescan Collaboration Network (TCN), offering opportunities for collaborative research and instrument sharing across universities.
We look forward to your participation in this informative session!
ACMAL is pleased to welcome Isabella Jaszczak as new Research Engineer to our team.
Isabella graduated with a master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering (MSE) from Michigan Tech in 2023. Her research utilized EBSD and STEM imaging to quantify microstructural changes in high-strength, low-alloy steels. Shortly after earning her graduate degree, she was hired as a research engineer for the MSE department, specifically working with the Institute of Materials Processing, the ARC Research Group, and ACMAL’s electron microscopy facility. She is here to help you with sample preparation, SEM analysis, STEM imaging, or instrument training.
Outside of work, Isabella is a HuskyFit instructor at the SDC and enjoys creating pottery as a member of the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Clay Co-op. McClain State Park is her favorite place to be in the Copper Country
ACMAL is please to extend an invitation to the MTU research community for a Brunch and Learn session with ThermoFisher on April 25, 2024, 9–11 a.m.
Learn how X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) can be used to investigate cutting-edge materials via surface chemistry and the elemental as well as electronic state of atoms.
Why you should attend:
- Expand your understanding of XPS for materials analysis.
- Speak directly with experts about today’s instrumentation and how it can work for you.
Date: April 25
Time: 9–11 a.m.
Location: M&M 610
Alyssa Fabbro is currently an undergraduate student in Michigan Tech’s Biomedical Engineering and pre-health programs. She is involved in Michigan Tech’s EMS and spends her free-time hiking and walking dogs at the humane society. She has always been interested in research and is excited to a part of the ACMAL lab.
Cooper Chiarino is a current student at Michigan Tech majoring in Applied Physics with a minor in Nanoscience. He enjoys helping out around the ACMAL facilities, tutoring physics in the learning center on campus, snowboarding at Mt. Ripley, and mountain biking. After graduating, Cooper plans to continue his education with a graduate degree here at Tech.
