Dr. Micah Prange specializes in the development and use of theoretical electronic structure methods in the fields of physics, chemistry, and materials science by addressing especially difficult problems involving the response of materials to radiation and other external stimuli. He received a PhD in 2009 from the University of Washington where he studied theoretical X-ray absorption methods with John Rehr. Subsequently, he served as a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University before moving to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2011. His varied research interests include such disparate topics as the relaxation of solid materials from excitation by radiation, the energetics and electronic structure of abundant oxide minerals, and the vibrational dynamics of amorphous and hydrogen bonded materials. Spectroscopic predictions from ab initio molecular dynamics and lattice dynamics simulations feature prominently in his work.
Chemistry
February 2026
Dr. Yingge Du is a senior materials scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where he has spent 18 years advancing research on complex oxide thin films. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia and has authored over 150 publications and delivered 50 invited talks. His expertise includes epitaxial growth, atomic-resolution characterization, and metastable phase stabilization, with research spanning microelectronics, quantum materials, and energy storage.
PhD student Md. Wahad Uz Zaman, a member of Dr. Kevin Kittilstved’s research group, will present his latest work in a talk titled “Spin Hamiltonian perspectives on Cr‑Doped Srₙ₊₁TiₙO₃ₙ₊₁: understanding electronic structure, zero‑field splitting, and their impact on photocatalytic performance.”
Arthur Wiesender, from Dr. Kevin Kittilstved’s research group, will present on “Cation Exchange in II-VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals.”
As a PhD student in the Peterson Group, Brooke Bonar investigates the energetic properties of heavy‑element molecules with a focus on actinide halides. Her project, “Dissociation Energies of the Actinide Halides AnX, An = Ac–Lr and X = F–I, Utilizing Relativistic Composite Coupled Cluster Approaches,” centers on applying advanced relativistic computational methods to better understand bonding trends and dissociation behavior across the actinide series.
Dr. Sebastian Stoian is currently a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Idaho. Dr. Stoian explores iron and cobalt complexes using Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance techniques to reveal their unique magnetic and electronic properties.
Tyler Dabritz, from Dr. Bernd Lange’s research group, will present on “Pools of Hidden Conjugates Underlie Prenylated Sulfur Volatile Emission from Cannabis.”
Kami Christensen, from Dr. Kevin Kittilstved’s research group, will present a literature review on Dopant Stabilization of Hafnia Polymorphs for Thin Film Applications.
Caleb Swain, from Dr. Xiaofeng Guo’s research group, will present on modern methods of recycling neodymium and other rare earth elements from spent magnet scrap and electrical components. In this talk, Caleb will discuss three research articles, each of which addresses neodymium and/or dysprosium recycling from different approaches. Methods and merits of each approach will be discussed. This relates to one of Caleb’s current research projects which analyzes the thermodynamics of Nd leaching into molten salt from magnet scrap.