Former Group Members and Alumni
Graduate Students
| Name | Years | Degree | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
 Xun Li |
2018-2022 | Ph.D. | Xun Li is now a research scientist in Applied Materials INC. |
 Erik Sarnello |
2017–2021 | Ph.D. | Erik now is a post-doc at Argonne National Laboratory. |
 Crystal Ferels |
2016–2020 | Ph.D. | Crystal now is a post-doc at Argonne National Laboratory. |
 Ihor Kulchytskyy |
2006–2009 | M.S. | Chemist, BioVantage Fuels, LLC |
 Chi‐Kai Lin |
2007–2011 | Ph.D. | After completing his post‐doc training at Argonne National Laboratory, Chikai Lin is now a Research Scientist at Apple Inc. |
 Zhenzhen Yang |
2007–2011 | Ph.D. | After finishing her post‐doc training at Argonne, Zhenzheng Yang is now a chemist at Chemical Science and Engineering Division in Argonne. |
 Xiaoqiao Zeng |
2008–2012 | Ph.D. | Post‐doc, Chemical Science and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory |
 Lauren Grabstanowicz |
2010–2014 | Ph.D. | Research Scientist, Alcoa – a Fortune 130 company. |
 Heather Barkholtz |
2012–2016 | Ph.D. | After her post‐doctoral training at Sandia National Laboratory, Heather is now a Chemical Test Section Chief at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Heather is now a tenure-tracked Assistant Professor in the School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison. We are proud of you, Heather! |
 Qinglong Jiang |
2012–2015 | Ph.D. | Post‐doc, National Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State University. Qinglong is now an assistant professor at Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. |
 Jue Gong |
2014–2018 | Ph.D. | Dr. Jue Gong is currently a post-doctoral researcher at Brown University |
 Elettra Piacentino |
2014-2019 | Ph.D. | Elettra transferred to analytic chemistry and received her PhD in 2019. |
 Dean Walters |
2011-2019 | Ph.D. | Dean is currently a Senior Engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. |
 Dominic Rebollar |
2014-2020 | Ph.D. | We wish Dom a full recovery soon! |
 Haiping Xu |
2015-2020 | Ph.D. | Currently a post-doc at Argonne National Laboratory. |
Undergraduate Students
| Name | Years | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Hernandez | N/A | N/A |
| Erik Radzik | 2008 | Chemist, Cedar Concepts Corporation |
| Adam Ekstedt | 2009 | N/A |
| Kristin Ewald | 2010 | N/A |
 Jordan Rucinski |
2019 | Jordan is an Implementation Analyst at Paylocity Inc |
 Zachary Liveris |
2019 | Zachary pursues his graduate study at Loyola University in Chicago |
 Kate Powers |
2011–2013 | Graduate Student in Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
 Robert Rickard |
2012–2014 | Lab technichian, PQ Corporation, Joliet, Ill. |
 Nick Barone |
N/A | Deibel Laboratories |
Visiting/Postdoctoral Fellows
| Name | Years | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
 Shanmin Gao |
2010–2011 | Professor, Ludong University Prof. Gao's expertise is in the synthesis, characterization and properties investigation of nanomaterials for catalysis and solar cell applications. |
 Yinxuan Li |
N/A | Professor, University of Chinese Academy of Science |
 Faqian Liu |
N/A | Professor, Qingdao University of Science and Technology. |
 Xinjian Feng |
N/A | Professor, College of Chemistry, Chemical Eginneering and Materials Science, Soochow University |
High School Students
| Name | Years | Current Position |
|---|---|---|
 Ian Zhang |
2021 | A high school summer volunteer student from Neuqua Valley High School, who is interested and participated in renewable energy projects in Professor Xu's group. Ian is now an undergraduate at the University of Chicago in STEM field. |
Updates and/or Corrections
If you were a member of the Xu Group, we would like to hear from you! Please send updates and/or corrections to Professor Tao Xu, txu@niu.edu.
Contact
Tao Xu, Ph.D.La Tourette Hall 412 Mailing Address
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Northern Illinois University
1425 W. Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115‐2828