WIDE Lab Director
Yuji Zhao, Associate Professor of ECE, Rice University
Brockman Hall Rm 338, yuji.zhao@rice.edu
2023 TMS Frontiers of Materials Award
2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
2019 MIT TR 35 – China Award
2019 DoD ARO DURIP Award
2017 ASU Fulton Outstanding Assistant Professor Award
2016 DTRA Young Investigator Award
2015 NASA Early Career Faculty Award
2015 SFAz Bisgrove Scholar Faculty Award
Yuji Zhao (yuji.zhao@rice.edu) is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. He received the Ph.D. degree from University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2012 under the supervision of Nobel Laureate Professor Shuji Nakamura. Yuji Zhao’s research and teaching interests are in the area of electronic materials, advanced devices, and nanotechnologies. His current research projects involve the materials science and device engineering of wide bandgap semiconductors for energy efficiency, RF and power electronics, and quantum photonics applications. He has co-authored 4 book chapters, over 80 journal papers, over 90 conference proceedings and presentations, and over 20 patents. His awards include the 2023 TMS Frontiers of Materials Award, 2019 U.S. Presidential PECASE Award from the White House, which is the highest honor given by the US government to early-career scientists and engineers. He is also a receipt of 2019 MIT TR 35 – China Award, 2019 DoD ARO DURIP Award, 2017 ASU Fulton Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, 2016 DTRA Young Investigator Award, 2015 NASA Early Career Faculty Award, 2015 SFAz Bisgrove Scholar Faculty Award, 2010–2013 UCSB SSLEC Outstanding Research Award, and several best paper awards.
Research Scientists and Posdocs
Graduate Students
Mingfei Xu (mx9@rice.edu) received his B.S. degree in Physics in 2020 from Wuhan University. His previous work focused on perovskite photodiodes and solar cells. He joined the Rice WIDE Lab in 2021 and is currently seeking a Ph.D degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice.
Tao Li (tl79@rice.edu) received the B.Eng. degree in Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China in 2021. After that, he joined the WIDE Group led by Professor Yuji Zhao at Rice University and started pursuing his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research interests lie in nanoscale light-matter interaction and quantum optics. In daily life, he loves astronomy, photography and watching movies, especially those of Ghibli and Marvel Studio.
Ziyi He (ziyihe5@asu.edu) received his M.S degree in Arizona State University in Electrical Engineering in 2021 and B.S degree in Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2020. He joined the group in 2021 and works on the MOCVD growth of WBG materials and related devices.
Shisong Luo (Shisong.Luo@rice.edu) received his M.Eng and B.Eng degree in Microelectronics in 2022 and 2019 from Sun Yat-sen University. After that, he joined the Rice WIDE Lab and started pursuing a Phd.D degree. His research focuses on carrier transport in UWBG devices. In daily life, he loves climbing mountains and playing badminton.
Cheng Chang (cc206@rice.edu) received his B.S. degree from Fudan University in 2021. His previous work focused on organic semiconductor photoresist. He joined the Rice WIDE Lab in Fall 2023.
Md. Jahidul Hoq Emon (me67@rice.edu) received his BSc degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) in 2023 from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).After his graduation, he worked at United International University as a Lecturer.His previous research work focused on thermal transport characterization of 2D materials (Plumbene). He joined the RICE WIDE Lab in Fall, 2024 and currently working in quantum photonics team.In daily life, he loves playing video games, playing Ukulele,Kalimba and hanging out with friends.
Lucas Lau received his B.S. degree in Physics from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2024. His previous research focused on instrumentation for electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. He joined the Rice WIDE lab in 2024 while pursuing a PhD in Applied Physics.
Undergraduate Students
Alessa Elkareh
Fernando Tamames
Isabella Soto
Edwin Low
Ben Welchman
Chris Han
Group Alumni
Houqiang Fu, Assistant Professor, Arizona State University
Kai Fu, Assistant Professor, University of Utah
Zhijian Lv, Assistant Professor, Shenzhen Technology University
Xuanqi Huang, Hisilicon
Hong Chen, Xanadu Quantum Technologies
Jossue Montes, Sandia National Laboratories
Tsung-Han Yang, Analog Devices
Chen Yang, Huawei
Xiaodong Zhang, Associate Professor, SINANO, CAS
Xuguang Deng, SINANO, CAS
Spencer Darwall, Rice University student
Alex Holzbach, Rice University student
Justin Lebeau, Rice University student
Jingan Zhou, Ph.D in 2023