{"id":2418,"date":"2026-02-10T10:12:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/2026\/02\/10\/publish-and-flourish\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T00:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T04:09:48","slug":"publish-and-flourish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/2026\/02\/10\/publish-and-flourish\/","title":{"rendered":"Publish and Flourish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-lead wp-block-paragraph\">For students, conducting research at NC&#160;State is a chance to work alongside some of the world\u2019s top scholars. This work often comes with a perk: Seeing your name alongside those researchers as an author in <em>Science<\/em>, <em>Nature<\/em> and other top journals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Publishing in these journals \u2014 which includes a painstaking editing and review process that can take a year or more \u2014 can enhance students\u2019 career prospects, whether they\u2019re pursuing jobs in academia or industry. An impressive publication record tells prospective employers that these applicants have played in the big leagues of science, and that they\u2019re ready for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt conveys that I can collaborate with other people, work in the forefront of a scientific field and bring ideas,\u201d said Sarah Kromer, a Ph.D. student in chemistry. \u201cIt\u2019s beneficial and sets a good standard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kromer is among about 100 current graduate and undergraduate students who conduct research alongside faculty in NC&#160;State\u2019s Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratory, known as ORaCEL. The research cluster has been particularly successful in publishing breakthroughs in the most prestigious journals, having co-authored 19 papers in the <em>Science, Nature<\/em> and <em>Nature <\/em>disciplinary journals over the past five years, 12 of which were led by ORaCEL faculty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default right-aside\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ori-timeline\/\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-fact ncst-fact with-cta has-indigo-400-text-color\" data-ua-cat=\"Fact Block\" data-ua-action=\"URL Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ori-timeline\/\"><span class=\"ncst-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" size=\"75\"><path d=\"M310.9 232.38h19.4l44.9-109.2h-19.39l-44.91 109.2zM299.17 232.38l-54.09-149h-19.39l54.09 149h19.39zM117.21 428.32 64.14 282.38H44.75l53.07 145.94h19.39zM128.13 428.32h18.27l68.47-344.94H196.4l-68.27 344.94zM465.41 311.98l-59.19-188.8h-19.39l59.19 188.8h19.39zM73.84 273.2v-74.5H.36v74.5h73.48zM87.71 437.5h73.48V512H87.71zM182.01 0h73.48v74.5h-73.48zM343.46 39.09h73.48v74.5h-73.48zM263.96 241.35h-.31v74.5h73.79v-74.5h-73.48zM438.16 320.14h73.48v74.5h-73.48z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h2 class=\"fact__heading\">Putting Research to Work<\/h2><p class=\"fact__support\">See a timeline of NC&#160;State\u2019s research accomplishments.<\/p><p class=\"fact__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Take a look<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The generational mix of ORaCEL\u2019s researchers contributes to this success. The group includes distinguished professors, mid-career and junior faculty, plus many postdocs and students who refine ideas and carry out the experiments. The researchers span multiple colleges and the departments of Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Physics and Astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cluster is led by <a href=\"https:\/\/adegroup.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/harald-ade\/\">Harald Ade<\/a>, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Ade has been named among the world\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/highly-cited-researchers\/?action=clv_hcr_members_filter&amp;clv-paged=1&amp;clv-category=&amp;clv-institution=North%20Carolina%20State%20University&amp;clv-region=&amp;clv-name=\">highly cited researchers<\/a> for the past several years, as has fellow cluster member Aram Amassian in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other <a href=\"https:\/\/oracel.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/\">cluster members<\/a> have also accumulated impressive publication records. One example is physicist Dali Sun, who since 2023 has had papers in <em>Science<\/em>,<em> Nature Materials<\/em> and <em>Nature Physics<\/em>. The group\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/carbon-electronics-cluster-opens-new-facility-at-nc-state\/\">state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities<\/a> on Centennial Campus help attract top students and give these talented researchers the space to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese investments by the university are critical to achieving a high intensity, mutually reinforcing culture of excellence,\u201d Ade said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2018Good People Have a lot of Impact\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Kromer wanted to work with heavy hitters in photochemistry. She had become hooked on the field, which focuses on the chemical effects of light, while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the faculty she was drawn to was <a href=\"https:\/\/castellano.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/fncastel\/\">Phil Castellano<\/a>, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Chair in the Department of Chemistry at NC&#160;State. Castellano\u2019s research group studies how molecules behave when they\u2019re exposed to light, and then attempts to manipulate that energized state into something useful. The group\u2019s findings have implications for fields ranging from solar energy conversion to cancer treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kromer liked what she saw and joined the group in 2021. Almost immediately, she established herself as a hardworking star in the lab and was constantly thinking about new experiments. Castellano noticed that she took the inevitable failures in stride, letting them bounce off her and propelling her to seek out new hypotheses and techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat I\u2019ve really learned is that negative information is still information,\u201d Kromer said. \u201cSo if you fail, it still tells you something about the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0597_WEB.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0597_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Sarah Kromer in a dimly lit lab, surrounded by computer equipment.\" class=\"wp-image-1532746\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sarah Kromer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her successes are borne out by an impressive list of <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=Pvn8sh4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en\">publications<\/a>, including a 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/372468702_Spin-vibronic_coherence_drives_singlet-triplet_conversion\">paper in <em>Nature<\/em><\/a> for which she was a coauthor. The paper was the first to demonstrate the relationship between electron and nuclear motion on very fast time scales. The work could be applied in solar energy conversion, electronic displays and other areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Key to Kromer\u2019s success has been her collaborative nature. She has worked with researchers at universities across the world and here in the United States, including at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. At NC&#160;State, she\u2019s been involved with chemists, spectroscopists and engineers, as well as graduate and undergraduate students at various stages in their research careers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose seedlings hopefully grow and emulate what they see in Sarah,\u201d Castellano said. \u201cAnd if they do, they\u2019ll likely be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking ahead, Kromer hopes to move into industry, where she can parlay her impressive publication record into applications that can create clean energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood people have a lot of impact,\u201d Castellano said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Continuing Collaboration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While considering offers from several graduate schools, Masoud Ghasemi kept liking what he saw in the physics, materials science and engineering programs at NC&#160;State. He also found the weather appealingly similar to his hometown near the Caspian Sea in Iran. Raleigh, he decided, would be his new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His advisor was Ade, whose research seeks to advance organic semiconductors and photovoltaics, with the goal of developing off-grid energy sources and electronics for military and civilian use. Ghasemi credits Ade not only with enhancing his scientific knowledge, but also with helping him learn about how to navigate U.S. research culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHarald is amazing,\u201d Ghasemi said. \u201cI learned so much from him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghasemi earned his Ph.D. in 2018 and stayed on at NC&#160;State to pursue postdoctoral work. Eventually, he took another postdoctoral position at Pennsylvania State University, and in both of those roles he built upon his work as a graduate student at the junction of organic electronics and polymer science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are ever-changing fields. Organic solar cells have become much more efficient over the past several decades, but researchers and manufacturers still struggle with determining which material combinations work best, and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cos-1000173_WEB.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cos-1000173_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"Two men speak in front of a piece of equipment labeled &quot;Dedication Ceremony: Xeuss 3.0&quot;.\" class=\"wp-image-1532748\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harald Ade (right) talks with fellow physicist Lex Kemper, associate dean of research for the College of Sciences.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In one <em>Nature Materials<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2025\/09\/re-entrant-mixing-behavior-in-organic-solar-cells-necessitates-new-modeling-approach\/\">paper<\/a> published in 2025, Ghasemi was part of a team of researchers, including Ade, who created phase diagrams for organic solar cells based on a composite of a polymeric semiconductor and a \u201csmall molecule acceptor.\u201d The work shows that the mixing behavior of these composites can have an unexpected dependence on the temperature, indicating that researchers should consider additional factors when trying to predict material performance. The research could accelerate the development of improved materials for use in high-efficiency solar cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like many postdocs, Ghasemi sees several career paths before him. He could remain in academia and pursue a faculty position, or focus on industry where he can translate his work into products that help people. His NC&#160;State graduate education, and his work with Ade and others in the ORaCEL group, helped prepare him for what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGoing to NC&#160;State and working with Harald was one of the best choices of my life,\u201d Ghasemi said. \u201cIf I had to go back, I would definitely make the same choice over and over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benefiting from a Background in Theory<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mustafa T\u00fcre arrived at NC&#160;State thinking he would pursue his graduate degree in theoretical particle physics. He ended up doing something different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">T\u00fcre initially joined the research group of Mithat \u00dcnsal to study quantum field theory. But then he took a class with <a href=\"https:\/\/physics.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/kgundog\/\">Kenan Gundogdu<\/a>, who studies nanoscience and condensed matter physics. Casual conversations after class turned into actual research, and T\u00fcre joined Gundogdu\u2019s group. \u00dcnsal encouraged T\u00fcre and supported the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of the resulting collaboration involved applying T\u00fcre\u2019s theoretical knowledge to Gundogdu\u2019s pioneering experimental data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gundogdu and others <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41566-022-00974-4\">had previously determined<\/a> that the atomic structure of some hybrid perovskites, which have organic or inorganic cations with different halide components, protected groups of quantum particles from the thermal noise long enough to prompt a phase transition. In these materials, large polarons \u2013 groups of atoms bound to electrons \u2013 formed, insulating light emitting dipoles from thermal interference and allowing for superfluorescence to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0921_WEB.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0921_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"A student points to a lit projector screen displaying charts and graphs, while a faculty member looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-1532747\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graduate student Mustafa T\u00fcre (right) joined the lab of Kenan Gundogdu (left) following a series of conversations after class about Gundogdu\u2019s research.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2025\/05\/solitonic-superfluorescence-paves-way-for-high-temperature-quantum-materials\/\">In the new study<\/a>, published in <em>Nature<\/em>, T\u00fcre\u2019s background in physics theory helped the researchers explain how the creation and preservation of a coherent quantum state actually&nbsp; works. The study could serve as a blueprint for designing materials that allow exotic quantum states such as superconductivity or superfluorescence at high temperatures. That could pave the way for applications such as quantum computers that don\u2019t require extremely low temperatures to operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo Mustafa gets a chance to work in the lab, see real experimental results, and then he was also able to apply theoretical tools,\u201d Gundogdu said. \u201cAt the end of the day, it turned out it was feasible, which made a very substantial impact on the publication of our paper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For T\u00fcre, the change wasn\u2019t easy. His learning curve was steep and there were several months during which he and Gundogdu, with their different physics backgrounds, were just trying to \u201cunderstand what the other was saying,\u201d T\u00fcre said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaking that transition is very scary,\u201d T\u00fcre remembered. \u201cThere were times when I thought, \u2018Can I do this?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Gundogdu was a supportive mentor, and he found that he was learning as much from T\u00fcre as T\u00fcre was learning from him. T\u00fcre\u2019s work in two different areas of physics ended up earning him the <a href=\"https:\/\/gundogdu.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/2025\/08\/21\/mustafa-ture-wins-the-2025-philbrick-outstanding-graduate-research-assistant-award\/\">Philbrick Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award<\/a> from his department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is just the beginning,\u201d T\u00fcre said. \u201cI feel like we\u2019re opening up a new research field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-highlight with-image\"><h2 class=\"highlight__label\">Related<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/xeuss-3-0-nc-states-new-x-ray-instrument\/\" class=\"highlight__link\" data-ua-cat=\"Highlight Block\" data-ua-action=\"Story Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/xeuss-3-0-nc-states-new-x-ray-instrument\/\"><div class=\"highlight__image-container\"><div class=\"highlight__image-background\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"highlight__image wp-image-1532705\" alt=\"A group of five men stands behind a large ribbon while a man holding large scissors prepares to cut it. The Xeuss 3.0 instrument, a large piece of equipment, is behind them and a crowd of researchers stands behind it.\n\" src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xeuss-inauguration-5.jpg\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"highlight__text-container\"><h3 class=\"highlight__heading\">Xeuss 3.0: NC&#160;State\u2019s New X-ray Instrument<\/h3><p class=\"highlight__teaser\">The Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories\u2019 new X-ray instrument will help researchers at NC&#160;State and beyond improve products ranging from electronics to textiles.<\/p><p class=\"highlight__cta\"><span>Learn <\/span><span class=\"nowrap\"><span>more&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"> <svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/aside>\n<p><em>This post was <a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2026\/02\/publish-and-flourish\/\">originally published<\/a> in NC&#160;State News.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-immersive-post-header {\"backgroundColor\":\"aqua_400\",\"caption\":\"Sarah Kromer (left) and Phil Castellano work in a laser laboratory on Centennial Campus.\",\"displayCategoryID\":3,\"subtitle\":\"Students in NC State\u2019s carbon electronics cluster boost their research careers by publishing in some of the world\u2019s most prestigious journals.\\u003cbr\\u003e\"} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">For students, conducting research at NC State is a chance to work alongside some of the world\u2019s top scholars. This work often comes with a perk: Seeing your name alongside those researchers as an author in <em>Science<\/em>, <em>Nature<\/em> and other top journals.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Publishing in these journals \u2014 which includes a painstaking editing and review process that can take a year or more \u2014 can enhance students\u2019 career prospects, whether they\u2019re pursuing jobs in academia or industry. An impressive publication record tells prospective employers that these applicants have played in the big leagues of science, and that they\u2019re ready for more.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cIt conveys that I can collaborate with other people, work in the forefront of a scientific field and bring ideas,\u201d said Sarah Kromer, a Ph.D. student in chemistry. \u201cIt\u2019s beneficial and sets a good standard.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Kromer is among about 100 current graduate and undergraduate students who conduct research alongside faculty in NC State\u2019s Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratory, known as ORaCEL. The research cluster has been particularly successful in publishing breakthroughs in the most prestigious journals, having co-authored 19 papers in the <em>Science, Nature<\/em> and <em>Nature <\/em>disciplinary journals over the past five years, 12 of which were led by ORaCEL faculty.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-widget default right-aside\"><!-- wp:ncst\/aside-fact {\"svgSlug\":\"data-points\",\"heading\":\"Putting Research to Work\",\"support\":\"See a timeline of NC State\u2019s research accomplishments.\",\"callToAction\":\"Take a look\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ori-timeline\/\",\"textColor\":\"indigo_400\",\"useCTA\":true} -->\n<a href=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ori-timeline\/\" class=\"wp-block-ncst-aside-fact ncst-fact with-cta has-indigo-400-text-color\" data-ua-cat=\"Fact Block\" data-ua-action=\"URL Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/ori-timeline\/\"><span class=\"ncst-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" size=\"75\"><path d=\"M310.9 232.38h19.4l44.9-109.2h-19.39l-44.91 109.2zM299.17 232.38l-54.09-149h-19.39l54.09 149h19.39zM117.21 428.32 64.14 282.38H44.75l53.07 145.94h19.39zM128.13 428.32h18.27l68.47-344.94H196.4l-68.27 344.94zM465.41 311.98l-59.19-188.8h-19.39l59.19 188.8h19.39zM73.84 273.2v-74.5H.36v74.5h73.48zM87.71 437.5h73.48V512H87.71zM182.01 0h73.48v74.5h-73.48zM343.46 39.09h73.48v74.5h-73.48zM263.96 241.35h-.31v74.5h73.79v-74.5h-73.48zM438.16 320.14h73.48v74.5h-73.48z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><h2 class=\"fact__heading\">Putting Research to Work<\/h2><p class=\"fact__support\">See a timeline of NC State\u2019s research accomplishments.<\/p><p class=\"fact__cta\"><span class=\"text\">Take a look<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/aside-fact --><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/aside-widget -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The generational mix of ORaCEL\u2019s researchers contributes to this success. The group includes distinguished professors, mid-career and junior faculty, plus many postdocs and students who refine ideas and carry out the experiments. The researchers span multiple colleges and the departments of Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Physics and Astronomy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The cluster is led by <a href=\"https:\/\/adegroup.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/harald-ade\/\">Harald Ade<\/a>, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Ade has been named among the world\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/clarivate.com\/highly-cited-researchers\/?action=clv_hcr_members_filter&amp;clv-paged=1&amp;clv-category=&amp;clv-institution=North%20Carolina%20State%20University&amp;clv-region=&amp;clv-name=\">highly cited researchers<\/a> for the past several years, as has fellow cluster member Aram Amassian in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Other <a href=\"https:\/\/oracel.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/\">cluster members<\/a> have also accumulated impressive publication records. One example is physicist Dali Sun, who since 2023 has had papers in <em>Science<\/em>,<em> Nature Materials<\/em> and <em>Nature Physics<\/em>. The group\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/carbon-electronics-cluster-opens-new-facility-at-nc-state\/\">state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities<\/a> on Centennial Campus help attract top students and give these talented researchers the space to thrive.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThese investments by the university are critical to achieving a high intensity, mutually reinforcing culture of excellence,\u201d Ade said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>\u2018Good People Have a lot of Impact\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sarah Kromer wanted to work with heavy hitters in photochemistry. She had become hooked on the field, which focuses on the chemical effects of light, while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Among the faculty she was drawn to was <a href=\"https:\/\/castellano.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/fncastel\/\">Phil Castellano<\/a>, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Chair in the Department of Chemistry at NC State. Castellano\u2019s research group studies how molecules behave when they\u2019re exposed to light, and then attempts to manipulate that energized state into something useful. The group\u2019s findings have implications for fields ranging from solar energy conversion to cancer treatment.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Kromer liked what she saw and joined the group in 2021. Almost immediately, she established herself as a hardworking star in the lab and was constantly thinking about new experiments. Castellano noticed that she took the inevitable failures in stride, letting them bounce off her and propelling her to seek out new hypotheses and techniques.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cWhat I\u2019ve really learned is that negative information is still information,\u201d Kromer said. \u201cSo if you fail, it still tells you something about the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":1532746,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"align\":\"wide\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0597_WEB.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0597_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Sarah Kromer in a dimly lit lab, surrounded by computer equipment.\" class=\"wp-image-1532746\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sarah Kromer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Her successes are borne out by an impressive list of <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=Pvn8sh4AAAAJ&amp;hl=en\">publications<\/a>, including a 2023 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/372468702_Spin-vibronic_coherence_drives_singlet-triplet_conversion\">paper in <em>Nature<\/em><\/a> for which she was a coauthor. The paper was the first to demonstrate the relationship between electron and nuclear motion on very fast time scales. The work could be applied in solar energy conversion, electronic displays and other areas.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Key to Kromer\u2019s success has been her collaborative nature. She has worked with researchers at universities across the world and here in the United States, including at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. At NC State, she\u2019s been involved with chemists, spectroscopists and engineers, as well as graduate and undergraduate students at various stages in their research careers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThose seedlings hopefully grow and emulate what they see in Sarah,\u201d Castellano said. \u201cAnd if they do, they\u2019ll likely be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Looking ahead, Kromer hopes to move into industry, where she can parlay her impressive publication record into applications that can create clean energy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cGood people have a lot of impact,\u201d Castellano said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>A Continuing Collaboration<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>While considering offers from several graduate schools, Masoud Ghasemi kept liking what he saw in the physics, materials science and engineering programs at NC State. He also found the weather appealingly similar to his hometown near the Caspian Sea in Iran. Raleigh, he decided, would be his new home.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>His advisor was Ade, whose research seeks to advance organic semiconductors and photovoltaics, with the goal of developing off-grid energy sources and electronics for military and civilian use. Ghasemi credits Ade not only with enhancing his scientific knowledge, but also with helping him learn about how to navigate U.S. research culture.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cHarald is amazing,\u201d Ghasemi said. \u201cI learned so much from him.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ghasemi earned his Ph.D. in 2018 and stayed on at NC State to pursue postdoctoral work. Eventually, he took another postdoctoral position at Pennsylvania State University, and in both of those roles he built upon his work as a graduate student at the junction of organic electronics and polymer science.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>These are ever-changing fields. Organic solar cells have become much more efficient over the past several decades, but researchers and manufacturers still struggle with determining which material combinations work best, and why.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":1532748,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"align\":\"wide\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cos-1000173_WEB.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cos-1000173_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"Two men speak in front of a piece of equipment labeled &quot;Dedication Ceremony: Xeuss 3.0&quot;.\" class=\"wp-image-1532748\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harald Ade (right) talks with fellow physicist Lex Kemper, associate dean of research for the College of Sciences.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In one <em>Nature Materials<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2025\/09\/re-entrant-mixing-behavior-in-organic-solar-cells-necessitates-new-modeling-approach\/\">paper<\/a> published in 2025, Ghasemi was part of a team of researchers, including Ade, who created phase diagrams for organic solar cells based on a composite of a polymeric semiconductor and a \u201csmall molecule acceptor.\u201d The work shows that the mixing behavior of these composites can have an unexpected dependence on the temperature, indicating that researchers should consider additional factors when trying to predict material performance. The research could accelerate the development of improved materials for use in high-efficiency solar cells.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Like many postdocs, Ghasemi sees several career paths before him. He could remain in academia and pursue a faculty position, or focus on industry where he can translate his work into products that help people. His NC State graduate education, and his work with Ade and others in the ORaCEL group, helped prepare him for what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cGoing to NC State and working with Harald was one of the best choices of my life,\u201d Ghasemi said. \u201cIf I had to go back, I would definitely make the same choice over and over.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2><strong>Benefiting from a Background in Theory<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Mustafa T\u00fcre arrived at NC State thinking he would pursue his graduate degree in theoretical particle physics. He ended up doing something different.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>T\u00fcre initially joined the research group of Mithat \u00dcnsal to study quantum field theory. But then he took a class with <a href=\"https:\/\/physics.sciences.ncsu.edu\/people\/kgundog\/\">Kenan Gundogdu<\/a>, who studies nanoscience and condensed matter physics. Casual conversations after class turned into actual research, and T\u00fcre joined Gundogdu\u2019s group. \u00dcnsal encouraged T\u00fcre and supported the move.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Much of the resulting collaboration involved applying T\u00fcre\u2019s theoretical knowledge to Gundogdu\u2019s pioneering experimental data.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Gundogdu and others <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41566-022-00974-4\">had previously determined<\/a> that the atomic structure of some hybrid perovskites, which have organic or inorganic cations with different halide components, protected groups of quantum particles from the thermal noise long enough to prompt a phase transition. In these materials, large polarons \u2013 groups of atoms bound to electrons \u2013 formed, insulating light emitting dipoles from thermal interference and allowing for superfluorescence to occur.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":1532747,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\",\"align\":\"wide\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0921_WEB.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MAH0921_WEB.jpg\" alt=\"A student points to a lit projector screen displaying charts and graphs, while a faculty member looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-1532747\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Graduate student Mustafa T\u00fcre (right) joined the lab of Kenan Gundogdu (left) following a series of conversations after class about Gundogdu\u2019s research.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/2025\/05\/solitonic-superfluorescence-paves-way-for-high-temperature-quantum-materials\/\">In the new study<\/a>, published in <em>Nature<\/em>, T\u00fcre\u2019s background in physics theory helped the researchers explain how the creation and preservation of a coherent quantum state actually&nbsp; works. The study could serve as a blueprint for designing materials that allow exotic quantum states such as superconductivity or superfluorescence at high temperatures. That could pave the way for applications such as quantum computers that don\u2019t require extremely low temperatures to operate.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cSo Mustafa gets a chance to work in the lab, see real experimental results, and then he was also able to apply theoretical tools,\u201d Gundogdu said. \u201cAt the end of the day, it turned out it was feasible, which made a very substantial impact on the publication of our paper.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>For T\u00fcre, the change wasn\u2019t easy. His learning curve was steep and there were several months during which he and Gundogdu, with their different physics backgrounds, were just trying to \u201cunderstand what the other was saying,\u201d T\u00fcre said.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cMaking that transition is very scary,\u201d T\u00fcre remembered. \u201cThere were times when I thought, \u2018Can I do this?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>But Gundogdu was a supportive mentor, and he found that he was learning as much from T\u00fcre as T\u00fcre was learning from him. T\u00fcre\u2019s work in two different areas of physics ended up earning him the <a href=\"https:\/\/gundogdu.wordpress.ncsu.edu\/2025\/08\/21\/mustafa-ture-wins-the-2025-philbrick-outstanding-graduate-research-assistant-award\/\">Philbrick Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award<\/a> from his department.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cThis is just the beginning,\u201d T\u00fcre said. \u201cI feel like we\u2019re opening up a new research field.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/highlight {\"teaser\":\"The Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories\u2019 new X-ray instrument will help researchers at NC State and beyond improve products ranging from electronics to textiles.\",\"callToAction\":\"Learn more\",\"imageID\":1532705} -->\n<aside class=\"wp-block-ncst-highlight with-image\"><h2 class=\"highlight__label\">Related<\/h2><a href=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/xeuss-3-0-nc-states-new-x-ray-instrument\/\" class=\"highlight__link\" data-ua-cat=\"Highlight Block\" data-ua-action=\"Story Click\" data-ua-label=\"https:\/\/sciences.ncsu.edu\/news\/xeuss-3-0-nc-states-new-x-ray-instrument\/\"><div class=\"highlight__image-container\"><div class=\"highlight__image-background\"><img class=\"highlight__image wp-image-1532705\" alt=\"A group of five men stands behind a large ribbon while a man holding large scissors prepares to cut it. The Xeuss 3.0 instrument, a large piece of equipment, is behind them and a crowd of researchers stands behind it.\n\" src=\"https:\/\/news.ncsu.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xeuss-inauguration-5.jpg\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"highlight__text-container\"><h3 class=\"highlight__heading\">Xeuss 3.0: NC State\u2019s New X-ray Instrument<\/h3><p class=\"highlight__teaser\">The Organic and Carbon Electronics Laboratories\u2019 new X-ray instrument will help researchers at NC State and beyond improve products ranging from electronics to textiles.<\/p><p class=\"highlight__cta\"><span>Learn <\/span><span class=\"nowrap\"><span>more&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"> <svg class=\"wolficon\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" \/><\/svg> <\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/a><\/aside>\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/highlight -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students in NC State\u2019s carbon electronics cluster boost their research careers by publishing in some of the world\u2019s most prestigious journals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"ncstate_wire","ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[5],"class_list":["post-2418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-_from-newswire-collection-6"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2418"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2432,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions\/2432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.ucomm.ncsu.edu\/web-platform-free-tier\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}