Outreach Seed 2026: A traineeship to explore novel photonic memristors enabled by photo-ionic phase change materials for programmable photonic computing

The team (Prof. Lynford Goddard, Dr. Ricky Li, and six undergraduates) has focused on establishing foundational capabilities, including: Software training, cleaning room training, AI training, orientation for photonic memristor research. A blueprint for inverse-designed photonic structures has been prepared as an early conceptual framework for the research direction (below).

The project investigates photo-ionic phase change material memristors for programmable photonic computing; an emerging materials platform aligned with MRSEC’s focus on innovative, high-impact materials research. The team is explicitly planning collaborations with MRSEC PIs and leveraging MRSEC-funded shared facilities (cleanroom tools, characterization platforms), demonstrating strong integration into the center’s interdisciplinary research theme. The team plans to develop internship pathways with the national labs (Argonne, Sandia, and Lawrence Livermore) to support MRSEC’s mission to strengthen national lab and industry ties.