Michelle Smeaton joined NREL’s Analytical Microscopy group as a postdoctoral researcher in early 2023. Her research focuses on using in situ electron microscopy to elucidate structure-property relationships in materials and devices for neuromorphic computing. Prior to joining NREL, Michelle earned her bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota and her doctorate from Cornell University. She completed her doctoral work with Professor Lena Kourkoutis, focusing on the analysis of atomic-scale structure and chemistry in quantum materials using a suite of advanced electron microscopy techniques.

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Research Interests

Scanning/transmission electron microscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy

In situ characterization

Materials for neuromorphic devices

Education

Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University

B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

Associations and Memberships

Member, Materials Research Society

Member, Microscopy Society of America

Member, Microanalysis Society

Featured Work

Geometric Frustration of Jahn-Teller Order in the Infinite Layer Lattice, Nature (2023)

Epitaxial Growth of the First Two Members of the Ba_n+1In_nO_2.5n+1 Ruddlesden-Popper Homologous Series, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A (2022)

Mapping Defect Relaxation in Quantum Dot Solids upon In Situ Heating, ACS Nano (2021)

Mechanistic Insights into Superlattice Transformation at a Single Nanocrystal Level Using Nanobeam Electron Diffraction, Nano Letters (2020)

Awards and Honors

Materials Research Society Excellent Contributed Talk Award (2022)

Microscopy and Microanalysis Student Scholar Award (2019)

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2018)