/College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Materials Science and Chemical Engineering

Yu-chen Karen Chen-Wiegart

Associate Professor

Office: 204 Engineering Bldg.

karen

Prof. Chen-Wiegart emphasizes on applying state-of-the-art x-ray imaging and spectroscopic techniques to study novel functional materials. Her current interests include energy storage and conversion, nano-/meso-porous materials, thin film & surface treatment, and cultural heritage. She also holds a Joint Appointment with National Synchrotron Light Source – II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), coordinating the efforts of multi-modal research approach.

Before joining the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University, she served as beamline scientist at the Sub-Micron Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy (SRX) Beamline of NSLS-II. Prior to that she was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Synchrotron Light Source at BNL, where she participated in the commissioning of the new high-resolution x-ray transmission microscope and in establishing the new associated research program. Her PhD research at Northwestern University focused on the study of the dealloying and coarsening behaviors of nanoporous metal which has numerous potential applications, co-funded by Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. While continuing to develop cutting-edge x-ray tools, she is exploring new opportunities in functional materials. She has also been active in out-reach programs at NSLS-II and SBU, organizing events such as “Bring Our Children to Work Day” for the Photon Sciences Division at BNL, volunteering for educational and outreach events, and teaching courses in Women in Science & Engineering program at SBU.

 

Reserach Interests 

  • Materials Process-Structure-Property Relationship: Functional Porous Metals and Alloys and Bicontinous Metallic Composites 
  • Sustainable Energy: Multimodal Studies of Batteries by Advanced Synchrotron X-ray Characterization
  • Understanding Degradation Processes in Thermal Energy Storage Materials and Phase Change Materials – Molten Salt
  • Elucidating the formation and Corrosion Resistance Processes of Surface Coatings
  • 3D Printing Batteries with Advanced Synchrotron X-ray Analysis
  • Novel X-ray Imaging and Microscopy: Super Resolution and Probing Dynamics

 

Honors & Awards

  • NSF CAREER Award (2018): Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • TMS Frontiers of Materials Award (2022): The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)

 

Education

  • Ph.D. 2011: Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
  • B.S. 2007: Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University

 

Career

  • Associate professor (2023-present), Assistant Professor (2017-2023), Adjunct Faculty (2015-2017), Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University

  • Joint Appointment (2017-present), Associate Physicist (2016-2017), Assistant Physicist (2014-2016) 
    National Synchrotron Light Source – II, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Research Associate (2011-2014)
    National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Research Assistant (2007-2011)
    Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University; Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory

 

Research group