People

Wenwen Zhao is an Assistant Professor in ESCE at RPI since July 2025. She obtained her Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Cornell University in 2025. She is the recipient of Kavli Institute at Cornell (KIC) Graduate Fellowship and Nellie Ye-Poh Lin Whetten Memorial Award. She likes hiking and dancing.

Her research focuses on semiconductor devices and integration using ultra-wide bandgap materials, with an emphasis on high-frequency, high-Q, and integrable acoustic filters. She is particularly interested in monolithic integration of acoustic and electronic devices for RF systems, multifunctional sensing, and quantum technologies.

Siyuan Alpha Ma, email: mas7@rpi.edu

Alpha joined the group in Fall 2025 after earning his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Physics and Math in 2022. As a Ph.D. student, his research focuses on modeling and characterization of III-Nitride acoustic and electronic devices. His M.S. research was on GaN HEMT modeling and characterization.

Hemant Gulupalli, email: guluph@rpi.edu

Hemant joined the group in Fall 2025 after earning his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. As a Ph.D. student, his research focuses on fabrication and characterization of III-Nitride acoustic and electronic devices. His M.S. research was on Mist-CVD growth of α-Ga₂O₃, β-Ga₂O₃, NiO, GeO₂, and the fabrication of NiO/Ga₂O₃ heterojunctions for high-power electronics.

Meftah Zaki, email: zakim2@rpi.edu

Meftah Zaki starts his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Fall 2026. Previously, he worked as an electrical engineer specializing in PCB design, EMC testing, and medical device development. He is now pursuing emerging interests in the field of semiconductors such as hybrid sensing and advanced fabrication, aiming to help drive innovation in these areas.

Massimo Mikio Martini, email: martim26@rpi.edu

Max joined the group in Fall 2025. He is an Electrical Engineering major graduating in Spring 2027, with concentrations in Microelectronics & Photonics and Mixed-Signal Design. Max is assisting with the characterization and fabrication of III-V semiconductor devices.

Junjie Xie

Undergrad, Fall 2025-Spring 2026, move on to industry after undergrad study.

Yuming Tseng

Undergrad, Fall 2025-Spring 2026, move on to the M.S. program in Columbia University after undergrad study.

Ryan Komp

Undergrad, Spring 2026, move on to industry after undergrad study.

Yuanjia Zhang

Undergrad, Fall 2025, RPI.