Usern_member

Athena Sefat

USERN Advisory Board


Bio 



To explore cause-and-effect relationships, Athena tunes structural parameters to target particular transport-magnetic-electronic behaviors in single crystals and complements those experiments with theoretical calculations. She has co-authored nearly 200 refereed scientific articles (h-index = 40), and Thomson Reuters named her a high-cited researcher in 2014 in recognition of her ranking among the top 1% of researchers for citations in condensed-matter physics between 2002 and 2012. She received a DOE Early Career Award in 2010 for a project titled “Superconductivity in structurally layered materials,” and currently has her own DOE BES-funded project titled “Tuning phase transformations through designed functionality.” Such synthesis–property driven research to tune physical properties in single crystals ultimately aims to fulfill the promise of materials by design and continues to impact scientific leadership in energy-related materials discovery.


Professional Positions:



  • 2009–present Research Staff Scientist

    Materials Science & Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

    Research focuses on cause-and-effect relationships by tuning structural parameters to target particular transport-magnetic-electronic behaviors in single crystals and complements those experiments with theoretical calculations. Such synthesis–property driven research to tune physical properties in single crystals ultimately aims to fulfill the promise of materials by design and continues to impact scientific leadership in energyrelated materials discovery. A variety of multi-length techniques are utilized such as synthesis methods, powder neutron and X-ray diffraction, thermodynamic and transport properties (resistivity, magnetization, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, Hall effect), transmission electron microscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. A few topics of interest include intermetallics, oxides, pnictides, chalcogens, crystal structures, antiferromagnets, and superconductors, single crystals, and inhomogeneity and disorder.

     
  • 2007–2009 Wigner Fellow

    Materials Science & Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

    Research investigated synthesis and thermodynamic and transport properties of powders of double-perovskites and a few iron-based superconductors in single crystal forms, too.

     
  • 2005–2007 Postdoctoral Fellow

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ames Laboratory

    Research involved synthesis of single crystals of intermetallics from Flux methods, and used characterization techniques of anisotropic magnetization measurements, heat capacity and resistance, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and applications of pressure.

Education:



  • Ph.D. 2001 – 2005, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

    Thesis Title: “Magnetic & Electronic Transitions in Nd1-xTiO3: A study of correlation effects”. Topics were synthesis of single crystals of oxides using Bridgman method, powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, Anderson-Mott transition, antiferromagentism, vacancy doping.
  • B.S. 2001, McMaster University, ON, Canada

Research Programs:



  • 2015–present Principal Investigator, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Field Work Proposal

    ERKCK25: Tuning Phase Transformations for Designed Functionality
  • 2010–2015 Principal Investigator, ECA, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Field Work Proposal

    ERKCM70: Origin of Superconductivity in Structurally-layered Materials
  • Principal Investigator: Exploration of superconductivity in non-layered materials, ORNL LDRD (Laboratory Directed R&D), 2013-2015; Synthesis & wire development of Fe-selenide superconductors ORNL SEED, 2011-2012.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors:



  • Ph.D. Advisor: John E. Greedan (McMaster University); Postdoctoral Advisor: Paul C. Canfield (Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University)

Students and Postgraduate-scholars:



  • Total graduate students partially or co-advised (5): Stephen Kuhn (Notre Dame); Lindsey VanBebber (University of Tennessee), Zachary Sims (UT), Walter Uhoya (University of Alabama at Birmingham), Jordan Ermentrout (Allegheny College); Total postmaster’s individual funded/advised [1]: Jonathan Mitchell. Total postdoctoral individuals funded/advised [8]: Bayram Saparov, Daniel Hillesheim, Kris Gofryk, Fsu Shipra, Li Li, Qiang Zheng, Shivani Rajput, Qiang Zou.





Awards 




  • Panelist, U.S.DOE Office of BES, Quantum Materials BRN Workshop. Washington, DC. (2016).
  • Featured on “Geek Puff”, which records the advances of women in STEM fields:http://www.geekpuff.com/crystals-design/ (2015).
  • Panelist, CRDF-QNRF Global Women in Science: Organized by U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation and Qatar National Science Fund (QNSF). Doha, Qatar. (2015).
  • Featured as ORNL’s “40 Under 40”, Greater Knoxville Business Journal as a region’s rising star:http://www.knoxnews.com/business/journal/40-under-forty-the-regions-risi... (2015).
  • Reviewer, NSF, Solid State Materials (SSMC) panel. (2015).
  • Co-organizer, Materials Research Society (MRS). Symposium on “Science & technology of superconducting materials.” (2015).
  • Reviewer, U.S.DOE Office of BES, BNL sit review of Condensed-matter Physics and Materials Science Department. Upton, NY. (2014).
  • Featured as Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher, in recognition of being ranked among the top 1% of researchers for being most cited in field of Physics between 2002 and 2012:http://www.utwente.nl/mira/publicmedia/influential-scientific-minds.pdf (2014).
  • CAS-DOE Collaborative Discussions: Organized by Chinese Academy of Sciences and Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Beijing, China. (2014).
  • Organizer, International Conference on Superconductivity & Magnetism (ICSM) Conference: Turkey. Technical Session on “Iron-based superconductors: properties of materials in single crystal and thin film form.” (2014 and 2016).
  • Co-organizer, American Physical Society (APS) Conference. Symposium on “Search and understanding of superconductivity in single crystals and films.” (2014).
  • Featured as Women@Energy, http://energy.gov/diversity/articles/women-energy-athena-sefat, and in Professional Woman’s Magazine, for work in the STEM field. (2013).
  • Co-organizer, The 20th American Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ACCGE). Symposium on “Correlated Electron Crystals.” (2013 and 2015).
  • Panelist, Advisory board for Turkey’s Superconductivity/Magnetism future. Ankara, Turkey (2012).
  • Gordon Battelle Award for Group Scientific Discovery (2011).
  • ORNL’s Award of Science & Technology Early Career for Scientific Accomplishment (2010).
  • ORNL’s Director Award for Outstanding Team Accomplishment, ORNL (2009).
  • Eugene P. Wigner Fellowship Award, ORNL (2007).
  • Member, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (2006).
  • NSERC Award, Natural Science & Engineering Research Council of Canada Doctoral Scholarship,
  • McMaster University (2005).





Publications 



/sites/default/files/Sefat%20Publications_2016.pdf


188;   citation ~ 6327;   h-index = 40  [Web of Science, 3/7/2016]         


Review articles -- first-authored



  1. Sefat, A.S.; Singh, D.J., “Chemistry and electronic structure of iron-based superconductors,”Material Research Bulletin 36, 614 (2011).
  2. Sefat, A.S., “Bulk synthesis of iron-based superconductors,” Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science 17, 59 (2013).
  3. Sefat, A.S., “Pressure effects on two superconducting iron-based families,” Reports on Progress in Physics 74, 124502 (2011).

 Most-cited manuscripts -- first-authored



  1. Sefat, A.S.; Jin, R.; McGuire, M.A.; Sales, B.C.; Singh, D.J.; Mandrus, D., “Superconductivity at 22 K in Co-doped BaFe2As2 crystals,” Physical Review Letters 101, 117004 (2008).
  2. Sefat, A.S.; Huq, A.; McGuire, M.A.; Jin, R.; Sales, B.C.; Mandrus, D.; Cranswick, L.M.D.; Stephens, P.W.; Stone, K.H., “Superconductivity in LaFe1-xCoxAsO,” Physical Review B 78, 104505 (2008). 
  3. Sefat, A.S.; McGuire, M.A.; Sales, B.C.; Jin, R.; Howe, J.Y.; Mandrus, D., “Electronic correlations in the superconductor LaFeAsO0.89F0.11 with low carrier density,” Physical Review B 77, 174503 (2008). 
  4. Sefat, A.S.; Singh, D.J.; Jin, R.; McGuire, M.A.; Sales, B.C.; Mandrus, D., “Renormalized behavior and proximity of BaCo2As2 to a magnetic quantum critical point,” Physical Review B 79, 024512 (2009). 
  5. Sefat, A.S.; McGuire, M.A.; Jin, R.; Sales, B.C.; Mandrus, D.; Ronning, F.; Bauer, E.D.; Mozharivskyj, Y., “Structure and anisotropic properties of BaFe2-xNixAs2 (x=0, 1, and 2) single crystals,” Physical Review B 79, 094508 (2009).  
  6. Sefat, A.S.; Singh, D.J.; VanBebber, L.H.; Mozharivskyj, Y.; McGuire, M.A.; Jin, R.; Sales, B.C.; Keppens, V.; Mandrus, D., “Absence of superconductivity in hole-doped BaFe2-xCrxAs2 single crystals,” Physical Review B 79, 224524 (2009).

Selected high impact-factor manuscripts -- 2014, to present



  1. Sefat, A.S.; Li, L.; Cao, H.B.; McGuire, M.A.; Sales, B.; Custelcean, R.; Parker, D.S., “Anomalous magneto-elastic and charge doping effects in thallium-doped BaFe2As2,” Scientific Reports 6(2016), 21660.
  2. Liu, Z.Q.; Li, L.; Gai, Z.; Clarkson, J.D.; Hsu, S.L.; Wong, A.T.;  Fan, L.S.; Lin, M.-W.; Rouleau, C.M.; Ward, T.Z.; Lee, H.N.; Sefat, A.S.; Christen, H.M.; Ramesh. R., “Full electroresistance modulation in a mixed-phase metallic alloy,” Physical Review Letter 116 (2016), 097203.
  3. Liu, Z.; Biegalski, M.D.; Hsu, S.L.; Shang, S.; Marker, C.; Liu, J.; Li, L.; Fan, L.; Meyer, T.L.; Wong, A.T.; Nichols, J.A.; Chen, D.; You, L.; Chen, Zl; Wang, K.; Wang, K.; Ward, T.Z.; Gai, Z.; Lee, H.N.; Sefat, A.S.; Lauter, V.; Liu, Z.K.; Christen, H.M., “Epitaxial growth of intermetallic MnPt films on oxides and large exchange bias,” Advanced Materials 28 (2016), 118.
  4. Khasanov, R.; Guguchia, Z.; Eremin, I.; Luetkens, H.; Amato, A.; Biswas, P.K.; Ruegg, C.; Susner, M.A.; Sefat, A.S.; Zhigadlo, N.D.; Morenzoni, E.,  “Pressure-induced electronic phase separation of magnetism and superconductivity in CrAs,” Scientific Reports 5, 13788 (2015).
  5. Cantoni, C.; McGuire, M.A.; Saparov, B.; May, A.F.; Keiber, T.; Bridges, F.; Sefat, A.S.; Sales, B.C., “Room-temperature Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 is not tetragonal: Direct observation of magnetoelastic interactions in pnictide superconductors,” Advanced Materials 27, 2715 (2015).
  6. Gu, D.; Dai, X.; Le, C.; Sun, L.; Wu, Q.; Saparov, B.; Guo, J.; Gao, P.; Zhang, S.; Zhou, Y.; Zhang, C.; Xiong, L.; Li, R.; Li, Y.; Li, X.; Liu, J.; Sefat, A.S.; Hu, J.; Zhao, Z., “Robust antiferromagnetism preventing superconductivity in pressurized Ba0.61K0.39Mn2Bi2,” Scientific Reports 4, 7342 (2014).
  7. Takeda, H.; Imai, T.; Tachibana, M.; Gaudet, J.; Gaulin, B.D.; Saparov, B.I.; Sefat, A.S., “Cu substitution effects on the local magnetic properties of Ba(Fe1-xCux)2As2: A site-selective 75As and 63Cu NMR study,” Physical Review Letters 113, 117001 (2014).
  8. Gofryk, K.; Pan, M.; Cantoni, C.; Saparov, B.; Mitchell, J.E.; Sefat, A.S., “Local inhomogeneity and filamentary superconductivity in Pr-Doped CaFe2As2,” Physical Review Letters 112, 047005 (2014). 
  9. Gofryk, K.; Saparov, B.; Durakiewicz, T.; Chikina, A.; Danzenbacher, S.; Vyalikh, D.V.; Graf, M.J.; Sefat, A.S., “Fermi-surface reconstruction and complex phase equilibria in CaFe2As2,”Physical Review Letters 112, 186401 (2014).  
  10. Saparov, B.; Cantoni, C.; Pan, M.; Hogan, T.C.; Ratcliff II, W.; Wilson, S.D.; Fritsch, K.; Gaulin, B.D.; Sefat, A.S., “Complex structures of different CaFe2As2 samples,” Scientific Reports 4, 4120 (2014).

Invited Talks:



  1. Gordon Research Conference (GRC), Solid State chemistry meeting on ‘Energy Materials of the Future’: “Collective Phenomena through Microscopic Effects,” New London, N.H. July 2016.
  2. The 18th International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy (ICCGE): “Preparation of iron-based pnictide and chalcogenide crystals for the studies of properties,” Shiga, Japan. August 2016.
  3. American Physical Society (APS) Meeting: “Novel materials & multi-scale analysis of the superconducting state in FeSC,” San Antonio, TX, USA. March 2015.
  4. 2015 Electronic Materials and Applications (EMA): “Tuning of crystals on atomic scales,” Orlando, FL, U.S. January 2015.
  5. 27th International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS): “Collective phenomena through microscopic effects,” Tokyo, Japan. November 2014.
  6. The Beijing International Workshop on Iron-Based Superconductors (BIIS): “Research on novel materials and multi-scale analysis of the superconducting State,” Beijing, China. August 2014.
  7. American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, Lunch with the Experts; “Superconducting materials growth and design,” Denver, CO, USA. March 2014.
  8.  Workshop on New Directions and Opportunities for Small-Angle Neutron Scattering in Condensed Matter Science: “Tuning of Crystals on Atomic Scales,” Oak Ridge, USA. July 2014.
  9. Energy Materials Nanotechnology (EMN) Summer Meeting; Iron and Iridium based Superconductivity: “Some of the superconductivity research at ORNL,” Cancun, Mexico. June 2014.
  10. The Spring School and Educational Courses (SSEC) and 4th International Conference on Superconductivity & Magnetism (ICSM) Conference: “Fundamental Research: Superconducting Materials synthesis and characterization,” Antalya, Turkey. April 2014. Closing remarks at ICSM Conference found at https://vimeo.com/116056659.
  11. “What problem are you working on?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VM6HLQ79XY(2014).
  12. Science Saturday, (Team of Amit Goyal, Thomas Maier, Michael Coffey, Gene Ice, Frank Wood) give lectures to high-school students about materials properties on “High Temp Superconductors: Wanna Levitate?” http://stemsource.ornl.gov/high-temp-superconductorswanna- levitate/ (Jan 2014).
  13. International Workshop on Novel Superconductors and Super Materials (NS2): “A few notes about the superconductivity research at ORNL,” Tokyo, Japan. November 2013.
  14. National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS): “Superconductivity Research at ORNL,” Tsukuba, Japan. October 2013.
  15. Materials & Mechanisms of Superconductivity (M2M) Conference: “Materials Perspective on the Iron-based Superconductors: Insights into the Superconductivity Mechanism,” Washington, DC, USA. July 2012.
  16. 2nd BIMR Summer School on Modern Methods of Crystal Growth: “Chemistry: Solid State Reaction, Flux and Bridgman Methods,” McMaster University, ON, Canada. June 2012.
  17. American Physical Society (APS) Meeting: “Exploration of Superconductivity in Layered Structures,” Boston, MA, USA. March 2012.
  18. American Physical Society (APS) Meeting; Tutorial Session: “Synthesis of Iron-based Superconductors: Building from Atoms Up,” Boston, MA, USA. March 2012.
  19. North American Solid State Chemistry (NASSCC) Conference: “Copper- & Iron-based Superconductors: A Few Lessons Learned,” Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. June 2011.
  20. Materials Research Society (MRS) Meeting: “Chemical Doping in Iron-based Superconductors,” San Francisco, CA, USA. April 2011.
  21. Conference on Magnetism & Magnetic Materials (MMM): “Substitutional Doping on the Iron Site: The Super-surprise,” Atlanta, GA, November 2010.
  22. UCSB-ICMR Synthesis Summer School: “Flux Method for Preparing Crystals of Main Group Compounds,” University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. August 2010.
  23. 1st BIMR Summer School on Modern Methods of Crystal Growth: “Chemistry and Flux Method,” McMaster University, ON, Canada. June 2010.
  24. The International Conference on Strongly Correlated Electron Systems (SCES): “Unconventional superconductivity in the simple BaFe2As2 and the more complex structures,” Santa Fe, NM, USA. June 2010.

  25. American Physical Society (APS) Meeting: “Synthesis & Doping of LaFeAsO, BaFe2As2, & FeTe Compounds,” Portland, OR, USA. March 2010.







Patents 




  1. Evans III, B.M.; Ludtka, G.M.; Nicholson, D.M.; Rios, O.; Safa-Sefat, A.; West, D.L. “Iron-Based Composition for Magnetocaloric Effect (MCE) Applications and Method of Making a Single Crystal.” U.S. Patent No. 9,255,343, issued date February 9, 2016.




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