Hitachi awards two fellowships to Clemson Ph.D. students

Clemson University Ph.D. students Som Dixit and Shinto Francis received fellowships from Hitachi High-Tech America Inc. to support their research on additive manufacturing and quantum computing, respectively.

Each student received a $25,000 fellowship to continue their research and complete their doctoral degrees. Hitachi High-Tech America established the fellowship in 2014 to support a graduate student using the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility to conduct research as part of their doctoral studies. This is the first year the company has awarded two fellowships.

"This year, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hitachi Fellowship, and we are excited to award two fellowships, further expanding our growing community of awardees who are making an impact across the globe," said Dean Plunkett, director and national sales manager, Hitachi High-Tech America Inc.

An automotive engineering Ph.D. student, Dixit is working to unlock the potential of additive manufacturing to produce high-performance materials with vast applications across the military, automotive, energy and nuclear sectors. His research focuses on developing innovative materials like metal-ceramic multifunctional composites, high-entropy alloys and various industrial alloys. He uses highly advanced electron microscopy at Clemson University to analyze additively manufactured components at different scales, characterizing their microstructural features, defect evolutions, as well as physical and chemical interactions at interfaces of dissimilar materials. This helps to understand the transformative capability of additive manufacturing in advancing material innovation and developing more reliable materials with enhanced properties and performance. Dixit is studying under the mentorship of Shunyu Liu, assistant professor of automotive engineering.

Francis, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is working to develop systems to support quantum computing, which holds promise to solve complex problems not currently supported by classic supercomputers. Conventional computers utilize binary form (1s and Os) to encode information. The fundamental building blocks of quantum computing, however, are qubits, or quantum bits. While powerful, qubits are highly susceptible to outside noise or interference. Shinto is working to build periodic defects such as nitrogen vacancy centers that could be less susceptible to external disturbance. He is using focused-ion beam microscopy to fabricate periodic defects that can isolate the qubit from external noise. Shinto is studying under the mentorship of Ramakrishna Podila, associate professor of physics and astronomy and fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The Electron Microscopy Facility has been core to the research of both Francis and Dixit.

Hitachi has been instrumental in both the development of the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility in the mid-1990s, as well as its steady over the past three decades.

"The (Clemson University) Electron Microscopy Facility stands as one of the nation's most advanced imaging laboratories, perfectly reflecting Hitachi's dedication to sustainable innovation and our mission to inspire the next generation," Plunkett said. "We are proud to support Clemson University and its students through the Hitachi Fellowship, fostering a spirit of inquiry and action."

The facility added several new Hitachi electron microscopes in recent years that are among the global company's most advanced machines. Additionally, Hitachi has a staff member on site to ensure the advanced equipment is operating in top condition.

"I greatly appreciate our long-standing collaboration with Hitachi. These types of partnerships directly support our Clemson Elevate goals of doubling research and providing the No. 1 student experience," said Tanju Karanfil, Clemson senior vice president for research, scholarship and creative endeavors. "This facility provides a unique platform for not only Clemson faculty to innovate, but for local industries that frequently utilize our equipment and expertise in their research and development efforts as well. Our students, meanwhile, are able to study on the latest technology available anywhere in the world, making them highly desirable job candidates after graduating."