Principal Investigator
Jane Howe
Jane Howe is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Prior to her new position at UofT, Jane worked as a Senior Applications Scientist with Hitachi High-Technologies group in US and Canada for the past five years. Jane received her Ph.D. in Ceramic Science from Alfred University in 2001. After a postdoc at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Jane stayed at ORNL as a Staff Scientist and Principal Investigator until 2012. She has over 100 publications on peer-reviewed journals and holds nine US patents on electron microscopy and materials characterization and development. She won two R&D 100 Awards in research and development of the lithium battery technology and nano-structured carbon materials. Jane’s current research interest is in situ and correlative microscopy techniques.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Lotan Portal
Lotan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Prof. Jane Howe. With a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the Technion, where her doctoral research focused on the formation of 1D, 2D, and 3D crystals with tunable functional properties, her academic and professional work specializes in advanced electron microscopy techniques, particularly SEM and TEM automation and the application of machine learning tools for materials characterization. Before transitioning to her current research role, she built a strong foundation in the industry as a system engineer at Applied Materials.
PhD Students
Dian (Jack) Yu
Dian Yu (Jack) is a PhD candidate co-supervised by Professor Jane Howe and Professor Keryn Lian in the department of materials science and engineering of University of Toronto, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. His research focuses on new methods in SEM imaging and quantitative analyses of nanoporous and insulating materials. When not in the lab, Jack is an avid photographer, supporting various organizations in the engineering community.
Contact: dianjack.yu@mail.utoronto.ca
Mia San Gabriel
Mia San Gabriel is a PhD candidate supervised by Professor Jane Howe. Prior to joining UofT, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nanotechnology Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2021. Her research interests include developments in liquid-phase electron microscopy and microfabrication. Outside of academia, Mia has a background in dance and enjoys watching musical theatre.
Contact: mia.sangabriel@mail.utoronto.ca
Hikaru Tanaka
Hikaru Tanaka is a phD student co-supervised by professor Jane Howe and professor James Davis. His research focuses on analyzing microstructural morphological change induced by helium bubbles formation due to irradiation. Hikaru also serves as MSE Graduate Student Association (MSEGSA) president.
Terry Jiahao Li
Terry is a PhD student co-supervised by professor Jane Howe and Professor Uwe Erb. He earned his bachelor’s degree in the department of materials science and engineering from University of Toronto in 2022. His research focuses on enhancing pool boiling performance with electroplated biphilic materials coatings. Outside of academia, Terry is a runner and enjoys watching baseball and soccer.
Masha Stanko
Masha is pursuing a PhD to bridge her interests in materials and microstructures, with the study of history. Supervised by professors Jane Howe and Doug Perovic, her research revolves around materials characterization and forensics applied to the oldest objects on earth and beyond–both natural and man-made. Objects such as archaeological artifacts and meteorites. Through collaborations with researchers and scientists at the Royal Ontario Museum, Masha hopes to apply her research towards museum collections.
Contact: masha.stanko@mail.utoronto.ca
Janny Wang
Kevin Zhang
Kevin Zhang is a PhD candidate co-supervised by Professors Jason Hatrick-Simpers and Jane Howe, with a focus on self-driving labs and Machine Learning. He is currently building an autonomous scanning electron microscope powered by large machine learning models. Outside the lab, Kevin enjoys 3D modeling and 3D printing, VR videography, and prototyping hardware and coding projects.
Contact: liyang.zheng@mail.utoronto.ca
Master Students
Julia Barbat
Julia Barbat is a MASc student in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto, co-supervised by Professor Jane Howe and Professor Oliver Ernst. After completing her HBSc in Biochemistry at the University of Toronto in 2025 and conducting undergraduate research in the Ernst lab focused on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and the development of copper-based spin labels to probe protein dynamics, she joined the Howe lab to explore new approaches for studying protein structure. Her current research focuses on high-throughput protein structure determination using serial electron diffraction of protein nanocrystals. Outside the lab, Julia enjoys going on runs with her partner and baking.
Savannah Byrne
Savannah is a MASc student co-supervised by Professor Jane Howe and Professor Sunmoon Yu. Savannah completed her BASc in chemical engineering at UofT in 2026, where she grew her passion for sustainability. Her research interests feed this passion through catalyst design and characterization for CO2 reduction. Outside of the lab, Savannah enjoys running and drumming in several bands.
Contact: laura.battista@mail.utoronto.ca
Ethan Hays
Ethan Hays is a MASc student co-supervised by Professor Jane Howe and Professor Keryn Lian. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto in 2025. His research interests include in situ TEM and electrochemical characterization of energy storage materials. In his free time, Ethan enjoys rock climbing and spending time in nature.
Herald Kurnia Adi
Herald Kurnia Adi is an MEng candidate supervised by Professor Jane Howe. Before joining UofT, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the University of Indonesia in 2019 and worked for over three years in a pipe cladding and manufacturing company from 2022 to 2026. His research interests include microscopic investigations of irradiated nuclear materials. Outside of academia, Herald enjoys airsoft, as well as playing tactical stealth and Soulslike video games.
Contact: herald.kurniaadi@mail.utoronto.ca
Alumni
2026
- Dr. Raunaq Bagchi, Ph.D. student (2021-2026): .
2025
- Laura Battista, M.A.Sc (2024-2025): .
- Dr. Maryam Golozar, PostDoc (2024-2025): In situ SEM Observation of Thermal Evolution of Surface-Modified Silver Nanoparticles.
- Dr. Ehsan Nikbin, Ph.D. student (2019-2025): High-Throughput Structure Determination Using Serial Electron Diffraction Method.
- Dr. Liyang Zheng, PostDoc (2025): ; Ph.D. student (2018-2025): Characterization of Copper Coatings at the Closure Weld Zone for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Containers.
2024
- Yasuchika Suzuki, Research Associate (2023-2024): Low-voltage serial electron diffraction with a high-brightness electron emitter.
- Dr. Bin Shi, Ph.D. student (2019-2024): Computer vision and 3D reconstruction in EM.
- Hongran (Harrison) Wang, M.A.Sc. (2022-2024): Investigation of wired glass mechanical properties.
- Dr. Chenyue (Yucy) Qiu, PostDoc (2023-2024): In situ liquid-phase electron microscopy; Ph.D. student (2019-2023): In-situ study of election metal oxides using environmental TEM.
- Dr. Jonathan Kong, PostDoc (2023-2024): In situ microscopy of nanocrystalline alloys; Ph.D. student (2019-2023): Thermal stability and mechanical properties of mass-produced electroformed nanocrystalline Ni-Co sheet metal.
2023
- Sang Bum Yi, M.A.Sc. (2021-2023): Microstructure of native copper.
- Mikaella Brillantes, M.A.Sc. (2021-2023): Understanding the evolution of Bentonite. microstructure during hydration-dehydration cycles for nuclear waste containment.
- Dr. Mengsha Li, PostDoc (2021-2023): In situ electron microscopy analysis of catalysts and electronic materials.
- Masum Billah, M.A.Sc. (2021-2023): In situ scanning electron microscopy study of corrosion of metals.
2022
- Dr. Jason Tam, PostDoc (2020-2022): Electron microscopy of grain boundary engineered materials.
- Dr. Chiwon Lee, PostDoc (2021-2022): Liquid phase electron microscopy for dynamic study of biomolecules.
- Medhavi Patel, M.A.Sc. (2020-2022): Scanning electron microscopy analysis of microplastics and other plastics.
2021 and earlier
- Guotao Pang, M.A.Sc. (2019-2021): Liquid TEM using a graphene liquid cell.
- Marco Montoya, M.A.Sc. (2020-2021): Wired glass failures: investigation on the mechanical properties of wired glass.
- Po-Han (Benson) Wang: M.Eng. (2019-2020): Microstructural analysis of biomass derived carbon for supercapacitor applications.
Summer/Visiting Students
2026: Melanie Liu, Advay Rao, Yu Chee Tan
2025: Melanie Liu, Claire Gong-Miniere, Roshan Yan, Sam Zanbilowicz
2024: David Sanjaya, Eyton Chin Pang, Grigory Elkin, Jonathan Choi
2023: Frank Kim, Kevin Gan, Mako Darra, Mahrad Nemati, Savannah Byrne
2022: Isabella Gallicchio, Kevin Zhang, Nicholas Price, Ray Ju, Dana Murdoch, Alex Zhang
2021: Brittny Eileen Carter, David Petriw, Julia Nightingale, Mireille Parsons, Siegfried Gautama, Thomas Pruyn
2020: Jihui (Leo) Yan, Peihua Wang, Karelle Guiao, Medhavi Patel
2019: Harrison Wang, Jack Yu, Lauren Paquette, Zhengyu (Brian) Li