
THE CREW
We are a diverse and interdisciplinary team working with a multi-collaborative network of materials scientists in chemistry, physics, and engineering

MAXX Q. ARGUILLA, PH.D.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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Email: marguill@uci.edu
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ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
Joint Appointment: Department of chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE (JULY 2020 - PRESENT)
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
B.S., UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - DILIMAN (2007-2011)
PH.D., THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (2012-2017)
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, MIT (2017-2020)
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
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Eddleman Quantum Institute (University of California Irvine)
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Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN; American Chemical Society)
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Journal of Materials Chemistry C (Royal Society of Chemistry; to be announced)
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Materials Chemistry Frontiers (Royal Society of Chemistry)
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GradMAP Philippines STEM Mentorship Network (Deputy Chair)
SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
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IUPAC Young Observer (2025)
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Matter (Cell Press) 35 PIs under 35 (2024)
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Top 5 Awardee, Dream Chemistry Award (2024; Polish and Czech Academy of Sciences)
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Runner-up, Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship Award (2024)
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Honoree, C&EN Talented 12 Class (2023)
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Awardee, NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER; 2023)
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Awardee, UCI Inclusive Excellence Teaching Award (2021)
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS


DMITRI LEO M. CORDOVA, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR
B.S., UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - MANILA (2009-2013)
PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF OREGON (2016-2020)
ZEFAN YAO, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR (co-advised)
B.S., PEKING UNIVERSITY (2016)
PH.D., PEKING UNIVERSITY (2016-2021)
GRADUATE RESEARCHERS

STEVEN JAY ALLISON
GRADUATE RESEARCHER (EQI Fellow)
B.S., BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

DIANA LOPEZ
GRADUATE RESEARCHER (NSF GRFP Fellow)
B.S., UC RIVERSIDE

KALEOLANI OGURA
GRADUATE RESEARCHER (DoD NDSEG Fellow)
B.S., CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY

GRIFFIN MILLIGAN
GRADUATE RESEARCHER (NSF GRFP Fellow)
B.S., UC SANTA CRUZ

KAITLYN DOLD
GRADUATE RESEARCHER (NSF GRFP Fellow)
B.S., UM COLLEGE PARK
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS

LEO CHENG
UG RESEARCHER
B.S., UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE
(expected 2024)
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GROUP ALUMNI
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
KENNETH CHUA
Currently a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill Chemistry
MAHAM HASIB
Currently a graduate student at Harvard Applied Physics
ALICIA LIU
Currently an MBA student at Pepperdine University
BAIXIN TONG
Currently a graduate student at USC MSE
REBECCA MAI HUYNH
Currently a Clinical Study Coordinator,
UCI School of Medicine
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