EEE alum honoured with Folsom distinguished thesis award in the US

S M Nayeem Arefin, an alumnus of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has received the 2024-2025 Folsom Distinguished Master's Thesis Award from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), USA.

He received the recognition on April 23, 2025, for his National Science Foundation (NSF)- funded research on lead halide perovskites conducted during his Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program. 

The award, granted to only two students from across more than one hundred departments and nine colleges at UNL, recognised his thesis, which was supervised by Dr. Laura Wang, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UNL, specialising in optoelectronic materials.

Arefin's thesis, titled "Patterning Synthesis of Lead Halide Perovskites Toward Photonic Application," addressed the challenges of traditional lithographic techniques that degrade the fragile crystal structures of perovskites. By developing a new synthesis method combining soft lithography and self-assembly with asymmetric wettability templates, Arefin achieved the first controlled synthesis of CsPb₂Br₅ crystals, without compromising their structural integrity. This breakthrough has significant potential for future photonic devices, including perovskite-based LEDs, lasers, and photodetectors.

The NSF's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) supported his research. While at UNL, Arefin was awarded the Holling Fellowship and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, contributing to undergraduate education. He was also a peer reviewer for scientific journals under the Elsevier publishing group.

Arefin is pursuing his PhD in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME) at UNL. There, he conducts research under the guidance of Dr. Jeffrey Shield, focusing on the synthesis and characterisation of size-controlled metallic nanoparticles, including alloy and core-shell systems, using inert gas condensation (IGC) techniques. 

His research also involves advanced structural and chemical characterisation, employing techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), high-angle annular dark-field imaging (HAADF), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and optical and magnetic analysis.

Arefin's academic journey began at IUB, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) in 2021, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He consistently appeared on the Dean's and Vice-Chancellor's Honour Lists from 2017 to 2020. 

While at IUB, he was a member of the IUB Photonics Simulation Lab (IUBPSL), a research group in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Department directed by Dr. Mustafa Habib Chowdhury, Associate Professor and current Head of the Department. At IUBPSL, Arefin focused on improving the efficiency of thin-film solar cells by integrating plasmonic nanoparticles. 

His research involved the comprehensive morphological analysis of various core-shell nanoparticle systems and their impact on device performance, supported by simulation tools such as the ANSYS-Lumerical software suite.

Dr Chowdhury said, "This recognition highlights the strong academic foundation and research excellence cultivated at IUB, particularly within the EEE Department. His achievement exemplifies the high level of talent nurtured at IUB and underscores the university's commitment to contributing meaningfully to cutting-edge global research."