Quantum Heterostructures and Device Physics Lab @ LSU
People
Prosper Ngabonziza / Group Leader
Assistant Professor of Physics – Louisiana State University (2022~)
Ph.D., 2016 – The University of Twente, The Netherlands
Prosper Ngabonziza is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Louisiana State University. He received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Physics from the University of Rwanda (formerly the National University of Rwanda). In 2010, he completed a postgraduate diploma in Mathematical Sciences with cum laude at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), affiliated with the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Experimental Physics with cum laude from the University of Johannesburg in 2012. His outstanding master’s research was recognized in 2013 with the S2A3 Bronze Medal, awarded by the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science for the most meritorious master’s dissertation in a science department in South Africa.
In 2016, Dr. Ngabonziza completed his Ph.D. in Engineering Physics at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. His doctoral research focused on topological insulators, integrating thin-film growth, advanced characterization techniques, and quantum transport studies.
Following his Ph.D., he joined the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart, Germany, as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Solid-State Quantum Electronics. From 2016 to 2022, his research at Max Planck centered on quantum matter heterostructures based on complex oxides, with the aim of uncovering novel quantum phenomena in device architectures derived from these materials.
In 2022, he joined Louisiana State University as a faculty member, where his research continues to explore the frontiers of quantum materials, oxide heterostructures, and emergent quantum transport phenomena.
pngabonziza.lsu.edu
Office
225-578-0640
Address
269 Nicholson Hall, Tower Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70803
People Talk About Me
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Randy Reid
CEO, R & R
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Eugene Hart
CEO, M & O
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Michael Dening
CEO, O & S
Postdoctoral researchers
1. Senior Postdoctoral Researcher: Dr. Arnaud Nono Tchiomo
Arnaud Nono Tchiomo is a researcher in condensed matter physics with a strong focus on materials science. His interests center on understanding the fundamental behavior of functional materials and optimizing their properties for integration into next-generation optoelectronic and transparent electronic devices.
He is an experienced and independent experimentalist, proficient in the growth of complex oxide thin films using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD), and skilled in a broad range of physical property characterization techniques. During his Ph.D. research, he synthesized epitaxial thin films of La-doped BaSnO₃—a perovskite-structured transparent conducting oxide (TCO) notable for its high electron mobility at room temperature. These materials offer promising applications in high-speed, multifunctional, and transparent device platforms.
In his postdoctoral work, Dr. Nono Tchiomo expanded his expertise to ultrafast dynamics in correlated electron systems. He investigated the insulator-to-metal transition in VO₂ using time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), analyzing complex multidimensional datasets to disentangle the roles of electron correlation (Mott-Hubbard) and electron-lattice interaction (Peierls) in driving the phase transition. This research contributed to advancing fundamental understanding of ultrafast processes in strongly correlated materials.
2. Postdoctoral Researcher: Dr. Tulja Korukonda
Tulja Korukonda is a researcher in renewable energy with a strong focus on the materials and device physics of solar cells. Driven by a passion for sustainable technologies, she earned a Master’s degree in Green Energy Technology from Pondicherry University and a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi).
At the Quantum Heterostructures and Device Physics Lab at Louisiana State University, her research is centered on advancing the commercialization of perovskite solar cells. She specializes in developing stable perovskite inks and scalable fabrication methods, including roll-to-roll processing, blade coating, and slot-die coating—key technologies for large-area, cost-effective solar cell production.
Her research goal is to contribute to clean, affordable electrification through innovative materials engineering and device development. Beyond the lab, Tulja enjoys traveling, trekking, and volunteering with organizations that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
Graduate Students
1. Sethulakshmi Sajeev
Sethulakshmi Sajeev is a Ph.D. candidate in condensed matter physics, specializing in 4d correlated electron systems—particularly strontium ruthenate oxides in the Ruddlesden-Popper series. These quantum materials are characterized by a complex interplay among charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom.
Her research focuses on understanding emergent magnetic and electronic phenomena in these systems through the study of high-quality thin films and heterostructures synthesized via Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). By investigating these materials in both standalone thin films and nanoscale device architectures, she aims to uncover and control novel quantum properties.
She holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India (2019–2021).
2. Neethu Rose Leyo
Neethu Rose Leyo is a Ph.D. student in condensed matter physics, with a research focus on complex oxide heterostructures and their applications in transparent electronics. Her current project centers on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) heterostructures—particularly lanthanum-doped barium stannate (La:BaSnO₃)—which exhibit outstanding room-temperature electron mobility and optical transparency, positioning them as promising materials for next-generation optoelectronic devices.
She employs Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) to synthesize high-quality epitaxial thin films and heterostructures. Her research aims to elucidate the relationship between microstructural quality and electronic transport properties, ultimately optimizing these materials for use in transparent transistors, flexible displays, and solid-state energy systems.
Neethu holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India, awarded in 2023.