Collaborative materials physics & device characterization program
We offer a flexible, collaboration focused research program led by Professor Mikel Holcomb that can integrate thin film synthesis, advanced spectroscopy, and device level characterization to address a broad range of materials physics challenges. The group works across correlated oxides, magnetic materials, superconductors, and emerging quantum systems, with a record of adapting methods to academic and industry partner needs. Modern electronic, quantum, and sensing technologies depend on materials whose behavior emerges from tightly coupled charge, spin, orbital, and lattice interactions. Few labs combine synthesis, spectroscopy, and device physics under one umbrella, making cross disciplinary collaboration essential. Holcomb’s group excels at learning partner device challenges and tailoring measurements accordingly, from superconducting device evaluation to magnetic thin film studies, including recent work with NASA requiring customized structural and spectroscopic reliability protocols. Multiple Holcomb graduate students are pursuing industry careers, reinforcing the group’s emphasis on practical, device-oriented workflows and making the team an adaptable collaborator for custom characterization across many material classes.
The group welcomes collaborations of all scales and is committed to learning partner needs, co-developing measurement strategies, and tailoring characterization to scientific or applied goals. Capabilities include thin film growth via laser-MBE and a wide range of characterization tools, including advanced spectroscopy and optics. The group employs quantitative workflows that connect growth conditions, spectroscopy, and device performance. Metrics include valence and chemical environments (XAS/XMCD), magnetic anisotropy and coercivity, and structural fingerprints. Validation occurs through reproducibility testing, cross platform comparison (characterization ↔ device metrics), and benchmarking against collaborator provided standards.
About West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university headquartered in Morgantown and serving the state through academics, research, and outreach. For industry, a statewide Extension network provides on‑the‑ground access to communities, facilities, and field sites, while an integrated academic medical center and health system enable clinical research and translational partnerships. The university connects corporate R&D with talent through co‑op and internship pipelines and applied engagements. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, and USDA. WVU’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization manages IP, licensing, and startup pathways to provide a clear entry point for collaboration.
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