Kevin A. Villegas Rosales

Av. Mariscal Castilla 1456 Dpto. 402 (+51) 952325293 Santiago de Surco, Lima-Perú k.villegas33@gmail.com

Objective

I seek to obtain a P.hD. degree in a very well renowned program. During my P.hD. years I would like

to contribute to the scientific community with the research I would perform. I aim to put in practice

my problem solving, analytical thinking, and leadership skills in a very competitive laboratory.

Research Interests

Experimental condensed matter physics and nanoscience (graphene/2D materials, superconductors,

novel materials, quantum phenomena).

Characterization of materials in the nanoscale with electron microscopy (structural and composition

analysis, TEM, SEM).

Scanning Probe Microscopy (tuning fork based, fabrication of tips, study of surfaces STM/AFM).

Education 2010 – 2014 (Expected) | National University of Engineering (UNI), Lima, Peru

B. Engineering Physics, ranked 1st in my class. GPA: 4.0

Awards

2nd

place in undergraduate research paper (topic: sciences). ‘Structure your ideas contest’,

organized by a link between industry and Peruvian NSF (Concytec), Peru, November 2014.

Peruvian NSF (Concytec) fellowship 2014. Full stipend for a 3 month research internship at

McMaster University, Canada, spring 2014.

Manuel Pardo y Lavalle’s award, 2013. Distinction given to UNI students with the highest GPA

in their major by their 3rd

year of courses.

nanoREPU program fellowship 2013. Chosen for a 3 months research internship at Purdue

University, USA, spring 2013. (http://repuprogram.com/REPU/Alumni.html)

proUNI (organization formed by distinguished UNI alumni) fellowship. Full stipend for 3 months

research internship at Purdue University, USA.

1st place in Nanotechnology poster competition at 3rd International Conference of Spectroscopy,

Peru, February 2012.

Publications

K. A. Villegas, A. Gutarra, “Controlled geometry and sharpness of carbon-based nanometer tips:

a theoretical and experimental approach” (in progress).

J. A. Moran Meza, C. Lubin, F. Thoyer, K. A. Villegas, A. Gutarra, F. Martin, and J. Cousty,

“Fabrication of ultra-sharp tips from carbon fiber for STM investigations of graphene on 6H-

SiC(0001) surfaces” (submitted).

K. A. Villegas, and G. Botton, “Inversion of contrast, SEM imaging, at different bias and

accelerating voltages” (in progress).

K. A. Villegas, S. Stambula, and G. Botton, “N-doping and Pt-atoms decorated mechanically

exfoliated suspended graphene” (in progress).

K. A. Villegas, J. Aparicio, T. L. Wu, and Y. P. Chen, “Fabrication, characterization, and study of

mechanically exfoliated materials” (in progress).

K. A. Villegas, and A. Gutarra, “Fabrication of carbon fiber tips for Scanning Probe Microscopy”

(selected for cover), TECNIA 22, 17-22 (2012).

Research Experience

McMaster University, Advisor: Dr. Gianluigi Botton

Microscopy of Nanoscale Materials Laboratory

(01/2014 – 04/2014)

I introduced mechanical exfoliation (graphene) to the group for the first time. I built and designed a

homemade transfer stage to suspend graphene on a TEM grid. We achieved to dope graphene with

nitrogen gas (concentrations of doping could be varied). I designed the conditions to sputter ~ 1nm Pt

clusters on graphene. I did TEM and SEM analysis on suspended/non-suspended graphene.

Purdue University, Advisor: Dr. Yong P. Chen

Quantum Matter and Devices Lab

(02/2013 – 04/2013)

I mechanically exfoliated graphene, MoS2, BN and BSCCO. I measured the height of exfoliated flakes

with AFM in tapping mode configuration and I corroborated their number of layers by Raman

spectroscopy. We built FETs of BSCCO with different thickness (10 nm to 80 nm) on SiO2 wafers and I

performed electronic transport measurements at low temperatures (down to T = 1.2K) using a variable

temperature insert.

National University of Engineering, Advisor: Dr. Abel Gutarra

Nanostructured Materials Laboratory, (04/2014 - 05/2014) I designed and built a low-cost lock-in amplifier from scratch; this amplifier will be used to measure

the photocurrent (in pA) generated in a photodiode by light scattering of non-metallic nanoparticles.

(07/2011 - ) We work in the fabrication of a tuning-fork based AFM. I electrochemically etch carbon fibers to a

tip (probe for the AFM). I designed my experimental set-up (micromanipulators and electrochemical

cell). I achieved reproducibility in the fabrication process. I can control the geometry and sharpness

(~ 10-50 nm) of the tip. We measured the tip radius with SEM and Field-Emission experiments.

Using the fabricated tips we could reconstruct the graphene lattice under STM experiments. I am

working on theory and simulations to understand the underlying phenomena.

Conference and Presentations

K. A. Villegas, T. L. Wu, L. Fang, Z. Xiao, and Y. P. Chen. “Study of mechanically exfoliated

BSCCO, a high temperature superconductor”, XXII Peruvian Physical Symposium, Peru

(October 2013) – Conference. K. A. Villegas. T. L. Wu, and Y. P. Chen “Mechanical exfoliation of 2D materials and its

morphological characterization”, REPU 2013 meeting, Yale University - USA (March 2013) -

Conference. K. A. Villegas. Participation in the APS March Meeting 2013. K. A. Villegas, A. Gutarra. “Fabrication of carbon fiber tips for Scanning Probe Microscopy”.

XXI Peruvian Physical Symposium, Trujillo – Peru (October 2012) – Conference.

K. A. Villegas, A. Gutarra. “Electrochemical analysis of anodic dissolution of carbon fibers”. 3st

Congress of Physics Engineering, Medellin – Colombia (September 2012) - Conference.

K. A. Villegas, A. Gutarra. “Method for the fabrication of tips on nanometer scale based on

carbon fibers”. 3rd International Conference of Spectroscopy, Lima – Peru (February 2012) -

Poster.

Laboratory skills

Imaging & characterization, SEM, TEM, EELS, Auger spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy,

AFM, optical microscopy, interferometry measurement.

Vacuum components

Microfabrication, RF magnetron sputtering, plasma etching, electrochemical etching/polishing,

mechanical exfoliation.

Programming, C, Matlab, LabView, IGOR pro, Latex.

Data Processing, Origin Pro, IGOR Pro, ImageJ.

Electronic measurement, lock-in amplifier, robe station, oscilloscopes, DAQs.

Low temperature measurement, dipping probe, Variable Temperature Insert (VTI).

Memberships

American Physical Society (APS), Undergraduate Student Member

Peruvian Physical Society (SOPERFI), Undergraduate Student Member

Language Skills

Spanish, native-speaker

English, proficiency – fluent. TOEFL scores, R: 29 L: 30 S: 26 W: 28. Total: 113. GRE scores, Q:

166, V: 153, AW: 3.5.

Extra - curricular courses

“The CCEM: 5 years of advanced microscopy”, Canada, January 2014. “X-ray and electron diffraction applied to nanomaterials and nanomedicine”, International

Workshop, Peru, June 2012.

“Exploring Quantum Physics”, Joint Quantum Institute, Maryland University, trough

www.coursera.org

“Atomic Force Microscopy”, 3st Congress of Physics Engineering, Colombia. September 2012.

“Theoretical-Experimental Techniques for studying nanosystems”, Nano-Peru, Peru. November

2011.

“I Course of Molecular Biology”, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru. March 2011.

Academic leadership

‘Journal Club @ UNI’, I scheduled the room, oriented the group of students, and made a calendar

of the papers presented; first journal club at National University of Engineering.

(04/2013 – 07/2013) and (04/2014 – 07/2014).

‘thinkUNI’, talks of how to pursue graduate studies directed to undergraduates.

(12/2013) - I served as head organizer. I scheduled the place for the conference, and was chair of

the conference.

(12/2012) - I served as part of the organizer committee. I helped to set up the conference room,

and build/distribute the flyers

‘Sharing Science’, I served as part of the organizer committee and was chair of the conferences,

talks about research projects from graduated student to undergraduates, (04/2012 – 07/2012).

Personal References

Dr. Yong P. Chen

Purdue University, USA Phone: (765) 494-0947 yongchen@purdue.edu

Dr. Gianluigi Botton

McMaster University, Canada Phone: (905) 525-9140, ext. 24767 gbotton@mcmaster.ca

Dr. Abel Gutarra

National University of Engineering, Peru Phone: +51 987-957-517 agutarra@uni.edu.pe