Nebraska Chemistry is pleased to introduce Dr. Yinsheng Guo as one of the newest faculty members of the department. Guo joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in August 2019 as Assistant Professor.
Guo was drawn to pursue a career in chemistry by his fascination with the underlying principles that the science offers. Guo’s inspiration to understand the foundations of chemistry led him to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with honors. He then relocated to New York, receiving his M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Columbia University under the advisement of Professor Louis E. Brus. Guo continued his time at Columbia and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow under Professor Brus. Most recently, Guo has been a Postdoctoral Fellow under Professor Richard P. Van Duyne at Northwestern University.
On his journey toward academic independence, Guo took part in six publications during his postdoctoral research. Several recent studies that he led have been well-received and highlighted. The article “Local Polar Fluctuations in Lead Halide Perovskite Crystals” published in Physical Review Letters was recognized as ‘Highly Cited Paper’ (top 1%) and ‘Hot Paper’ (top 0.1%) by Web of Science in 2017. Another article, “Interplay between Organic Cations and Inorganic Framework and Incommensurability in Hybrid Lead-Halide Perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3” published in the inaugural issue of Physical Review Materials was selected as Rapid Communications and Editors’ Suggestion.
Guo looks forward to continue his research at Nebraska. In regards to the type of research he will be pursuing, Guo said, “The problems that I work on reside in an interdisciplinary field spanning from materials chemistry to experimental condensed matter physics. Specifically, my current research focuses on halide perovskites, trying to dissect the unique operating principles of this new class of materials, employing and developing a variety of optical spectroscopic and microscopic methods.”
Guo is excited to see his group grow and to continue research in exploring the new concept of soft semiconductors. The unusual combination of optoelectronic materials operating with large amplitude highly anharmonic nuclear motions has implications with polarizations, spin, and charge dynamics. Guo said, “My group aims to elucidate these unique mechanisms, distill design principles, and ultimately contribute to establish this burgeoning field. Technical challenges arise along with new scientific problems. My group will develop new methods and tools of measurements using nonlinear and nano optics to tackle these challenges.”
When asked about what excites him in joining Nebraska Chemistry, Guo said, “Everything. The support and infrastructure here are top notch, both at department and university levels. In Nebraska Chemistry, I see world-class colleagues and research programs that have inherent synergies with my research program.” Guo also mentioned the vibrant nature and community of Lincoln and how he sees a gratifying and enjoyable career and personal life here.
