CV

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Contact Information

Name Matthew A. Wright
Professional Title Quantum Foundry Postdoctoral Associate
Email matthew-wright@ucsb.edu
Location Materials Research Laboratory, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California CA 93106

Professional Summary

I am a solid-state materials chemist working on battery and quantum materials. I study how structure governs function in inorganic solids to develop rational design principles for new functional materials. I combine solid-state synthesis with electrochemistry as a synthetic tool for tuning composition and electronic structure, and use X-ray and neutron scattering alongside spectroscopy to resolve the structural origins of ionic, electronic, and magnetic behavior.

Experience

  • 2024 - present

    California, USA

    Quantum Foundary Postdoctoral Associate
    University of California Santa Barbara
    Developing new chemical compounds and processes for batteries and quantum materials.
    • Advised by Professor Ram Seshadri
  • 2024 - 2024

    Liverpool, UK

    Honorary Research Assistant
    University of Liverpool
    Exploring multi-valent ioninsertion mechanisms in covalent framework materials.
    • Advised by Professor Laurence J. Hardwick
    • Funded by the Faraday Institute

Education

  • 2019 - 2023

    Liverpool, UK

    PhD
    University of Liverpool
    Solid-State Chemistry
    • {“Thesis”=>”Structure and Properties of New Positive Electrode Materials for Magnesium-Ion Batteries”}
    • Advised by Professor Matthew J. Rosseinsky OBE FRS
    • Industrial collaboration with Johnson—Matthey
  • 2015 - 2019

    Liverpool, UK

    MChem (Hons)
    University of Liverpool
    Chemistry
    • {“Masters Thesis”=>”Discovery & Characterization of New Pb-free Piezoelectric-Relaxor Ceramic Materials”}
    • Advised by Professor Matthew J. Rosseinsky OBE FRS
    • {“Baschelors Thesis”=>”Covalent Polymers for the Catalysis of Hydrogen Evolution from Water”}
    • Advised by Professor Andrew I. Cooper FRS
    • faraday Internship
    • Erasmus at Boston College, Massachusetts, USA

Publications

Awards

  • 2026
    Heeger Fellowship
    California NanoSystems Institute, UC Santa Barbara

    $1,500 awarded.

  • 2025
    Future Leaders in Advanced Materials Travel Grant
    Materials Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara

    $800 awarded.

  • 2025
    Winning Image, Scientific Image Competition
    Materials Department, UC Santa Barbara
  • 2023
    Best Oral Presentation Award
    Johnson Matthey Academic Conference
  • 2020
    Runner-Up Poster Prize
    Faraday Summer Internship Conference
  • 2019
    Faraday Undergraduate Summer Internship
    The Faraday Institution

    £5,800 stipend awarded.

  • 2016
    Santander Global Mobility Award
    Santander Universities

    GBP 1,000 supporting an exchange year at Boston College, USA.

Skills

Battery Development & Electrochemistry: Li-, Na-, and Mg-ion systems; electrode formulation and casting; cell assembly; galvanostatic cycling; cyclic voltammetry; GITT/PITT diffusion measurements; design and execution of operando experiments
Materials Synthesis & Processing: Solid-state synthesis of oxides and chalcogenides; flux and vapor-transport crystal growth; ceramic processing; air-sensitive handling (glovebox, Schlenk line); fused-silica and metal ampoules
Characterization & Analysis: Bragg and diffuse X-ray and neutron scattering, including Rietveld refinement and Fourier / maximum-entropy analysis; XPS and HAXPES; XANES; solid-state NMR; Raman and IR; XRF; ICP-OES; SQUID magnetometry; PPMS transport measurements
Software, Data & Lab Operations: Python and JupyterLab; TOPAS, GSAS-II, Jana, PDFgui, VESTA; CasaXPS, Demeter, TopSpin, EC-Lab, ZView; LaTeX, OriginPro, GIMP; laboratory safety officer; glovebox maintenance; cryogen and gas handling; fire and first-aid trained

Interests

Battery Materials: Li-ion, Na-ion, and Mg-ion batteries; cathode materials; anode materials; solid electrolytes; multi-valent ion insertion; anionic redox
Quantum & Correlated Materials: Electronic structure; magnetism
Structure-Property Relationships: X-ray and neutron scattering; Rietveld and pair distribution function analysis; rational design of functional inorganic solids

References

  • Professor Ram Seshadri

    Fred and Linda R. Wudl Distinguished Professor of Materials Science, Materials Research Laboratory and Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara, United States. Email: seshadri@mrl.ucsb.edu. Website: https://seshadri-group.materials.ucsb.edu/

  • Professor Matthew J. Rosseinsky OBE FRS

    Professor of Chemistry, Materials Innovation Factory, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Email: m.j.rosseinsky@liverpool.ac.uk. Website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/matthew-rosseinsky

  • Professor Sir Anthony Cheetham FRS

    Professor of Materials Science, Materials Research Laboratory and Materials Department, University of California Santa Barbara; Goldsmiths’ Professor of Materials Science Emeritus, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Email: akc30@cam.ac.uk. Website: https://www.chem.ucsb.edu/people/anthony-cheetham

  • Professor Laurence Hardwick

    Professor of Chemistry, Materials Innovation Factory, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Email: Laurence.Hardwick@liverpool.ac.uk. Website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/laurence-hardwick