Welcome NEW Students

Seongeun Moon, PhD student

Where are you from?
South Korea

What are some of your hobbies? How do you spend what little “free time” you have?
I enjoy baking and cooking, watching movies and playing the drums and sports.

Why did you choose Materials Science at UT Dallas?
I chose Materials Science at UT Dallas because it has a friendly and collaborative atmosphere. The program has good opportunities in electrochemical systems, energy materials and interface engineering, which connect well with my past research in catalysis and energy. I think UTD is a great place for me to grow and to try new directions in materials research.

What are your goals once you receive your degree?
My goal is to grow as a researcher in electrochemical systems, especially in separation and energy-related materials. In my past work, I studied catalysts and energy storage, and now I am excited to expand this experience into separation using electrochemical approaches. In the future, I hope to continue research in this area, contribute to sustainable technologies, and guide younger students.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to pursue a degree in Materials Science?
Be curious and do not be afraid to learn new things. Materials Science connects chemistry, physics, and engineering. If you keep an open mind and think about how your work can help in the world, you will find motivation and enjoy the process.

Nethmi Withanage Dona, MS student

Dona is currently living in Allen, Texas, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. She is interested in the Materials Science and Engineering program at The University of Texas at Dallas because of its rigorous curriculum and specialized focus on nanotechnology and semiconductors. She is confident that earning a Master’s degree from UT Dallas will provide the essential foundation needed to excel in a career in the materials science industry.

Ilia Toli, PhD student

Ilia Toli is originally from Albania, where he spent his early life under a communist regime and the turbulent years that followed its collapse. His grandfather had actively opposed the rise of communism, which—by law at the time—barred Ilia from attending university. This restriction compounded the extreme poverty experienced by most Albanians during that period. Despite these obstacles, his curiosity for science developed early and intensely: he became deeply engaged with mathematics by age twelve and chemistry by fourteen, excelling in mathematical Olympiads and independently studying advanced texts whenever they were available.

Just as Ilia completed high school, the laws preventing him from pursuing higher education were abolished during the country’s rapid democratization. He entered university in time to participate in the historic Albanian student movement of December 1990 during his first semester. That movement played a key role in ending communist rule, and Ilia appears prominently in a group photograph on the cover of an academic history book documenting those events. Despite the broader societal collapse that followed, he successfully completed his bachelor’s degree in Albania.

In 1995, Ilia emigrated to Italy, and in 2001 he began his first PhD in Mathematics at the University of Pisa. He subsequently held academic positions at several European universities before immigrating to the United States in 2006. Over the next fourteen years, he taught mathematics, chemistry, and aerospace engineering at the university level.

Motivated by the breadth of opportunity in the U.S. academic system, Ilia undertook a substantial reinvention of his formal training while continuing to teach full time. Between 2011 and 2015, he completed bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering and chemistry at the University of Central Florida. He then earned a PhD in Quantum Chemistry, where his mathematical background enabled him to address exceptionally challenging problems, including the Schrödinger equation for three-body systems. He later completed a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at San José State University and a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at Colorado State University Global.

Ilia is now pursuing studies in Materials Science and Engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, where he seeks to translate a deep theoretical background into tangible, device-oriented technologies. His decision to join UTD was shaped by the department’s strengths in applied materials research and by the opportunity to work with Professor Massimo Fischetti, whose career spans both academia and industry. Professor Fischetti’s research in electronic transport, device physics, and semiconductor technology aligns closely with Ilia’s long-standing interest in bridging fundamental theory with real-world technological impact.

Mantri Mounika, PhD student

Mantri Mounika earned her B.Tech in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Warangal, followed by an M.Tech in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. During her academic training, she worked on research projects including the anodization of Ti-6Al-4V for biomedical implant applications and the development of borated stainless steels for nuclear environments. These projects involved extensive use of advanced characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and optical microscopy, as well as mechanical and electrochemical testing methods.

Through these experiences, Mounika developed a strong understanding of how microstructural attributes influence macroscopic material properties, including strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance. This work deepened her appreciation of the critical role that microstructural design and processing play in determining materials performance.

Mounika is currently interested in the intersection of materials science and semiconductor technology, with a particular focus on electronic device fabrication and wide band gap semiconductors. Her prior experience as a senior process engineer at Applied Materials further strengthened her enthusiasm for designing and improving semiconductor devices.

Looking ahead, Mounika aspires to pursue a research-focused career that addresses fundamental challenges in electronic materials and contributes to the development of sustainable and energy-efficient technologies. She also aims to become a highly impactful contributor to both academia and industry through meaningful research and education.