Welcome!
Please join us June 21–23, 2024 for a memorial symposium in honor of Lena F. Kourkoutis, Ph.D. '09, professor and alumna of the School of Applied and Engineering Physics at Cornell University.
Lena Fitting Kourkoutis (1979–2023) made foundational contributions to many fields of advanced and high-resolution electron microscopy by working across disciplines and bridging traditional boundaries between biological and materials research. This symposium will highlight topics—in microscopy and beyond—impacted by Lena’s research, including the development of high spatial and energy resolution measurements for atomic-scale structural and chemical insights of functional materials; cryogenic and in situ STEM techniques to probe correlated quantum phenomena; advanced quantitative and high resolution studies of in situ biological specimens; and techniques for accessing hard-soft and solid-liquid interfaces in their native state in systems such as energy storage and conversion devices. As a tribute to Lena and the far-reaching impacts of her scientific research, professional service, and community leadership, this symposium will bring together mentees, collaborators, and other distinguished researchers who were inspired by Lena.
Registration for the symposium has closed. Unable to attend in person? Join us via Zoom. Please email Ann Owens with questions.
| TIme | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception and dinner at Toni Morrison Dining Hall |
| TIme | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00–8:45 a.m. | Check-in and Continental Breakfast (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| 8:50–9:00 a.m. | Welcome |
| 9:00–9:25 a.m. | David Muller (Cornell University) In Memory of Lena Kourkoutis and Her Unfinished Work |
| 9:25–9:50 a.m. | Harold Hwang (Stanford University) Looking at quantum materials with Lena |
| 9:50–10:15 a.m. | Darrell Schlom (Cornell University) Lena: Collaborator, critic, co-director, and role model extraordinaire |
| 10:15–10:40 a.m. | Coffee Break (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| 10:40–11:05 a.m. | Pinshane Huang (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) Electron Ptychography without an Aberration Corrector |
| 11:05–11:30 a.m. | Yue Yu (Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute) Advances in 4D-STEM Phase-contrast Imaging of Frozen-hydrated Biological Specimens |
| 11:30–11:55 a.m. | Robert Hovden (University of Michigan) |
| 11:55 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Open Mic #1 (including remote participants) *see Notes below |
| 12:15–1:30 p.m. | Lunch (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| 1:30–1:55 p.m. | Michael Zachman (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Accessing Intact Buried Structures and Interfaces in Energy Devices by Cryo-EM |
| 1:55–2:20p.m. | Lynden Archer (Cornell University) Metal electrodeposition across heterogeneous interphases |
| 2:20–2:45 p.m. | Yi Cui (Stanford University) Reinventing batteries through materials design and new tools |
| 2:45–3:10 p.m. | Eric Stach (University of Pennsylvania) Characterization of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase with Cryogenic Ion and Electron Microscopy |
| 3:10–3:40p.m. | Open Mic #2 (incl. remote participants) *see Notes below |
| 3:40–4:10 p.m. | Coffee Break (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| 4:10–4:35 p.m. | Peter Crozier (Arizona State University) Observing Nanoparticle Atom and Charging Dynamics with In Situ TEM |
| 4:35 - 5:00 p.m | Gianluigi Botton (McMaster University) Exploring the limits of electron and photon spectroscopies |
| 5:00 - 5:25 p.m. | Berit Goodge (Max Planck Institute CPfS) Pushing the limits of quantitative STEM for new materials |
| 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. | Open Mic #3 (including remote participants) *see Notes below |
| TIme | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:00–8:30 p.m. | Dinner (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| TIme | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00–8:45 a.m. | Continental breakfast (Physical Sciences Building, Clark Atrium) |
| 9:15–10:00 a.m. | Lab tours |
| 10:15 a.m. | Gather and board bus and cars for Treman State Park** |
| 10:30 a.m.. | Depart for EM Picnic at Upper Treman State Park |
| 2:30 p.m. | Bus returns from Treman State Park to Cornell |
* We know that many wish to share their thoughts and reflections on working with and knowing Lena and hope to provide a platform for as many people as possible. If you would like to include photos or images along with your comments, please prepare them as Powerpoint slides (for ease of display) and email them to Berit. We welcome participation from those joining online.
** All are encouraged to participate in the traditional Gorge hike, so please wear appropriate footwear for walking on potentially damp rocks and stairs. Lawn games and casual group sports are also encouraged! Please come prepared for Ithaca weather, including heat, humidity, sun, and rain. The Treman shelter has extremely limited space, so bring rain jackets and umbrellas in the case of moderate rain. (As the German saying goes, “We are not made of sugar!”) In the case of extremely inclement weather, the picnic will be relocated ahead of time to the Clark Atrium in the Physical Sciences Building.
Lynden Archer (Cornell University)
Gianluigi Botton (Mc Master University)
Peter Crozier (Arizona State University)
Yi Cui (Stanford University)
Berit Goodge (Max Planck Institute CPfS)
Robert Hovden (University of Michigan)
Pinshane Huang (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
Harold Hwang (Stanford University)
David Muller (Cornell University)
Julia Mundy (Harvard University)
Darrell Schlom (Cornell University)
Eric Stach (University of Pennsylvania)
Yue Yu (Chan Zuckerberg Imaging Institute)
Michael Zachman (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Lena is among the persons I think of first when I speak of our faculty's commitment to excellence in all aspects of their work. She brought out the best in those around her. Her brilliance, humanity and grace touched faculty, staff and students in every corner of Cornell.
Lena was an outstanding researcher. She led the world in developments of quantitative cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy and catalyzed a push to expand the reach of electron microscopy to systems that previously could not be imaged at high spatial resolution. She was also an outstanding citizen of the department and the university. Lena’s all-around excellence truly placed her in a class by herself, and she was deeply loved and admired by her students and faculty colleagues.
When working with undergrads, Lena was able to engage students of all abilities, especially those who really needed encouragement to excel. She reached everybody, and she took time to meet students one-on-one if they needed extra help.
