San Diego State University, Department of Physics, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182
Email: sbehura [AT] sdsu.edu Office: 619-594-2627 |
Dr. Sanjay Behura is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at San Diego State University, where he leads pioneering research in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, with a focus on the Photophysics of Quantum Materials. His research investigates the light-matter interactions in two-dimensional (2D) materials, aiming to unlock their potential for transformative applications in quantum information science and engineering.
Dr. Behura directs the Behura Research Group, established in 2020, which adopts a multidisciplinary approach to studying quantum 2D materials. The group integrates materials design and growth with quantum photonic and optoelectronic characterization to advance next-generation quantum technologies—including single-photon emitters, photonic qubits, and quantum sensors. Their research is supported by several prestigious agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the MonArk NSF Quantum Foundry. A prolific researcher, Dr. Behura has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as Nature Photonics, ACS Nano, Nano Letters, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Applied Physics Letters, and Advanced Functional Materials. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to research and education, Dr. Behura received the 2025 Thomas B. Day Outstanding Faculty Award for Excellence in Physics at SDSU and was named a 2025 Scialog Fellow in Quantum Matter and Information by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. |
Postdoctoral Research Fellows and Research Specialists
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Dr. Choudhury Abinash Bhuyan
Ph.D., Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research September 2024 - Present Project: Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Quantum 2D Materials |
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Nicholas Schottle
M.S. in Physics, San Diego State University January 2025 - Present Project: Temperature-Dependent Optical Property Studies of Atomically-Thin Semiconductors and Moiré Quantum Matter |
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Jennifer Brumley
B.S. in Physics, San Diego State University June 2024 - Present Project: Understanding the Effect of Plasmonics on Quantum Light Emission in Hexagonal Boron Nitride with Quantum Defects |
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Diego Lundquist
B.S. in Physics, San Diego State University January 2025 - Present Project: Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition of 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) Layers |
Graduate Students
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Antonio Cobarrubia
Ph.D. Candidate SDSU-UCI Joint Doctoral Program Sept. 2022 - Dec. 2025 Project: Photophysics of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Quantum Emitter Co-Advisor: Payam Heydari |
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Christopher Patino
M.S. Physics Candidate SDSU Physics Department May 2024 - May 2026 Project: Density Functional Theory Studies of Spin Defects and Nonclassical Light Generation in 2D Quantum Materials |
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Ryan Palmares
M.S. Physics Candidate SDSU Physics Department May 2024 - May 2026 Project: Temperature-Dependent Optical Property Studies of Atomically-Thin Semiconductors and Moiré Quantum Matter |
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Hugo Mixco
M.S. Physics Candidate SDSU Physics Department May 2025 - May 2026 Project: Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth and Optical Characterization of Moiré Semiconductor Heterostructures |
OPEN POSITIONS:
Behura Research Group at SDSU Department of Physics is looking for motivated doctoral students interested in research on experimental and computational quantum materials for quantum information science and engineering.
Apply for SDSU Engineering JDP with UCSD: https://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/admissions/joint-doctoral (Experimental)
Apply for SDSU Computational Science JDP with UC Irvine: https://www.csrc.sdsu.edu/ph-d-program/ (Computational)
Behura Research Group at SDSU Department of Physics is looking for motivated doctoral students interested in research on experimental and computational quantum materials for quantum information science and engineering.
Apply for SDSU Engineering JDP with UCSD: https://www.engineering.sdsu.edu/admissions/joint-doctoral (Experimental)
Apply for SDSU Computational Science JDP with UC Irvine: https://www.csrc.sdsu.edu/ph-d-program/ (Computational)
Undergraduate Students
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Miche Maral
B.S. Physics Junior SDSU Physics Department January 2024 - May 2026 Project: Physics Informed Deep Neural Networks for Layer Identification of 2D Materials |
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Mary Becker
B.S. Physics Junior SDSU Physics Department January 2024 - May 2026 Project: Chemical Vapor Deposition of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Quantum Defects |
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Jasmine Rodelas
B.S. Computer Science Senior SDSU Computer Science Department January 2024 - May 2026 Project: Physics Informed Deep Neural Networks for Layer Identification of 2D Materials |
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Nate Webb
B.S. Physics and Computer Science Junior San Diego State University Physics Department October 2024 - May 2026 Project: Physics Informed Deep Neural Networks for Layer Identification of 2D Materials |
Ph.D. Thesis
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Hisham Maddah
Ph.D., UIC, July 2020 Thesis: Biophotoanodes for Molecular Photovoltaics Assistant Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia Co-Advisor: Vikas Berry |
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Chen Wang
Ph.D., UIC, August 2019 Thesis: 2D/3D Photovoltaics Assistant Professor at Shanghai Institute of Microsystem & Information Technology, China Co-Advisor: Vikas Berry |
M.S. Thesis
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Sancia Tauro
M.S., SDSU, May 2024 Project: Creation and Optical Properties of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Quantum Defects Applications Engineer at Park Systems Corporation |
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Nicholas Schottle
M.S., SDSU, Dec. 2024 Project: Fabrication and Optical Characterization of MoS2/WS2 Moiré Superlattices Research Assistant, SDSU Department of Physics |
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Chisom Okeke
M.S., UAPB, Dec. 2021 UAPB Computer Science Project: Optothermal Study of WS2 Crystals via Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning Amazon |
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Aineta Kassa
M.S., UIC, August 2019 Project: Understanding Coal Chemistry and Synthesis of Carbon Nano-Materials Specialist, Quality Control at MERCK, USA Co-Advisor: Vikas Berry |
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Natechanok Yutthasaksunthorn
M.S., UIC, October 2018 Project: Structural Stability in 2D Black Phosphorous Co-Advisor: Vikas Berry PhD Student at Georgia Institute of Technology |
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Xin Yu
M.S., UIC, December 2016 Project: Transfer-Free Development of Graphene-on-Silicon Solar Cells Co-Advisor: Vikas Berry Research Engineer at ZEISS Microscopy, China |
Undergraduate Projects
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Ossiel Orozco
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department March 2023 - Dec. 2024 Project: Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Quantum Emitters in Moiré Materials |
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Diego Lundquist
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Dilon Suliman
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department January 2023 - August 2024 Project: Theory and Simulation of Quantum Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride using Quantum Computer |
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Jennifer Brumley
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department April 2023 - May 2024 Project: Understanding the Effect of Plasmonics on Quantum Light Emission in Hexagonal Boron Nitride with Quantum Defects |
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Mauricio Correa
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department January 2023 - Dec. 2023 Project: Understanding and Controlling Quantum Light Emission in 2-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride Crystals |
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Sebastian Gomez
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department January 2023 - May 2024 Project: Design, Simulation, and Modelling of Photonic Quantum Simulator for Quantum Information Science and Technology |
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Noah Kapchinske
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department January 2023 - May 2024 Project: Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Quantum Emission Effect in Moiré Quantum Condensed Materials |
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Alberto Pulido
B.S. Physics SDSU Physics Department January 2023 - May 2024 Project: Understanding and Controlling Quantum Light Emission in 2-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride Crystals |
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Chikomborero Musinga
B.A.S. in Accounting, UAPB January 2022 - July 2022 Project: Development of Quantum Materials for Flexible and Lightweight Organic Photovoltaic Solar Cells |
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Tendai Musinga
B.S. in Agriculture, UAPB January 2022 - July 2022 Project: Development of Quantum Materials for Flexible and Lightweight Organic Photovoltaic Solar Cells |
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Anmole Jhally
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UIC May 2018 - August 2020 Project: New 2D and Energy Materials Publication: Royal Society of Chemistry Book Chapter |
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Ganesh Shetty
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UIC January 2019 - August 2020 Project: Mixed Layered and Non-Layered Molecular Materials and Chemical Exfoliation |
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Lila Aryadwita
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UIC GPIP Summer Project June - August 2019 Project: Biomolecular Photosensitizers Publication: RSER |
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Trung Le
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, UIC UG Research Project January - May 2019 Project: Chemical Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanowires MEng at Univ. of Virginia |
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Ajay Kumar
B.Tech. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, KIIT BBSR, India GERMI Internship 2014 Project: Investigation of Graphene/p-GaN Interface Publication: SM |
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Hatchinghoi Haokip
B.Tech. in Chemical Engg., IIT Madras, India GERMI Internship 2014 Project: Graphene/n-Si Heterojunction Solar Cells Publication: Materials Research Innovations |
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Charu Goel
B.Tech-M.Tech. in Ceramic Engineering, IIT-BHU Varanasi, India GERMI Internship 2014 Project: Inorganic/Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells Publication: MRI |
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Kamal Batra, Ph.D.
Int. M.Sc. in Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur, India GERMI Internship 2013 Project: Characteristics of Graphene/Silicon Interface Publication: JNN Researcher at CNRS France |
High School Student Summer Internships (BRIGHT and SURP Programs)
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Huy Trinh
June - October 2024, San Diego State University Project: Raman and PL Spectroscopic Characterization of Exfoliated Hexagonal Boron Nitride Layers |
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Aniya Remley
June - July 2022, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Project: Biomolecules-Inorganic Semiconductor Hybrid Photoanodes for Sustainable Solar Energy Harvesting |
Innocence Reed-Guy
June - July 2022, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Project: Biomolecules-Inorganic Semiconductor Hybrid Photoanodes for Sustainable Solar Energy Harvesting |
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Jasmine Stinnett
June - July 2021, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Project: Biomolecules-Inorganic Semiconductor Hybrid Photoanodes for Sustainable Solar Energy Harvesting |
Ja'Miyah Gary
June - July 2021, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Project: Biomolecules-Inorganic Semiconductor Hybrid Photoanodes for Sustainable Solar Energy Harvesting |