Tara Peña ’17, PhD, credits the supportive and enriching environment at Adelphi, combined with the mentorship of Matthew J. Wright, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Physics, and Sean Bentley, PhD, associate professor, for playing a crucial role in shaping her career path and propelling her success.
Member of Adelphi University’s 10 Under 10
College of Arts and Science, Department of Physics
Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University
“Professors Wright and Bentley were my favorite professors,” she said. “Professor Wright was my mentor, and my favorite course was Semiconductor Physics, which was an independent study course that Professor Bentley offered.” After graduating with her undergraduate degree in physics at Adelphi, she worked as an electrical engineering intern at Brookhaven National Laboratory during the summer of 2017.
Subsequently, Dr. Peña attended the University of Rochester to pursue a PhD in electrical engineering, focusing on characterizing two-dimensional (2D) materials and learning how to strain these materials in a scalable fashion. She received her doctorate in 2023, a significant milestone that led her to a postdoctoral research position at Stanford University. At Stanford, she continues to build on her doctoral research, using strained 2D semiconductors for nanoscale transistors.
“I am an experimental researcher who grows 2D semiconductors, characterizes their quality, then constructs them into transistors,” Dr. Peña explained. “These 2D materials, known for their excellent electrical properties with atomic thinness, have great potential to advance scaling and performance in standard computing schemes.”
Dr. Peña says that one of her greatest accomplishments is attaining her current position at Stanford, a testament to the strong foundation laid during her time at Adelphi.
“Adelphi University taught me the fundamentals of physics and engineering research, which I learned was a passion of mine,” she shared. “Learning what I enjoyed was exceptionally important, since I was able to accomplish small goals that led me to my job today.” Looking ahead, Dr. Peña aspires to become a professor, establish her own research group and teach students, continuing the cycle of mentorship and discovery.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Peña credits Adelphi for setting her on her desired research path. “I was first able to participate in experimental research at Adelphi, which led me to graduate school and my desired/current research path,” she said.
For current students and new graduates, Dr. Peña offers valuable advice: “Participate in outreach and research opportunities as early as possible. You’ll be able to network, figure out what you enjoy—or don’t enjoy—and establish a path for yourself post graduation.”