Ella O. Lachman
I am a postdoctoral scholar at the Quantum Materials Laboratory (a.k.a Analytis Group) in the Physics department at UC Berkeley. My research focuses on various magnetic phenomena in quantum materials such as Weyl semimetals and frustrated magnets. Read my latest work on Co3Sn2S2 published in Nature Communications.
About Me
Wanting to evolve and grow as an experimental physicist, as a postdoc I turned to the complementary skill of materials synthesis and specifically single crystal growth. With a wider perspective including all stages of quantum materials research, I am in a strong position to pursue my passion of finding novel magnetic materials and developing them for applications in spintronics and magnonics.
I am a skillful and experienced setup designer, particularly of SPM systems. I have experience in 3D part design in both table-top scale, as well as high precision mm sized parts for CNC fabrication and micron-sized sample masks for e-beam and optical lithography. I am an expert in design and automation of experiments, and in data analysis including image processing.
I enjoy thinking of all aspects when designing an experiment – starting with the sample design and ending with the final specific measurement, but I also acknowledge that sometimes interesting and beautiful discoveries come when combining playful “wondering” and educated guesses.
I think there’s a skill in being able to appreciate the existing knowledge of the other side and to phrase the new knowledge you want to pass on in a relatable manner. This skill, in my opinion, is important to any scientist who wishes to share their newly acquired knowledge, be it in conferences and collaborations or simply when explaining to a new acquaintance what it is that you do.
Education
Weizmann Institute of Science
PhD • 2012 — 2017
Thesis title: “Scanning SQUID On Tip microscopy of topological states of matter”
Weizmann Institute of Science
MSc Physics • 2009 — 2012
Thesis title: “Study of Vortex Dynamics in Type-II Superconductors by SOT microscopy”
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
BSc Physics and Chemistry (magna cum laude) • 2006 — 2009
Technical Skills
Hardware
Cryogenics, Scanning probe microscopy (both using and designing), micropipette handling and SQUID-On-Tip fabrication, nanofabrication and characterization, crystal growths, transport measurements, magnetic measurements, strain measurements, VdW materials manipulation.
Software
Design and automation of experiments (LabView), image and data analysis (MatLab, Python), Arduino programming and interfacing with chip evaluation boards.
3D part design
table-top scale (SPM system, strain system), high precision mm sized parts for CNC fabrication, micron-sized sample masks for e-beam and optical lithography, PCB design. Using Autodesk Inventor, Layout Editor and Eagle Cad.
Outreach and teaching
Guiding groups of all ages (K-12 to seniors) and education levels (nonscientific to physics undergraduates) through physics exhibits at the Clore garden of science. Public speaking in both Hebrew and English about supreconductivity, the wonders of microscopy, superconductivity and topological phases.Writing about scientific subjects to the general public.
Mentoring and Science outreach
COO and Editor at “Mada Gadol Baktana” group,
which provide free, accessible, proof-checked scientific knowledge to the public over the Facebook social platform.
Science at Cal lecture - "To see the unseen"
Given as part of the Science at Cal lecture series.
Ask a Berkeley Scientist event
Ideation, production and participation in the event Ask a Berkeley Scientist, together with the team of Science at Cal as part of the Bay Area Science Festival.
Dinner with a Scientist 2019
Participated as a scientist in the event Dinner with a Scientist, hosted by the Oakland Unified School District.
Contributor to the Davidson Institute website
Writing about science news, science phenomena and answering questions.
High-school final project mentor
A final project in physics as a substitute for an exam. Includes a small lab project and a final report submission.
De-Shalit ulpana mentor
Davidson institute instructor
The Davidson Institute is the educational arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Mentoring was ranged between small group mentoring during experiments, and tours of the scanning SQUID microscopy lab.
Clore Garden of Science
I was a group guide at the Clore Garden of Science, guiding groups and VIP visitors from the age of 6 to 60 (and probably older).
Superconductivity popular lecture
Given to the general public, high school students and junior-high students.
Microscopy popular lecture - "seeing electricity"
Given during "science on tap" events (2014,2015).
Game Theory and Chocolates - popular lecture
Given to high school students in the "Chetz" program.
Additional Links
- I ♥ cryostat
- openDACs make your own (cheap) DAC!