Name
Yann Varin
Training
My scientific training concerns the Fabrication of a perfect molecular junction between organic layer and gold metal. This scientific training is a collaboration between the Paris Nanoscience Institute (INSP) and the Laboratory for Surface and Nanostructure Modification here in Dallas. I have worked one month in Paris in April and I am here for three months in Dallas.
Hometown
I am studying in Paris but I live in Normandy in a city named Rouen.
Degrees
I am in the master 1 degree in an elite French school called ENS Cachan. The aim of this school is to educate students to become researchers or teachers. Until now I was studying fundamental physics, and next year, for master 2 degree, I will specialize in nanoscience physics.
Interesting fact about me
I am really fond of resistance sports like triathlon (swimming, biking, running). I was practicing a lot during my teen years. This year I completed the Paris marathon in 3 hours and 14 minutes.
Areas of interest in materials science
I am interested in applied science. I would like in the near future to become a consultant in the nanotechnology market. That is why for the moment I am studying nanoscience. It is really important to understand the science evolution and the technology progress if you want to advise companies.
Professor I am studying with
I am working in France with Professor Olivier Pluchery, who is working in the INSP Laboratory. At UTD I am working with Professor Chabal's team in the Laboratory for Surface and Nanostucture Modification.
Research I am working on
The aim of my scientific training is to fabricate a perfect molecular junction between organic layer and gold metal. In concrete terms, I take a silicon sample, clean it with chemicals, then I graft a molecule on the surface thanks to a very precise process. Then I coat the surface with gold nanoparticles. I characterize those samples with FTIR spectroscopy and with AFM. It is really difficult to control the molecules’ attachment on the silicon surface and to understand what kind of interactions there are between the molecules attached and the gold nanoparticles. This is the challenge of my scientific training.
What do I think is great about UTD, and why did I choose to attend UTD?
I chose UTD because Professor Chabal is a famous researcher in fundamental nanoscience. He is one of the best specialist in the word in FTIR spectroscopy characterization. I think UTD will become in the near future one of the top universities in the field of materials science and engineering. There is no doubt that in the near future, UTD will become a tier one university.
