Faculty DirectoryMichael Bedzyk

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and (by courtesy) Physics and Astronomy
Co-Director, Northwestern Synchroton Research Center
Contact
2220 Campus DriveCook Hall 1139
Evanston, IL 60208
Email Michael Bedzyk
Website
Centers
Northwestern Synchroton Research Center
Departments
Materials Science and Engineering
Affiliations
PhD Program in Applied Physics
Education
PhD, Physics, State University of New York, Albany, NY
MS, Physics, State University of New York, Albany, NY
BS, Physics and Mathematics, State University of New York, Brockport, NY
Research Interests
Bedzyk's research group develops novel X-ray probes for atomic-scale characterization of surfaces, interfaces, ultra-thin-films and nanostructures. In addition to using an in-house X-ray lab, they make extensive use of synchrotron X-ray facilities, where there is greatly enhanced chemical and structural sensitivity for studying systems as dilute as one-hundredth of an atomic monolayer.
Bedzyk employs various conventional X-ray scattering and spectroscopy techniques, and have developed a number of novel methods for generating X-ray standing waves with differing characteristic length scales. These periodic X-ray probes are used to pinpoint the lattice location of adsorbate atoms on crystalline surfaces, to measure strain within epitaxially grown semiconductor and ferroelectric thin films, to locate heavy atoms within ordered ultrathin organic films, and to study polyion adsorption at charged liquid/solid interfaces.
Significant Recognition
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2012
- Fellow, American Physical Society, 1998
- Bertram Eugene Warren Diffraction Physics Award, American Crystallographic Association, 1994
Significant Professional Service
- Management Board for DuPont-Northwestern-Dow- Collaborative Access Team (DND-CAT) at the Advanced Photon Source
- Director of the X-ray Diffraction Facility at NU
- Visiting research scientist, Argonne National Laboratory
- Professor of Physics and Astronomy (Joint Courtesy Appointment)