Congratulations to Yasaman Fazeli, Selected as a 2026-2027 CBC Outstanding Peer Mentor!

"I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona, working with Professor Oliver Monti in LabMonti. My research is at the intersection of physical chemistry, surface science, and quantum materials. I study layered transition-metal dichalcogenides and related quantum materials to understand how their atomic structure influences the way electrons move and how their spins are arranged. Using momentum microscopy, ARPES, spin-resolved ARPES, and electronic-structure calculations, I can build detailed maps of these electronic and spin properties. Understanding and learning how to control these properties is important for the development of future technologies such as lower-power electronics, spin-based devices, and quantum technologies. 

My long-term goal is to continue working at the intersection of physical chemistry, quantum materials, and emerging technologies. I am especially interested in translating fundamental understanding of electronic and spin properties into practical advances in areas such as energy-efficient computing, spin-based devices, and quantum technologies. I hope to work on collaborative, multidisciplinary problems where materials research can contribute to real-world technological innovation. 

To me, mentoring is not about giving someone all the answers. It is about helping them become confident enough to ask their own questions, trust their ideas, and eventually find answers of their own. 

Outside the lab, I am happiest when I am exploring something new, whether that means hiking a new trail, traveling somewhere I have never been, spending time in nature, or experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen. 

This award is especially meaningful to me because it recognizes a part of graduate school that I value deeply: helping other students grow. It encourages me to continue becoming a more thoughtful and effective mentor and reminds me that being a scientist is not only about advancing our own research. It is also about supporting others, sharing knowledge, and creating an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, developing their ideas, and becoming confident scientists. 

Thank you again for this recognition. I am very grateful to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and honored to be included among this year’s award recipients." ~ Yasaman