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People

1. 

   Sarah Chapman

   Senior Assistant Director

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   Sarah Chapman

   Senior Assistant Director

   sarah.chapman@nd.edu
   P: +1 574-631-3813
   M: +1 574-514-6774
   012 Galvin Life Science Center/Freimann Life Science Center

   Sarah Chapman joined the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and is presently the Senior Assistant Director of the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF). She takes a leadership role in the execution of a number of technical and business functions within the NDIIF. Her position is responsible for managing operating plans, budgets, program goals, and compliance within the facility. Sarah maintains technical expertise in the implementation of biological imaging equipment, including: X-ray computed tomography, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, optical fluorescence, and bio-luminescence. User training and technical assistance is provided on each of these platforms as needed.

   She also maintains technical expertise in histological sample preparation and animal surgeries to execute projects on behalf of the Notre Dame faculty and external customers on a fee-for-service basis. In addition to technical leadership in the In Vivo and Histology Cores, Sarah serves as the compliance officer for these facilities, maintaining safety, training, and animal protocols. Lastly, her position is responsible for all marketing activities within the Biological Imaging Facility, including the creation of promotional literature, website maintenance, and internal and external presentations.

2. 

   Sara Cole

   Optical Microscopy Program Director

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   Sara Cole

   Optical Microscopy Program Director

   scole7@nd.edu
   P: +1 574-631-5443
   M: +1 614-589-1940
   007G Galvin Life Science Center/Freimann Life Science Center

   Sara Cole serves as the Optical Microscopy Program Director in the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility. She is responsible for assisting researchers, implementing training for new users, developing and improving protocols, methods, and procedures, and performs various outreach activities for increased access. 

   Sara graduated from The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in 2001 with a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology. Before joining Notre Dame Research, Cole served as the Associate Director of the Imaging Facility at The Ohio State University.

3. 

   Alexander Mukasyan

   Advanced Electron Microscopy Director

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   Alexander Mukasyan

   Advanced Electron Microscopy Director

   amoukasi@nd.edu
   Website
   122D Cushing Hall Of Engineering

   Alexander Mukasyan joined the University of Notre Dame as a Professional Specialist in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 1997. He became a Research Professor in 2000 and was appointed the Director of the Advanced Electron Microscopy Core within Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility in 2008. 

   He is the author of three books, six invited reviews, and more than 180 research publications in archive journals and patent letters in the fields of engineering of advanced materials and heterogeneous combustion. His current scientific interests are primarily related to nanotechnology, high energy density materials, joining of refractory, and dissimilar materials, and catalysis.

4. 

   Tatyana Orlova

   Electron Microscopy Specialist

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   Tatyana Orlova

   Electron Microscopy Specialist

   torlova@nd.edu
   P: +1 574-631-1042
   234 Stinson-Remick Hall

   Tatyana Orlova joined Notre Dame Research in 2009 and is the Electron Microscopy Specialist in the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility. She is responsible for all of the day-to-day operations within the EM facility of the NDIIF. She works closely with users to coordinate project development specifically with a strong emphasis on SEM imaging and FIB instrumentation, safety, and compliance within the facility, maintenance of the instruments, as well as inventory management. 

   In addition, Tatyana works closely with the faculty and students to provide services that will enhance their research in the field of Electron Microscopy keeping up to date with current trends and evolving technologies.

5. 

   Casey Rowe

   Postdoctoral Research Associate

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   Casey Rowe

   Postdoctoral Research Associate

   crowe3@nd.edu
   Stinson-Remick Hall, B10

   Casey Rowe is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF) with specialized focus in the Electron Microscopy Core. His responsibilities include imaging and analyzing samples submitted to the core, supporting facility users in microscopy-related questions and tasks, training new users on the microscopes, and maintenance of equipment. Casey joined NDIIF after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 2025, where his dissertation centered on revealing the thermal transformations of low-dimensional quantum materials through in situ electron microscopy. His electron microscopy research will continue at NDIIF and will focus on method development for in situ 4D-STEM to unveil structural behavior in nanomaterials under dynamic conditions.

6. 

   Alex Sheardy

   Staff Scientist

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   Alex Sheardy

   Staff Scientist

   asheardy@nd.edu
   B10 Stinson-Remick Hall

   Alex Sheardy is a Staff Scientist in the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF), with a primary focus on electron microscopy (EM). In addition to working with students and external users for instrument training, method development, and data acquisition, he also specializes in advanced data analysis, including automation and machine learning. Alex joined the University of Notre Dame as a postdoctoral research associate in 2022 and transitioned to a staff scientist role in 2024. He graduated with a Ph.D in Nanoscience from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro in 2020 and was an adjunct professor teaching organic and physical chemistry at Texas Woman’s University prior to joining Notre Dame. His research interests include the synthesis, characterization, and computational modeling of novel nanoparticles for a wide range of potential applications.

7. 

   Bradley Smith

   Faculty Director

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   Bradley Smith

   Faculty Director

   smith.115@nd.edu
   Website
   340J McCourtney Hall - West

   Bradley D. Smith, Emil T. Hofman Professor of Science, joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Notre Dame in 1991. He became the Director of the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility in 2008.

   Smith teaches organic chemistry at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and his research interests encompass the areas of Supramolecular and Bioorganic Chemistry. His specific research projects are diverse and include topics such as organic synthesis, membrane biophysics, photonics, and small animal imaging. A major aim is to develop novel molecular imaging probes that can detect dying cells in culture, and tumors and bacterial infection in living animals.

8. 

   Maksym Zhukovskyi

   AEM Program Manager

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   Maksym Zhukovskyi

   AEM Program Manager

   mzhukovs@nd.edu
   P: +1 574-631-0226
   M: +1 574-220-2015
   233 Stinson-Remick Hall

   Maksym Zhukovskyi joined Notre Dame Research in 2019. He is the AEM Program Manager imaging in the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility. He is responsible for the oversight of the AEM facility, developing protocols, methods, and procedures for use on the TEM instruments, maintaining instrumentation, as well as training individuals both internal and external to the University of Notre Dame. Maksym also provides administrative support to the Director of the NDIIF, as well as other senior leadership.

   Before joining NDR, Maksym earned a PhD with a major in surface chemistry and nanomaterials from the University of Notre Dame. In general, his strengths lie in the colloidal synthesis, modification and characterization of novel low dimensional inorganic nanomaterials for optical, electronic, and photocatalytic applications.