Author: hillepr

Members of Team EMR, including research faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and UROP students from the Hill Group, volunteered to make science engaging and interactive at the MagLab Open House on February 21, 2026. Our team welcomed visitors with exciting hands-on demonstrations, including sizzling liquid nitrogen ice cream, the kids’ favorite silly putty experiments, and colorful cabbage juice pH color reactions that revealed the chemistry behind everyday materials.

It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the community, spark curiosity in young minds, and share the excitement of scientific discovery. Seeing visitors of all ages explore, ask questions, and experience science up close made it a truly memorable day for our team.

Kavi presented at the University of Leipzig, revisiting the institution where she completed and defended her PhD. The visit marked a full-circle moment as she shared her ongoing research as a collaborator, focusing once again on MOF materials toward quantum technologies. She also reconnected with her former supervisor, Prof. Andreas Pöppl and reflected on the progress of her academic and collaborative journey.

The Hill Group proudly celebrates two remarkable team members whose dedication and impact continue to strengthen the scientific and collaborative culture within our community. From Team EMR:

Research Engineer Bianca Trociewitz has been recognized in the “Excellence” category of the MagLab’s Cultural Catalyst Awards for her indispensable role in enabling complex magnet and probe tool setups across the laboratory. Her technical expertise, reliability, and timely support consistently transform ambitious research ideas into executable, realistic experimental plans. She is a true cornerstone of our operational excellence.

Research Faculty member Dr. Tomas Orlando receives recognition in the “Collaboration” category of the MagLab’s Cultural Catalyst Awards for his impactful international partnerships, effective coordination with vendors, and sustained commitment to strengthening collaborative networks. His ability to bridge teams and institutions continually amplifies the reach, visibility, and impact of our research.

Congratulations to both on this well-deserved recognition.

The 53rd Southeastern Magnetic Resonance Conference (SEMRC) 2025 was held in Gainesville, Florida, from November 14–16, 2025. The conference covered topics in EPR, NMR, and MRI, featuring keynote, invited, contributed, and lightning talks, along with poster sessions.

Postdocs Kavipriya Thangavel, Sabastian Atwood, Brittany Grimm, and Manoj Subramanya, along with graduate student Ivan Weaver from Team EMR, participated in the conference. Prof. Steve Hill chaired the session on “EPR and its applications”.

Dr. Sabastian Atwood delivered a contributed talk titled “Multiphoton State Transitions in the Multilevel Spin System Gd³⁺:YVO₄” and received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the conference. Many Congratulations, Sabastian!

Dr. Kavipriya Thangavel delivered a lightning talk titled “Elucidating Electronic Structure and Relaxation Pathways of Transition Metal Complexes via High-Power EPR Spectroscopy” and brought home the Third Prize in Oral Presentations. Great job, Kavi!

Kavi also received a Travel Award for attending SEMRC! Congrats!

Graduate student Ivan Weaver presented a poster on “CW and Pulsed EPR Investigation of HoW₁₀ Crystals as Potential Spin Qubit Materials” and received the Runner-Up award in the poster presentation category. Great work, congratulations, Ivan! Keep going!

Ending the year on a high note! SEMRC was a rewarding experience, and Team EMR brought home a hat-trick of prizes. Onward to more achievements!

Discovery Days 2025 showcased FSU’s celebration of the Year of Quantum, bringing together students, researchers, and faculty to highlight the growing opportunities in quantum science and technology. The event featured interactive demonstrations, research spotlights, and discussions aimed at inspiring the next generation of quantum scientists. READ MORE

Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kavipriya Thangavel delivered a talk titled “Superposition and Its Significance: The Linchpin of Our Quantum Research,” introducing the fundamental quantum behavior of qubits and showcasing the exciting frontiers of molecular spin qubit research pursued in the Hill Group. Her presentation highlighted ongoing breakthroughs, demonstrated how molecular platforms are shaping the future of quantum technologies, and inspired budding scientists to explore the rapidly expanding world of molecule-based quantum systems. Her talk was also showcased in the FSU University News. READ MORE

In addition, the full EMR team took part in the event, presenting their research and engaging with both undergraduate students and the wider community.

The entire team, Jakub, Kavi, Sabastian, Brittany, Manoj, and Ivan, presented their quantum research posters and had engaging conversations with the participants.

Let’s just say… the quantum talk didn’t stop there! And the best part? The quantum conversations kept going long after the posters!

Pictures credit: Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) by Florida State University (FSU) provides high-achieving students with an engaging research community, offering flexibility, mentorship, and funding opportunities to explore their full range of academic and scientific interests. As part of FSU’s UROP initiative, Postdoc Kavipriya Thangavel proposed a project titled “Exploring Qubit Dynamics via Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.” Under this program, she will mentor two undergraduate students within the Hill Group, guiding them through qubit-based experiments using the HiPER and high-field EPR.

Two enthusiastic undergraduate students, Brittany Alvarado and Noah Frank were selected by Kavi to join the Hill Group through FSU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Their diverse academic backgrounds and shared enthusiasm for quantum science bring unique perspectives to the group’s ongoing research on qubit systems and high-field EPR spectroscopy.

Brittany Alvarado is a second-year Physics major at Florida State University, minoring in Chemistry. Her laboratory coursework sparked a deep curiosity about the role of quantum behavior in matter and quantum computing. Introduced to the group’s work on qubit systems using EPR spectroscopy, Brittany is eager to explore spin–spin relaxation and quantum materials, contributing to the development of emerging quantum technologies. Beyond academics, she brings strong problem-solving and analytical skills from managing her own videography business. In her free time, Brittany enjoys photography, hiking, and participating in fitness and exercise clubs.

Noah Frank is an Undergraduate Honors Physics student with hands-on experience in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) research, working with Dr. Arneil Reyes and Dr. Rong Cong at the MagLab. He has been actively involved in lab operations, including Helium transfers and assisting visiting users. Eager to expand his knowledge into other resonance-based techniques, Noah is excited to explore Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) methods through the Hill Group. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading and musicals. Noah continues his pursuit of a Physics B.S. and is enthusiastic about contributing to the group’s qubit-focused research.

This will also serve as a pilot mentoring experience for Kavi, marking the beginning of quantum research exposure for the UROP candidates, Brittany and Noah.

Welcome aboard, both!

Year of Quantum: FSU poised to lead in quantum science and engineering

The Hill Group’s research in quantum science was recently featured in Florida State University’s article, Year of Quantum: FSU poised to lead in quantum science and engineering.

Led by Professor Stephen Hill, the group is exploring lanthanides, rare earth elements with unique magnetic and optical properties, as potential building blocks for qubits. These elements can store quantum information for extended periods, offering a chemical alternative to fragile superconducting circuits.

The article emphasized how Hill’s team, through publications in Nature Chemistry and JACS, is pushing the boundaries of molecular quantum science. It also highlighted the importance of close collaboration between chemists and physicists in advancing quantum applications with elements such as praseodymium and lutetium.

Postdoc Kavipriya Thangavel participated in the National Postdoc Appreciation Week Fall Symposium 2025 at Florida State University, where postdocs presented their research to an engaging community of fellow researchers across interdisciplinary fields. The symposium included multiple outreach and research competitions. Kavi presented her research conducted with the W-band HiPER spectrometer on qubit systems, as well as outreach work from the Hill group related to quantum technologies. Her presentation highlighted the current evolution of quantum technologies, the significance of elucidating qubit lifetime and aimed to bridge EPR spectroscopy research on embryonic molecular qubits with the rapidly developing field of quantum information. READ MORE

This year’s Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) EPR 2025, dedicated exclusively to the field of EPR and chaired by Prof. Steve Hill, was held in Snowbird, Utah, from August 3–7, 2025, featuring numerous EPR presentations and posters.

Postdoc Brittany Grimm presented “EPR and FIRMS Characterization of the Magnetic Anisotropy in a Set of Metalorganic Mn^III[R-sal₂323]⁺ Spin-Crossover Complexes” at the RMC EPR 2025 conference and, among all the engaging EPR talks, took home the Best Postdoc Oral Presentation award. Congratulations on this fantastic achievement, Brittany!

Two more postdocs from Team EMR also took part in the conference. Kavipriya Thangavel presented a poster titled “Probing Spin Relaxation Mechanisms in Co(II) and Cu(II) Qubit Complexes via Temperature-Dependent High-Field EPR Studies”, and Sabastian Atwood presented “Multifrequency Study of Multiphoton Electron Paramagnetic Resonance in Crystalline Gd(III):YVO₂”.

In addition, congratulations to all three postdocs on receiving the RMC Conference Travel Award!

Alongside the academic achievements, the conference took place in a stunning setting, with lively moments inside and outside the venue, all framed by the majestic Rocky Mountains.

Congratulations to Erin on completing a successful Master’s program and, during this time, earning two best poster awards along with the prestigious Clara Kibler Davis Award. Best wishes for her continued success in the doctoral program at the University of Pittsburgh. Finally, a keepsake signed by Erin will join the collection on Steve’s students’ shelf, adding an extra touch of distinction!