MAKAROV NIKOLAY SERGEEVICH

Current position:

Senior Director of Analytics, UbiQD, Inc

Education:

2004-2010: Ph.D. in Physics, Montana State University
2004-2006: MS in Physics, Montana State University
1997-2003: MS in Mathematics, Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (SPbSU ITMO)

Ph.D. Dissertation: "Ultrafast two-photon absorption in organic molecules: quantitative spectroscopy and applications", Advised by Prof. Aleksander K. Rebane
The thesis is devoted to fundamental understanding and experimental measurements of two-photon absorption (2PA) in organic molecules as well as to the applications of 2PA in 3D optical memory, optical power limiting, photodynamic therapy and fluorescent microscopy.

Research interests:

Quantitative nonlinear spectroscopy

Applications of two-photon absorption in biology, microscopy, solar cells and 3D memory

Quasi-phase matched stimulated Raman Scattering

Research and work experience:

Senior Director of Analytics, UbiQD, 2022 - present
   Enabling state of the art performance of the CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots.
   Developing new spectroscopic capabilities for the Company.
   Evaluating photostability properties of materials containing CuInSeS/ZnS quantum dots.
   Testing novel ideas for quantum dot applications.

Senior Director of Physics, UbiQD, 2020 - 2022
   Enabling state of the art performance of the CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots.
   Developing new spectroscopic capabilities for the Company.
   Evaluating photostability properties of materials containing CuInSeS/ZnS quantum dots.
   Testing novel ideas for quantum dot applications.

Director of Applied Physics, UbiQD, 2016 - 2020
   Enabling state of the art performance of the CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots.
   Developing new spectroscopic capabilities for the Company.
   Evaluating photostability properties of materials containing CuInSeS/ZnS quantum dots.
   Testing novel ideas for quantum dot applications.

Directors Postdoc Fellow, Los Alamos National Lab, 2012 - 2016
   Evaluated feasibility of using conductive films of quantum dots as cold cathodes to produce electron beam 2015-2016.
      -Demonstrated that the cathodes based on CdSe and PbSe quantum dots can perform with efficiencies comparable to and better than bulk Cu cathodes
      -Established limits for repeatability of the performance of the cathodes, tested performance dependence on the bandgaps
   Performed spectroscopic studies of multiexciton dynamics in perovskite quantum dots, 2015-2016.
      -Established deviation of the biexciton Auger lifetimes from the universal volume scaling
      -Found absence of carrier multiplication at practical excitation wavelengths
   Characterized excited state dynamics of core/shell colloidal semiconductor quantum dots, 2012-2016.
      -Studied properties of the bulk-like visible emission of the PbSe/CdSe quantum dots
   Investigated upconversion efficiencies of core/shell colloidal semiconductor quantum dots and metal nanoparticle-quantum dot heterostructures, 2012-2016.
      -Demonstrated enhancement of the two-photon absorption in the PbSe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots
      -Experimentally showed feasibility of the Auger-assisted upconversion in the PbSe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots
   Developed methods for characterization of the electron transfer rates in mesoporous TiO2 films sensitized with colloidal quantum dots using pump-probe and transient photoluminescence techniques, 2012-2014.
      -Demonstrated importance of the whole device measurements and electrolytes for proper assignment of the transfer rates
      -Assessed volume- and composition-dependent excited charge carrier processes in CuInSeS quantum dots
   Studied carrier multiplication in various colloidal quantum dots using pump-probe and transient photoluminescence techniques, 2012-2016.
      -Obtained carrier multiplication quantum yields and thresholds for variously-sized CuInSeS quantum dots
      -Measured carrier multiplication quantum yields in Si quantum dots
   Investigated charge dynamics in conjugated quantum dot complexes using pump-probe and transient photoluminescence techniques, 2013-2014.
      -Analyzed role of environment and size effects on the electron and hole transfer in dopamine-conjugated CdSe quantum dots

Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010 - 2012
   Development of two-photon measurement system, 2010-2011.
      -Design of the hardware and software for high accuracy low noise reliable double channel relative fluorescence-based measurements of two-photon absorption
   Study of the structure-property relations of various organic molecules, 2010-2012.
      -Investigation of the influence of the coupling, symmetry and planarity on the photophysical properties of triarylamine-diarylboryl single- and multi-arm compounds
      -Assay of the efficiency of the plasmon-absorption enhanced molecules for 2PA-based optical power limiting
   Study of the structure-property relations of variously sized semiconductor quantum dots, 2011-2012.
      -Investigation of the influence of the core and shell size on the photophysical properties of CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots

Graduate Research Assistant, Physics Department, Montana State University, 2004 - 2010
   Study of two-photon 3D optical memory, 2004-2006.
      -Computer simulations of the Signal-to-Noise and Signal-to-Background ratios in 3D optical memory devices
      -Experimental demonstration of efficient materials satisfying the requirements for high speed high density memory
   Characterization of the molecules for efficient optical power limiting, 2004-2010.
      -Experimental demonstration of the validity of perturbation theory for description of two-photon cross sections
      -Development of a set of reference standards for precise two-photon absorption spectral measurements
   Characterization of new fluorescent proteins (FP) for two-photon microscopy, 2007-2010.
      -Development of new all-optical approach for characterization of linear absorption properties of FPs
      -Measurements of two-photon absorption spectra and cross sections of various FP mutants
   Development of a high precision near-infrared femtosecond pump-probe setup, 2008-2010.
      -Design and realization of the computer-controlled experimental setup and controlling software
      -Experimental demonstration of the validity of a few-essential-level model for description of two-photon cross sections
   Development and application of a near-infrared imaging system for sensitive cancer detection, 2008-2010.
      -Design of an imaging system which uses near-IR two-photon excited fluorescence
      -Demonstration of non-targeted cancer imaging and diagnostics
      -Analysis of biochemical mechanisms of dye sensitivity to cancer cells

Junior Researcher, Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, 1999-2004
Study of a quasi-phase matched stimulated Raman scattering, 1999-2004.
-Development of several consequent versions of software for computer simulations of quasi-phase matching conditions for stimulated Raman scattering in various layered nonlinear media

Skills:

   Programming (C, C++, Pascal, Mathematica, LabView)
   Operating and maintaining femtosecond laser systems (Ti:Sa oscillator, amplifier, OPA)
   Optical design of (microscopic) imaging system
   Nonlinear optical methods (2PA with registration of fluorescence, femtosecond pump-probe, Z-scan)
   Fluorescence lifetime measurements with ps-ns resolution using streak-camera and time-correlated single photon counting systems
   Linear spectroscopy methods

Extra links:

Resume
My publications Google scholar profile
My grants and awards
Hobbies/interests