Zhao Research Group

We are pleased to announce a new publication from our group in Analytical Chemistry, entitled " Comprehensive Open-Source Ecosystem for Raman and SERS Spectroscopy: Introducing SpectraGuru ", highlighting recent progress in improving the reproducibility and transparency of Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) data analysis through the development of the SpectraGuru platform. Raman and SERS spectroscopy are widely used across chemistry, materials science, biol

We are excited to share our latest publication (open-access) in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C , titled “ Understanding SERS Spectral Shape Variability through Substrate Optics, Molecular Orientation, and Unsupervised Clustering .”  The paper presents a combined experimental and chemometric study that explains why SERS spectra often change in shape, not just in intensity, even when the same molecule is measured on the same general type of substrate. What We Did Using 1,2

We are excited to announce a new Special Issue in the journal Nanomaterials  dedicated to the latest breakthroughs in Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD)  and related nanostructured materials. 📢 As Guest Editor, I warmly invite researchers, collaborators, and the broader nanoscience community to contribute their latest work to this timely and impactful collection. 🌟 Why This Special Issue? Glancing Angle Deposition has emerged as a powerful and versatile nanofabrication techni

We are pleased to announce the first publication describing the SpectraGuru platform , marking an important milestone in the development of an open and community-driven infrastructure for Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) research. The work, titled “ SpectraGuru: A Community-Guided Path Toward Scalable Raman and SERS Analysis ,”  was published as a conference proceeding  in Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy 2026: Advances in Research and Industry  (SPIE P

We are proud to share that Prof. Yiping Zhao , Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Georgia, has been named a 2026 Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) . This recognition honors academic inventors whose patented technologies and translational research have demonstrated meaningful societal impact and commercialization potential. The Senior Member designation highlights sustained contributions to in

We are excited to share our new Analytical Chemistry  review article, “ Decoding Complex Spectra with Machine Learning: Advances in Spectral Unmixing for Chemical Analysis .”   Modern spectroscopy is indispensable in biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, and materials characterization—but real-world spectra are often mixtures: multiple chemical components, overlapping peaks, strong backgrounds (e.g., fluorescence), and spatial mixing (e.g., imaging, r

We are excited to share our latest publication in ACS Omega , titled “I mproving Protein Quantification with SERS Superspectra and Machine Learning .”   Quantitative protein analysis using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has long been challenged by weak, orientation-dependent adsorption and highly heterogeneous spectral responses. Traditional peak-based calibration often fails because protein–surface interactions are nonlinear and substrate dependent. In this work,

Position Summary ( https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/468341 ) The University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on AI-enabled surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for precision molecular measurement and biophysical discovery. This position is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and is intended to recruit new postdoctoral talent to UGA. The postdoctoral schol

We are pleased to share that our forthcoming book, SmartIPL: Smartphone-Based Introductory Physics Labs , currently in press with SPIE Press, is being featured at Photonics West . The book introduces a modern and accessible approach to teaching experimental physics by transforming smartphones into powerful tools for hands-on laboratory learning. SmartIPL will present eight carefully designed laboratory modules aligned with introductory mechanics courses. Using everyday materi

SuperRamanNet Achieves Near Clinical-Grade Accuracy in Real-World Validation Researchers at Qatar University (QU), in close collaboration with the University of Georgia (UGA) and international clinical partners, have reported a major advance in rapid sepsis diagnostics. Published in Talanta, the study presents a culture-free, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and artificial intelligence–based platform capable of recognizing sepsis and identifying causative pathogens

We are excited to share our latest publication in Nature Communications , reporting a new class of ultra-fast, ultra-sensitive hydrogen sensors that operate at room temperature and achieve sub-second response times with parts-per-billion (ppb) detection limits. Hydrogen sensing is critical for clean energy, industrial safety, and environmental monitoring, yet achieving both  rapid response and ultra-low detection limits in a single device remains a major challenge. In thi

Smartphone-Based Undergraduate Physics Labs: A Comprehensive Review of Innovation, Accessibility, and Pedagogical Impact Yiping Zhao, European Journal of Physics (2025) 📄 DOI:   https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6404/ae2a80 I am delighted to announce that my latest paper, “ Smartphone-based undergraduate physics labs: a comprehensive review of innovation, accessibility, and pedagogical impact ,” has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Physics  and is now avai

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for the position of Head of the Department, expected to start August 1, 2026. We seek a visionary leader and accomplished scientist with internationally recognized expertise in physics or astronomy. This individual should be eager to shape the future of our department and advance its research, teaching, and service missions. Pending University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ ap

We are proud to announce that Kenneth Christopher Stiwinter, a graduate student in the Zhao Nano Lab, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Georgia, has been awarded the Best Poster Award at the 5th International Online Conference on Nanomaterials (IOCN 2025), organized by MDPI. Ken’s award-winning poster, “The Optical and Near-Field Properties of Plasmonic Janus Nanoparticles: An FDTD Study,”  presents a detailed computational investigation of Au–SiO₂ Janus nanopa

SpectraGuru™  is a free, open-source ecosystem for Raman and SERS data analysis and visualization — built to make spectroscopy faster, reproducible, and community-driven. 🚀 Version 1.2 brings major advances  toward a fully connected spectroscopy ecosystem: 🔹 1. Unified, Community-Driven Database PostgreSQL-based centralized backend Standardized schema for raw and processed spectra Over 3,000 spectra  spanning chemicals, viruses, biomarkers, and more — all annotated with det

The University of Georgia is embracing the creative intersection of artificial intelligence and education. In a recent article by The Red...

Reliable and rapid pathogen detection remains a major challenge in global health. A recent collaboration between Qatar University (QU)...

We are delighted to share that Amit has successfully passed his oral examination and advanced to Ph.D. candidacy in the Department of...

We’re excited to share our latest article in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A , published in the Michael A. Duncan Festschrift special...

I was pleased to attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2025 National Meeting  in Washington, DC (August 17–21, 2025), where I...