Zhao Research Group

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