Hopper Lab

BEHOLD! Our laboratory, based at UCF, pioneers ultrafast laser control tools to advance the materials and device (MAD) science of molecular and nanoscale systems for novel energy, optoelectronic and quantum technologies.

News:

Nov 2026: Tom gives an invited talk at SERMACS 2026 (Memphis, TN)

20 Sep 2026: Tom gives an invited talk at FAME 2026

03 Sep 2026: Our recent Nature Photonics paper is featured on the SLAC News site: "Ultrafast electrons and lasers open possibilities for better imaging and sensing technologies"

23 Aug 2026: Tom co-organizes SPIE PCSMI XXV in San Diego, and presents results from our ACS Nano paper

24 Jun 2026: Our recent Phys Rev A paper is featured on the SLAC News Site: "SLAC researchers ‘watch’ molecules steered by laser light"

05 Jun 2026: Our recent Nature Photonics paper is featured in Nature Photonics News & Views: "Watching ionization in a new light"

20 May 2026: The Hopper Lab wins it's first grant in the form of an ACS PRF! Looking forward to developing new ultrafast approaches for detecting and controlling electric fields at energized interfaces!

18 May 2026: Ashley Thirwall Harris (MSE) joins us an undergraduate researcher. Welcome!

12 May 2026: Tom now has a secondary joint appointment with CREOL (College of Optics & Photonics)

06 May 2026: Charlie Erdman (MSE) joins us an undergraduate researcher. Welcome!

01 May 2026: Brandon Ruiz wins extended URE Research Funding from Duke Energy. Congrats!

20 Apr 2026: "Strong ultrafast nonlinear optical response from megaelectronvolt electrons in semiconductors" is published in Nature Photonics, and features on the journal cover!

08 Apr 2026: "Ultrafast x-ray imaging of coherently controlled molecular dynamics in real space and time" is published in Physical Review A!

03 Mar 2026: Owen Fisher (Chemistry) starts as a PhD student. Welcome!

01 Jan 2026: Kashvi Modi (Chemistry) and Yarin Camacho Aparicio (Optics & Photonics) start as PhD students, and Konnor Jones joins as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome!

05 Dec 2025: Lee Lyday (Physics) joins us as an undegrraduate researcher. Welcome!

15 Nov 2025: Kashvi and Yarin present posters, and Tom gives a talk at the "Science & Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium" (UCF)

26 Oct 2025: Tom co-organizes "Structures and Properties of Photoactive Materials" at SERMACS 2025 in Orlando, and presents work from our recent Nature Communications and Phys Rev A papers!

21 Oct 2025: Tom gives an invited seminar at CREOL

07 Oct 2025: Tom and Dr. Popolan-Vaida visit USF for a recruitment event. Tom also presents work on "Time-domain optical control of molecular and material dynamics"

07 Jul 2025: "Hot-carrier trapping preserves high quantum yields but limits optical gain in InP-based quantum dots" is published in Nature Communications!

09 Jun 2025: Kashvi Modi joins the group as a volunteer. Welcome!

12 May 2025: Alex Richards and Brandon Miller join the group as summer interns! Welcome both!

23 Mar 2025: Tom gives invited talk at ACS Spring Meeting (San Diego, CA) on our recent Phys Rev A paper!

20 Mar 2025: Tom gives talk at APS Global Summit (Anaheim, CA) on our recent Phys Rev A paper!

25 Nov 2024: "Ultrafast Symmetry Control in Photoexcited Quantum Dots" is published in Advanced Materials, and features on the journal cover!

31 Oct 2024: IT'S ALIVE! The Hopper Ultrafast Control Lab website and Twitter account are now online!

22 Oct 2024: After a lengthy process encompassing interviews, visa issues, and a Category 5 hurricane (Milton), Tom's startup offer has been finalized!