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Esther Tsai

Staff Scientist, Electronic Materials, Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Center for Functional Nanomaterials
Bldg. 735, Room 2029
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-6149
etsai@bnl.gov

Esther’s research aims to develop new X-ray characterization methods and advanced analysis platforms for synchrotron X-ray scattering and imaging techniques. Machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) methods can be utilized for example to enhance spatial or spectral resolution, reveal chemical relevance, suggest optimal experimental configuration/procedures, as well as enable efficient human-computer interaction. As co-lead for the partner-user program between CFN and NSLS-II X-ray scattering beamlines, Esther provides support for users on small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) experiments at beamlines 11-BM (CMS) and 12-ID (SMI). Contact her if you have any questions!

Expertise

Inverse problem, machine learning, X-ray imaging, X-ray scattering, synchrotron beamline

Education

Purdue University B.S. 2009 Electrical Engineering
Purdue University Ph.D. 2014 Electrical and Computer Engineering

Professional Appointments

Research and Professional Experience

2018 – present Scientist, Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory
2015 – 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher, Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute

Synergistic Activities

2022 – present Member, Proposal review panel for the Advanced Photon Source (APS)
2020 – 2024 Member, Users' Executive Committee (UEC) for National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

Selected Publications

Potemkin D, Soto C, Li R, et al (2023) Virtual Scientific Companion for Synchrotron Beamlines: A Prototype
Wentz CM, Lachmayr KK, Tsai EHR, Sita LR (2023) Rapid Phase Transitions of Thermotropic Glycolipid Quasicrystal and Frank-Kasper Mesophases: A Mechanistic Rosetta Stone. Angewandte Chemie 135:. https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202302739
Li W, Sidhik S, Traore B, et al (2021) Light-activated interlayer contraction in two-dimensional perovskites for high-efficiency solar cells. Nature Nanotechnology 17:45–52. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-021-01010-2
Tsai EHR, Xia Y, Fukuto M, Loo Y-L, Li R (2021) Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction tomography for characterizing organic thin films. Journal of Applied Crystallography. doi: 10.1107/s1600576721007184
Guan Z, Tsai E, Huang X, et al (2019) PtychoNet: Fast and High Quality Phase Retrieval for Ptychography. Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)
Tsai EHR, Marone F, Guizar-Sicairos M (2019) Gridrec-MS: an algorithm for multi-slice tomography. Optics Letters 44:2181. doi: 10.1364/ol.44.002181
Tsai EHR, Billaud J, Sanchez DF, Ihli J, Odstrcil M, Holler M, Grolimund D, Villevieille C, Guizar-Sicairos M (2019) Correlated X-Ray 3D Ptychography and Diffraction Microscopy Visualize Links between Morphology and Crystal Structure of Lithium-Rich Cathode Materials. iScience 11:356–365. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.12.028
Holler M, Guizar-Sicairos M, Tsai EHR, Dinapoli R, Müller E, Bunk O, Raabe J, Aeppli G (2017) High-resolution non-destructive three-dimensional imaging of integrated circuits. Nature 543:402–406. doi: 10.1038/nature21698
Tsai EHR, Usov I, Diaz A, Menzel A, Guizar-Sicairos M (2016) X-ray ptychography with extended depth of field. Optics Express 24:29089. doi: 10.1364/oe.24.029089
Tsai EHR, Diaz A, Menzel A, Guizar-Sicairos M (2016) X-ray ptychography using a distant analyzer. Optics Express 24:6441. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.24.006441