Michael T. Pettes is a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a Deputy Group Leader for MPA-CINT. Michael is an experimentalist whose research focuses on how strain, defects, isotopic disorder, and microstructure can be used to control the properties of low-dimensional and topological materials. His work spans quantitative electron microscopy and 4D-STEM, nanoscale thermal physics, thermophysical metrology, quantum emitters, and emergent optical and transport phenomena, with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. He is known for contributions in strain-engineered quantum emitters, diffraction-based nanoscale metrology, and the use of strain and isotopic disorder as control parameters for excitonic and topological states.
Expertise
- Strain, defect, and microstructure engineering in low-dimensional and quantum materials
- Quantitative electron microscopy, especially 4D-STEM and diffraction-based nanoscale strain/orientation mapping
- Quantum emitters, excitonic physics, and optical phenomena in transition-metal dichalcogenides and van der Waals materials
- Thermal transport, thermoelectric transport, and thermophysical metrology in nanomaterials
- Topological materials, quantum anomalies, and emergent transport phenomena
- Interdisciplinary materials characterization linking structure, mechanics, optics, and transport
Capabilities
Education
PhD, MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Duke University
Awards
- Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2023
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Invitational Fellowship, 2025
- U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory Laboratory Directed Research and Development Early Career Research Program Award, 2019
- University of Connecticut Early Career Faculty Scholar Award, 2017
- Ronald E. McNair Faculty Mentor Award, 2017
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2016
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, 2006
- Donald D. Harrington Graduate Doctoral Fellow, 2005
