Heungman Park, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Heungman Park is driven by his desire to transform fundamental physics discoveries into practical applications, which is why his research focuses on applied physics. His research team is investigating organic semiconductors in pursuit of a future where inexpensive plastic materials are used in highly efficient solar cells and light-emitting devices.

Park arrived in Oregon to begin his journey as a physicist in 2002, earning his master's degree from Oregon State University and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University. During his academic years, he enjoyed research and teaching.

A Conversation with Dr. Park

Which research projects are you working on now?

My research projects are on organic semiconductors in applied physics. Particularly, I focus on fundamental understanding of charge carriers and their binding states for the application of optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells. Organic semiconductors have a bright future for lightweight, flexible and low-cost device applications. In the future, people may carry thin, plastic portable solar cells in their backpack to charge their smartphones.

How has A&M-Commerce helped with your research?

The Department of Physics and Astronomy strongly encourages students to participate in faculty research programs. Students’ involvement is critical to helping me pursue my research projects at A&M-Commerce.

What hobbies do you have outside of teaching and researching physics?

I enjoy computer programming with Python for smartphones.

Educational Background

• Ph.D, Physics, Vanderbilt University, 2010
• M.S., Physics, Oregon State University, 2005
• B.S., Physics, Hanyang University, 2002

Academic Positions

• Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2016-Present
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Columbia University, 2013-2016
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Texas at Austin, 2011-2012
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Vanderbilt University, 2010-2011

Research Interests

• Organic Semiconductor Physics
• Photo-excited Charge Carrier Exciton Dynamics in Organic Materials
• Linear and Non-linear Optical Interactions in Nanostructured Materials
• Photonic Crystals

Awards and Honors

• The Akunuri Ramayya TA Award (Outstanding Teaching Assistant in Physics), Vanderbilt University, 2010
• SPIE Conference Outstanding Student Research Award, 2007
• Graduate Fellowship, Vanderbilt University, 2005

Selected Publications

• Cole Galey, H. Park, “Intermediate States During Photodegradation in MEH-PPV Solutions and Thin Films,” 2019, AIP Advances 9, 105010.
• Heungman Park, Youngah Karen Kwon, and Laura J. Kaufman, “Complex Photophysical Behaviors Affect Single Conjugated Molecule Optical Anisotropy Measurements,” 2019, J. Physic. Chem. C, 123,3, 1960-1965.
• Heungman Park, Dat T. Hoang, Keewook Paeng, Jaesung Yang, L. Kaufman, “Conformation-dependent Photostability Among and Within Single Conjugated Polymers,” 2015, Nano Letters 15 (11), pp 7604-7609.
• Heungman Park, Dat T. Hoang, Keewook Paeng, Laura J. Kaufman, “Localizing Exciton Recombination Sites in Conformationally Distinct Single Conjugated Polymers by Super-Resolution Fluorescent Imaging,” 2015, ASC Nano, 9 (3), pp 3151-3158.

Featured Courses

• PHYS 2426 University Physics
• PHYS 319 Computational Physics
• PHYS 332 Digital Logic
• PHYS 335 Advanced Physics Lab