The Team

Research team of people. — RostLab, 2024-2025. Back row, left-to-right: John Barber, Gerald Bejger, Dr. Rost, Sarah Muhlenberg, David Medina. Front row, left-to-right: Andrew Titus, Lauren Anderson, William Deary.

Primary Investigator

Christina M. Rost, Ph.D.

Dr. Rost hails from a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on understanding atomic-level disorder in materials and its impact on properties. When not in the lab or teaching, Dr. Rost enjoys DIY projects, gaming, hanging out with her husband and the corgis, and travelling.

More about the P.I. here.

Graduate Students (Updates in Progress!)

John Barber

John is a Ph.D. student from Barboursville, VA. He earned his B.S. in Physics with minors in Materials Science and Mathematics from James Madison University in 2023. John's project focuses on the synthesis of and integration of thin film oxides for pyroelectric applications. When he's not analyzing data or reading, he enjoys spending time in the gym, in the woods, or on the river.

Gerald Bejger

Jerry is a Ph.D. student originally from Clearwater, FL. He received a B.S. in Physics from James Madison University in 2023 followed by an M.Eng. in Materials Science & Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2025. His current research is on the local structure of high entropy oxides and on metastable phase nucleation in amorphous materials. When not engaging in science, he enjoys relaxing, watching sports, and gaming.

Undergraduate Students (Updates in Progress!)

William Deary

William is an undergraduate student raised in Bristow Virginia. He obtained an Associates of Engineering from Northern Virginia Community College. Currently, he's working on high entropy oxide research and exploring relationships between particle size and phase stability. When not researching ceramics, he enjoys climbing them at the New River Gorge but most days you can find him at the climbing gym.

Support Staff

Wednesday

Wednesday is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and older sister of Pugsley. Her interests include alligator rolling on anything she can, begging for treats, destroying toys, judging her brother, and melting hearts. She is a sweet angel baby who never does anything wrong.

Pugsley

Pugsley is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and younger brother to Wednesday (only by a few minutes). He enhances the emotional well-being of students, faculty, and staff on his visits with Dr. Rost to Holden Hall by demanding all of the love and attention. He enjoys running after balls, begging for treats, cuddles from everyone, and "baroo"-ing.

Former Members & Alumni

Virginia Tech

Lexie Ibarra, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2025-2026.
Gerald Bejger, M.Eng. Materials Science & Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2025. Virginia Tech.
Jayditya Somaiya, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2025.
Andrew Titus, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2024-2025.
Lauren Anderson, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2024-2025.
William Deary, B.S. Materials Science & Engineering, 2025. Virginia Tech.
Bethany Crittenden, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2024.
Angelica Phan, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Virginia Tech, 2024.
Sarah Muhlenberg, M.Eng. Materials Science & Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2024. Pratt & Whitney.

James Madison University

Michael Gerhart, B.S. Applied Physics, James Madison University, 2022-2023.
Thomas Bertram, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2022-2023.
Tyler Thompson, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2022-2023.
Melvin Chicas-Espinoza, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2022-2023.
John Barber, B.S. Applied Physics, James Madison University, 2021-2023.
Gerald Bejger, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2021-2023.
Daniel Mischenko, James Madison University, 2021-2022.
Tyler Valentine, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2021-2022.
Daniel Rossi, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2021-2022.
Kristen Johnson, B.S. Applied Physics, James Madison University, 2021-2022.
Gabriela Niculescu, Shenandoah Valley Governor's School & University of Virginia, 2020-2022.
Daniel Schmuckler, B.S. Physics, James Madison University, 2019-2021.
Zachary Kennedy, B.S. Mathematics, James Madison University, 2019-2020.
Andrew Giles, James Madison University, 2019.

Interested in joining RostLab?