Dr. Chris Rudnicki received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California-Riverside in 2023 after graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2017. His physics research aims to understand the optical and thermal properties of materials generally, but specifically plasmonic nanoparticles for photocatalysis during his PhD. Additionally, Dr. Chris is researching the intersection of science and public policy as well as broader science and technology studies.