
Bruce Barrios is a PhD candidate in the Physics Graduate Group at the University of California, Merced. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Riverside and Master of Science degrees in Applied Optics from Delaware State University and Physics from the University of California, Merced. Bruce’s research is conducted in the Quantum Matter Group under Professor Dr. Michael Scheibner and focuses on light-matter interactions in solid-state systems. Specifically, he is investigating the properties of quantum dots, quantum dot molecules, and trapped ions in van der Waals materials, and exploring their potential applications in quantum technology.