Staff

Bio

Will has a physics PhD and has previously worked as a senior analytical scientist at QD Vision, Inc, a quantum dot manufacturer, and as the Chief Scientist at Princeton Instruments, a scientific camera and spectrometer manufacturer. At Boise State, Will has specialized in the development of optics, microscopy systems, and analysis software for use with single-molecule fluorescence based super-resolution microscopy techniques. As a member of qDNA’s Single Molecule Characterization Team, Will will focus on developing capabilities related to fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and taking associated measurements on model dye systems.

Education

• Stanford University PhD in Physics. September 2012
  • Dissertation: Physical Properties of Materials Derived from Diamondoid Molecules
  • Research Adviser: Prof. Zhi-Xun Shen
• Princeton University BA in Physics. Graduated Summa Cum Laude June 2005

Publications

• Mehdi Bandali, Ximing Ren, Fnu Tala, William Clay, Will Hughes, Wan Kuang, Benjamin Johnson, “An 80MHz frame-rate 17.4% fill-factor 16×16 SPAD image array with event-based multiplexing for super-resolution microscopy,” Proc. SPIE 12089, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XVI, 1208902 (30 May 2022)
• Dickinson, G.D., Mortuza, G.M., Clay, W. et al. “An alternative approach to nucleic acid memory.” Nat Commun 12, 2371 (2021).
• T. Narasimha, C.H. Ge, J. D. Fabbri, W. Clay, B. A. Tkachenko, A. A. Fokin, P. R. Schreiner, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, Z.X. Shen and N. A. Melosh, “Ultralow effective work function surfaces using diamondoid monolayers.” Nature Nanotechnology 11 267 (2016)
• A. Clay, J. E P. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, N. A. Melosh and Z.-X. Shen, “Physical properties of materials derived from diamondoid molecules.” Reports on Progress in Physics 78 016501 (2014)
• Clay, William A. Physical Properties of Materials Derived from Diamondoid Molecules. PhD thesis. Stanford University, Stanford CA. Stanford University Library. Accepted August 2012, available online September 2013
• A. Clay, J. R. Maldonado, P. Pianetta, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, P. R. Schreiner, A. A. Fokin, B. A. Tkachenko, N. Melosh and Z.-X. Shen, “Photocathode Device using Diamondoid and Cesium Bromide Films.” Applied Physics Letters 101, 241605 (2012)
• R. Maldonado, P. Pianetta, D. H Dowell, J. Corbett, S. Park, J. Schmerge and W. A. Clay, “Experimental verification of the 3-step model of photoemission for energy spread and emittance measurements of copper and CsBr-coated copper photocathodes suitable for FEL applications.” Applied Physics Letters 101, 231103 (2012)
• A. Clay, T. Sasagawa, A. Iwasa, Zhi Liu, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, N. Melosh, and Z.-X. Shen, “Photoluminescence of Diamondoid Crystals.” Journal of Applied Physics 110 (2011) 093512
• Iwasa, W. A. Clay, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, Z.-X. Shen and T. Sasagawa “Environmentally Friendly Refining of Diamondoid-Molecules via the Growth of Large Single Crystals” Crystal Growth and Design 10 (2010) 870
• J.-H. Lee, I. Bargatin, J. Provine, W. A. Clay, J. W. Schwede, F. Liu, R. Maboudian, N. A. Melosh, Z.-X. Shen and R. T. Howe, “Thermionic Emission from microfabricated Silicon Carbide Filaments,” in Digest Tech. Papers PowerMEMS 2009 Conference, DC, Dec 1-4, 2009
• A. Clay, Zhi Liu, W.L. Yang J. D. Fabbri, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, P.R. Sun, P, R. Schreiner, A. A. Fokin, B. A. Tkachenko, N. A. Fokina, P. A. Pianetta, N. Melosh and Z.-X. Shen, “Origin of the Monochromatic Photoemission Peak in Diamondoid Monolayers.” Nanoletters 9 (2009) 57
• A. Clay, Zhi Liu “Novel Properties of Diamondoid Molecules.” Presented at the 2008 American Physical Society March Meeting, New Orleans, LA. March 11, 2008
• A. Clay, T. Sasagawa, M. Kelly, J. E. Dahl, R. M. K. Carlson, N. Melosh and Z.-X. Shen, “Diamondoids as Low-k Dielectric Materials.” Applied Physics Letters 93 (2008) 172901
• Zhi Liu, W. Clay, N. Melosh, Z.-X. Shen, A. Fokin, and P. R. Schreiner, “Applicable Fluorescence of Diamondoids.” (Provisional Patent filed Jan. 2008)
• Frame, W. A. Clay, T. Elmont, E. Esch, P. Karpius, D. MacArthur, E. McKigney, P. Santi, M. Smith, J. Thron, and R. Williams, “Development of a Liquid Scintillator Neutron Multiplicity Counter (LSMC),” Nuclear Instrumentation and Methods in Physics Research A 579 (2007) 192-195
• Clay, William A. Preparation of Kosterlitz-Thouless type superconducting samples. BA thesis. Princeton University, Princeton NJ. Princeton University Library. Available online June 2005.
• P. Belian, M. C. Brown, W. A. Clay, N. Ensslin, W. Geist, H. Nguyen, K. Ianakiev, D. Mayo, S. Panowski, and P. Russo, “An Approach to Mulitplicity Counting for a Versatile New Sensor for Plutonium Assay with a Very Short Die-away Time, and Independent Measurements of Neutrons and Gamma Rays,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 505 (2003) 54-57
• C. Frame, W. A. Clay, W. H. Geist, J. Lestone, A. Belian and K. Ianakiev, “Neutron and gamma Pulse Shape Discrimination in a Liquid Scintillator Counter for Neutron Multiplicity Measurements of Enriched Uranium”, Los Alamos National Laboratory report LA-UR-03-4215 (2003)
• P. Lestone, A. P. Belian, W. A. Clay, and P. A. Russo, “Numerical Multiplicity Analysis of NCCR Data,” Los Alamos National Laboratory report LA-UR-02-0452 (2002)

Honors, Awards, and Professional Activities

• 2005 – Allen Goodrich Shenstone Prize, Princeton University Physics Department award for excellence in academics and research.
• 2005 – Phi Beta Kappa, national academic honor society, inductee.
• 2003 – Los Alamos National Laboratory Distinguished Student Performance Award, for outstanding research contributions to the Laboratory by a graduate or undergraduate student.