Graduate student earns Scamuffa Award

2025-05-12

Writer(s): Steve Scherer

Jayna Enguita was the inaugural Scamuffa Award winner that recognizes an outstanding second year graduate student.

The award was made possible by the generous philanthropy from Purdue Chemistry alumni Michael and Robin Scamuffa.

“I am incredibly grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Scamuffa’s generosity and desire to support me and the Department of Chemistry. Through their kindness, I am able to continue my ultrafast spectroscopy research on novel materials,” said Enguita, who is originally from Frankfort, Ill.

Her work in Hanzhe Liu’s research lab involves uncovering fundamental material properties in quantum materials for use in materials engineering, data storage, and optoelectronics.

“Electrons move very fast - so fast that you need a measurement technique that is even faster to capture the motion. Attosecond (10-18) extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectroscopy allows us to do this. It is unique because we are able to see these electronic operations with element specificity by nature of the broadband laser pulses that we use to probe the sample. To complement these measurements, terahertz (THz, 1012 Hz) spectroscopy helps us to assess material photoconductivity and bulk material behavior. We can push the electrons in a material around with a static electric field, which causes the material lattice to bend and vibrate. Our measurements help us determine the material’s ability to conduct electricity.” - Jayna Enguita

Before coming to West Lafayette, Enguita attended the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering, double majoring in chemistry, with minors in French and mathematics.

Here at Purdue, she is involved in several activities outside the lab including serving on the Chemistry Graduate Student Advisory Board, leading a chemistry graduate student prayer group, and competing as a ballroom dancer where Purdue won the team match at the USA Dance National Championships last year. (As a competitive undergraduate dancer at the University of Alabama, she received 23 regional championship titles and four national championship titles amongst 80 top three finishes in various events in both American and international style ballroom competition dances!)

The Scamuffa Award is a cash prize distributed over four years to support the recipient in making a greater impact during their academic career.

“Receiving this award motivates me to pursue excellence in my studies and reminds me that I am surrounded by a community that loves science as much as I do. I hope that this award serves as a testament to the ever-growing network of scientists who have ties to Purdue,” added Enguita.

After Purdue, she hopes to obtain a postdoctoral position that leads to work at a national lab or an industry position.

“An early dream of mine was research for nuclear waste recycling, so perhaps God will provide an opportunity in that field someday. At the very least, I humbly hope that the foundation of my scientific career established at Purdue can propel me forward to a future of research that can positively impact the people who have provided and done so much for me,” Enguita said.