Matthew is a third year graduate student in the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). Before joining the group, Mr. Cothrine received his M.S. in MSE from the University of Central Florida in 2018. He has been a graduate teaching assistant for the undergraduate-level Principles of Materials Laboratory courses (MSE 210, 300 and 304) as well as the new Materials Chemistry course (MSE110). He has also worked to do outreach to high school students as a GTA for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Governor’s Schools Materials Science section, where he has worked to develop and teach introductory lessons and laboratory concepts. Additionally, Mr. Cothrine has served as an officer in the UTK chapter of the Materials Research Society from 2019 through 2021.

He joined the Mandrus research group in August of 2018. His current work focuses on synthesis and characterization of Kitaev materials and other quantum spin liquid candidates – in particular, RuCl3 and related compounds. He also works with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to leverage neutron techniques investigate these exotic magnetic states.