Alex Bretaña

Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP) Instrument Scientist

email alexbretana@missouri.edu

phone (573) 884-1791

Education:

  • Ph.D. Physics, 2022, University of Missouri
  • M.S. Physics, 2020, University of Missouri
  • B.S. Physics, 2016, University of Missouri – St. Louis

Professional Experience:

  • Research Scientist, University of Missouri Research Reactor, 2025-Present
  • Staff Scientist, Savannah River National Laboratory, 2024-2025
  • Laboratory Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Savannah River National Laboratory, 2022-2024

Research:

Dr. Bretaña’s research focuses on using neutron techniques to design new next generation materials, with a special interest in metrology for light elements.

At MURR, Dr. Bretana is commissioning the new Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP) Instrument on Beamport D and establishing a NDP research program in material science. The NDP Program at MURR will employ techniques and experiments to discover and design the next generation of materials, including longer lasting lithium-ion batteries, high-purity semiconductors, and radiation-tolerant structural materials.   

  • Neutron Depth Profiling (NDP), Materials Science, Metrology

Select Publications:

Full Publication list available on Google Scholar.

  • Makani, N. H., Rai, B. K., Bastakoti, B. P., Bretana, A., & Gautam, B. (2025). Current Advances in i‐MAX Phases and their Two-Dimensional Derivative i‐MXenes: Challenges and Opportunities. Advanced Electronic Materials, e00478.
  • Rai, B. K., Mizzi, C. A., Bretaña, A., Breton, L., Housley, C., Ivy, D., … & Calder, S. (2025). Magnetic properties of (Mo2/3Dy1/3)2AlC arc melted polycrystalline samples. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 624, 172992.
  • Rai, B. K., Bretaña, A., Morrison, G., Greer, R., Gofryk, K., & Zur Loye, H. C. (2024). Crystal structure and magnetism of actinide oxides: a review. Reports on Progress in Physics, 87(6), 066501.
  • Bretaña, A., Fayfar, S., & Montfrooij, W. (2023). Quantitative solution to the Kondo lattice problem. Physical Review B, 108(4), 045122.
  • Fayfar, S., Bretaña, A., & Montfrooij, W. (2021). Effects of disorder on Harris-criterion violating percolation. Physical Review E, 104(3), 034110.
  • Bretaña, A., Fayfar, S., & Montfrooij, W. (2021). Evidence for magnetic clusters in stoichiometric quantum critical CeRu2Si2. Physical Review B, 104(8), 085135.
  • Fayfar, S., Bretaña, A., & Montfrooij, W. (2021). Protected percolation: a new universality class pertaining to heavily-doped quantum critical systems. Journal of Physics Communications, 5(1), 015008.