Research Focus
Are you passionate about sustainable energy and curious about how we can design better materials to power the future? Join the Wexler Group in developing computational and theoretical methods to study material imperfections—like surfaces and defects—that can be essential in clean energy technologies. Our projects include (1) discovering how changes on material surfaces can enhance catalytic reactions, (2) developing materials that use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and (3) designing materials that produce ammonia using solar energy.
Skills, Techniques, Methods
- Programming with Python or Julia
- Quantum-mechanical calculations
- Visual Studio Code
- Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package
- OVITO
- Data analysis and interpretation
Research Conditions
Students should expect to (1) engage in a collaborative on-campus research setting with access to state-of-the-art computational resources, (2) build a strong foundation by exploring current research and scientific literature in the field, and (3) apply their skills to real-world problems in sustainable energy materials.
Team Structure and Opportunities
Students will (1) work closely with Professor Wexler during weekly one-on-one meetings, (2) join weekly group meetings to share ideas and learn from peers, and (3) pair up with a senior group member for guidance.
