Quantum Chemistry Theorist joins UMD Faculty
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is pleased to announce that Hong-Zhou Ye will join the University of Maryland as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in August, 2024.
Hong-Zhou Ye is a theoretical quantum chemist known for developing and applying new computational methods to address chemistry challenges in both molecular and condensed- phase systems.
He earned his BSc at Peking University and PhD at MIT, both in chemistry. As a doctoral student in the Van Voorhis group, he developed innovative quantum embedding methods for treating the ground-state energetics and the optical response of large functional molecules. Through this methodology and collaboration with various experimental groups, he obtained accurate descriptions of fullerenes for photovoltaic applications, gold nanorods with ultra-high stability, and quinone derivatives for electrochemical CO2 separation, among other applications. He will join UMD after completing a post-doc at Columbia University with Prof. Timothy C. Berkelbach. His post-doctoral research has produced a series of advances on periodic quantum chemistry methodology. He pioneered the application of scalable correlated wave wavefunction theories with improved accuracies to tackle challenging condensed phase problems, including catalytic surface reactions, pharmaceutical crystal polymorphism, and the development of a neural network potential for liquid water.
He was recently recognized with the 2023 American Chemical Society Young Investigator Award in Physical Chemistry for Theory and the 2022 American Chemical Society Wiley Computers in Chemistry Outstanding Postdoc Award. At the University of Maryland, Hong-Zhou Ye will develop predictive quantum chemistry tools and explore their synergy with machine learning for targeted discovery of materials for energy and quantum information applications. He will also hold a joint appointment in the Institute for Physical Science & Technology. Dr. Ye’s research group will provide exciting opportunities for students of all levels with interest in theoretical quantum chemistry and computational materials discovery, adding to UMD’s reputation as the quantum capital. Learn more here.
