Eric Toberer

Eric Toberer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the Colorado School of Mines with a co-appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His research focuses on designing materials for energy conservation, particularly in thermoelectric materials, combining experimental approaches with high-throughput computational methods. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials from UC Santa Barbara (2006) under Prof. Ram Seshadri and a B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College.

Research Interests: Eric investigates the interplay of heat, light, and electricity in materials, leveraging computational predictions and experimental validation. His work emphasizes thermoelectric phenomena, material performance optimization, and sustainable energy solutions. Key approaches include high-throughput computation for new material discovery and detailed charge carrier transport analysis in existing materials.

Awards: Eric was honored with the 2015 Cottrell Scholar Award for excellence in teaching and research, and he leads NSF-funded projects exploring thermoelectric materials through dual experimental and computational strategies.

Academic Background: Eric conducted postdoctoral research at Caltech before joining the Colorado School of Mines faculty. He emphasizes collaboration, soft skills development (communication and critique), and embracing interdisciplinary opportunities for students.