Salvador Barraza LopezView profile
Professor
Salvador Barraza-Lopez is a Professor of Physics at the University of Arkansas' College of Arts & Sciences. A theoretical physicist specializing in 2D materials, he developed discrete differential geometry approaches for strain effects in graphene and pioneered 2D ferroelectric research. As a DOE Early Career Awardee (2016) and MonArk NSF Quantum Foundry co-founder, he leads interdisciplinary collaborations across physics, materials science, and mathematics. PhD in Physics from University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (2006) Postdoctoral work at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech Established theory of structural transformations in 2D ferroelectrics His research spans quantum phase transitions in 2D systems, strain engineering, and topological materials. Three major review articles in Reports on Progress in Physics (2017, 2023) and Reviews of Modern Physics (2021) synthesize his work on mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of strained 2D materials. Recent publications focus on winding Berry dipoles in strained graphene, size-dependent ferroelectric transitions in homobilayers, and symmetry-breaking effects in moiré superlattices. Collaborations with Kai Chang (Beijing) and Stuart Parkin (MPI-Halle) demonstrate international impact. Awards: DOE Early Career Award (2016) Outstanding Mentor Recognition (2013) Young Investigator of the Year (2013) Mentored 2 NSF Graduate Fellows (Erin Farmer, Joseph Roll) and 3 Goldwater Scholars. Current group includes 2 undergraduates, 3 PhD students, and 2 postdocs. His theoretical frameworks enabled experimental collaborations with DOE labs and Max Planck Institute, securing $0.5M for Arkansas supercomputer upgrades (2024).









