Alexandru B. Georgescu

Assistant Professor Alexandru B. Georgescu (Alex) is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington, with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Physics. He joined IU in August 2023 after a Flatiron Research Fellowship at the Simons Foundation (2017-2020) and a postdoc at Northwestern University's Materials Science and Engineering Department.

His research focuses on computational and theoretical studies of electronic properties in materials and molecules, particularly through collaborations with experimental groups. Key contributions include clarifying Jahn-Teller-type phase transitions, predicting surface piezoelectric effects in sapphire used in quantum computing, and applying machine learning to discover novel quantum materials. His work bridges chemistry, materials science, and physics.

Georgescu's research areas include Inorganic Materials, Physical Chemistry, and Quantum Information. He employs density functional theory, machine learning, and model systems to study quantum states driving material properties like superconductivity and magnetism. He also maintains a YouTube channel for public science communication.

Scientific awards include recognition as an American Physical Society Career Mentor. He has secured grant support through his research groups and collaborations across disciplines.

Georgescu's lab at IU (Chem 203C) fosters interdisciplinary research, welcoming students from chemistry, physics, and materials science backgrounds. The lab website (georgescu.lab.indiana.edu) outlines ongoing projects in quantum material design.