Juan Peralta

Juan Peralta is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Central Michigan University (CMU), within the College of Science and Technology. He leads a computational research group focused on electronic structure, magnetic materials, and nanomaterials, and is a key member of the FLOSIC Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics, University of Buenos Aires, 2002
• M.Sc. in Physics, University of Buenos Aires, 1997
• Postdoctoral Research, Scuseria Group, Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 2002–2007

His research centers on the development and application of computational tools based on density functional theory (DFT), with a strong emphasis on eliminating self-interaction errors through methods like FLOSIC and DOCSIC. His work spans magnetic materials, electron transport, and nanoscale systems. Peralta collaborates with researchers at UTEP, Temple, Florida, Pittsburgh, and Tel Aviv University.

His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on self-interaction correction, magnetic exchange coupling, electron transport, and the electronic structure of novel materials. The articles span high-impact journals such as the Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, Chemical Science, and Nature Communications, highlighting both methodological advances and applications in materials and molecular systems.

Scientific Awards:

• IBM-Zener Award

Peralta actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students, including Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral researchers such as Duyen Nguyen, Yash Singh, Jeronimo, and Angel. He has secured research funding from the NSF and the Department of Energy. His group, the Peralta Lab, focuses on transforming computational challenges into scientific breakthroughs, as humorously noted by their motto: 'We transform espressos into great science.'