معرفی
Kendra Letchworth-Weaver is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at James Madison University (JMU), where she has been since 2018. Her research focuses on computational modeling of solid-liquid interfaces critical to renewable energy technologies, including batteries and water filtration systems. She leverages JMU's high-performance computing resources and open-source software to study atomic-scale phenomena at material surfaces.
Dr. Letchworth-Weaver earned her Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Cornell University (2016) and a BS in Physics & Mathematics from The College of William and Mary (2007). Her work bridges computational physics with experimental validation, particularly through X-ray reflectivity analysis and density functional theory (DFT).
Research Interests:
- Computational modeling of electrochemical interfaces
- Materials for energy storage and sustainability
- Interfacial structure prediction using joint density functional theory (JDFT)
- Surface science and catalysis
- Development of computational tools for materials characterization
Key Research Trends in Articles:
Her publications emphasize computational-experimental synergy, advancing understanding of complex interfaces in energy systems. Recent work includes optimizing strontium titanate surfaces for heteroepitaxy, validating interfacial models via X-ray data, and developing machine learning approaches for materials discovery. Education-focused papers address diversity and inclusion in physics education.
Labs & Resources:
Her research uses JMU's Madison Accelerator Lab and high-performance computing cluster, complemented by collaborations in theoretical physics and computational chemistry. She actively contributes to open-source software like JDFTx.
