Vidvuds Ozolins

Vidvuds Ozolins is the Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor Professor of Clean Energy Solutions at Yale University, affiliated with the Yale Energy Sciences Institute. His research focuses on first-principles computational modeling of high-performance materials, leveraging density functional theory (DFT), statistical simulation methods (Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics), and machine learning to develop high-throughput methods for materials design. Key research themes include energy storage and generation materials (e.g., supercapacitors, batteries, thermoelectrics), thermodynamic/structural properties of solids at high temperatures, spin liquid materials for quantum computing, and mathematical approaches to quantum mechanical equations.

His work emphasizes interdisciplinary methodologies, such as compressive sensing for computational model efficiency and sparse representation of Wannier functions. Ozolins has pioneered studies on ultralow thermal conductivity in materials like full Heusler semiconductors and tetrahedrite-based compounds, with applications in thermoelectric devices. Key contributions include optimizing electron-phonon interactions in graphene-like semimetals and advancing predictive models for material phase stability and transformation kinetics.

Lab affiliations include the Yale Energy Sciences Institute, where his group addresses energy-related materials challenges through computational innovations. His research spans both fundamental physics and applied energy solutions, with a focus on sustainable, earth-abundant materials for clean energy technologies.