Vojtech Vlcek

Dr. Vojtech Vlcek is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), with a courtesy appointment in Materials. He leads the Vlcek Research Group, which focuses on developing and applying novel computational methods for electronic structure theory, particularly in nanoscale systems, molecular assemblies, and interfaces. His work emphasizes quasiparticle and electronic excitation studies, with applications in quantum materials and environmental sustainability.

Education & Recognition: Vlcek holds a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and University of Bayreuth, and completed postdoctoral training at UCLA. He has received prestigious awards including the NSF Career Award (2020) and Emerging Investigator recognitions from the Journal of Chemical Physics (2021) and Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (2019). He is an active member of APS, ACS, MRS, and Sigma Xi.

Research Interests: His group’s research spans theoretical and computational approaches to electronic structure, including stochastic many-body methods, dynamical downfolding, and non-equilibrium quantum systems. Key areas include functional/quantum materials, topological superconductors, and sustainable polymer recycling via acidolysis processes.

Students & Collaborations: Supervises a diverse team of graduate/postdoctoral researchers (e.g., Xuance Jiang, Cian Reeves) and undergraduate students. Collaborates widely on projects funded by NSF and industry partners. Current advisees include co-advised PhD students across Chemistry, Materials, and Physics departments.

Labs & Facilities: Hosts the Vlcek Group laboratory at UCSB, leveraging state-of-the-art computational resources and experimental collaborations. Active in developing open-source tools for electronic structure simulations.