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Newsletter - February 29, 2024

Dear MARVEL'ers,

Please find below our latest newsletter, with highlights and news linked to the MARVEL community.  

This month, you can read about how large language models such as GPT-3 can be used to simplify the application of artificial intelligence to chemical analysis, improving accuracy while drastically reducing the amount of data needed for training. Learn too about the use of machine learning to paint a more precise picture of how charge transport happens in lithium thiophosphate,  a promising material for solid-state batteries.

Note too the next MARVEL Distinguished Lecture, which will feature Massimiliano Di Ventra (UCSD) on May 2nd, and address "MemComputing: when memory becomes a computing tool".

Research highlights

GPT-3 transforms chemical research

A study by MARVEL researchers in Berend Smit's laboratory at EPFL shows that large language models such as GPT-3 can be used to simplify the application of artificial intelligence to chemical analysis, improving accuracy while drastically reducing the amount of data needed for training.  The model, trained with relatively few Q&As, correctly answered over 95% of very diverse chemical problems. The method is as easy as conducting a literature search, and is applicable to various chemical problems.

Using machine learning to study the microscopic behavior of a solid-state electrolyte

Scientists in Michele Ceriotti's lab at EPFL have used machine learning to paint a more precise picture of how charge transport happens in lithium thiophosphate,  a promising material for solid-state batteries. The group is now perfecting the study of this material by adding an analysis of thermal transport, which will be the topic of a new publication.

Read MARVEL Highlights here

Wannier90 hackathon

The 2024 Wannier Developers Meeting

From 12 to 16 February, fifteen researchers met at the Paul Scherrer Institute for a hackaton and worked on a new version of the Wannier90 code. The new release will allow to compute Wannier functions in the form of a flexible "library mode", so that other simulation codes can benefit from it.

The Ig Nobel Award Tour Show is back!

Ig Nobel Award Tour Show 2024

Apr 16, 2024, from 18:30 until 20:30, EPFL Forum Rolex + online

On Tuesday April 16, after a 5-year break, with the support of the NCCR MARVEL, EPFL will welcome for the fifth time the Ig Nobel Award Tour Show, with Marc Abrahams and the Ig Nobel Prize winners Chris Moulin, Damien Bouffard and Minna Lyons. We will be talking about people who habitually stay up late, about sexual activity of anchovies, or about repeating a single word many, many, many, many, many, many, many times. A great evening ahead!

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Massimiliano Di Ventra

May 02, 2024, from 15:00 until 16:15, Zoom + MED 2 1124 (EPFL)

The 37th NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Massimiliano Di Ventra, University of California, San Diego. He will be presenting a lecture entitled: "MemComputing: when memory becomes a computing tool".

Equal opportunities

International Women’s Day — Sciences, féminin pluriel

Feb 29, 2024, from 18:00 until 21:00, EPFL, Forum Rolex

On Thursday 29 February 2024, on the occasion of International Women's Day a few days later, EPFL is organising an event on the theme: "Sciences, feminine plural - How women can invest in science and technology". The aim of the conference is to highlight the careers of women in technical fields, to inform and discuss the role of EPFL and other players in advancing equality for women in these fields, and to network. MARVEL will be present with a booth presenting its actions for equal opportunities as well as the #NCCRWomen campaign.

Summer camps at EPFL for young girls and boys in August 2024

Registration to the science summer camps organized by the EPFL's Science Outreach Department in August are opening on 4 March and will fill up quickly. With the objective of promoting MARVEL-related fields, especially toward girls, and encouraging them to choose scientific and engineering careers, MARVEL is supporting the summer camp in chemistry for girls and boys 11-13 years old (5 to 9 August 2024) and the summer camp on materials science Matériaux super géniaux for girls 11-13 years old (12 to 16 August 2024). 

INSPIRE Potentials – MARVEL Master's Fellowships (12'000 CHF) in computational materials science, electronic-structure simulations, machine learning and big-data are available to outstanding women researchers for 6-month stays in research groups belonging to the NCCR MARVEL. In a field of science where women are still strongly underrepresented, the INSPIRE Potentials – MARVEL Master's Fellowships aim to support excellent female students in their Master's thesis projects, while giving them access to outstanding research facilities and environments. Already 51 fellows have been admitted.

The next deadline for submission is 15 April 2024. All the information is available at http://nccr-marvel.ch/inspire.

This month, you can read about the experience of Jente Clarysse as Master's student and her advice for young girls interested in the field of materials science.

Join the MARVEL Members and Alumni LinkedIn page!

We want to give a second life to the "NCCR MARVEL Members and Alumni" LinkedIn group following the demand of previous members. It is meant to keep in touch with our fellow MARVEL colleagues and friends. This is a private group and either you received an invitation, or your membership has to be confirmed by our administrators. Then feel free to post job positions, ideas of collaborations, networking events. Let's activate our community!

>>  https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8825865

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