Machine-learning models of matter beyond interatomic potentials

The combination of electronic structure calculations and machine learning (ML) techniques has become commonplace in atomistic modelling—ML interatomic potentials, for example, can now describe the potential energy surface of a material across many phases, including a wide range of defects. Looking ahead, however, it is the calculation of ML models that can predict properties beyond the interactions between atoms that might eventually allow integrated machine learning models to replace costly electronic structure calculations entirely. In the paper Learning the electronic density of states in condensed matter, recently published in Physical Review B, researchers led by Michele Ceriotti, head of EPFL’s Laboratory of Computational Science and Modelling, have taken a step in that direction with a new ML framework for predicting the electronic density of states (DOS). The technique has already been applied to understand electronic transitions in dense amorphous silicon, in a paper that came out in Nature today. 

MARVEL and CSCS: a partnership built for exa-scale computing in materials science

The NCCR MARVEL has ‘Materials’ revolution’ in its name for a reason: it seeks to radically transform and accelerate the process of materials discovery and design. It seeks to do this by taking a computational approach, built on a platform of database-driven, high-throughput quantum simulations: if we could compute the properties of every material using electronic structure calculations, and if we could use that information to screen big databases for materials with just the right characteristics for a given purpose — then that would put us at an enormous advantage in the search for new and better materials, avoiding much of the trial and error that comes with experiments in the lab. Such a project requires robust computer resources. For one, the sort of calculations that MARVEL research relies on take a lot of computing time and data storage; as those calculations get ever more sophisticated, demands on computing power will only grow. For another, to turn the MARVEL project into a true revolution, computer resources must be organised in such a way that they can serve as a platform for the broader materials science community.

MARVEL Junior Seminar — February 2021

The MARVEL Junior Seminar series is continuing in videoconferencing mode. We are therefore pleased to propose the 39th MARVEL Junior Seminar: Jigyasa Nigam (COSMO, EPFL) and Samuel Poncé (THEOS, EPFL) will present their research. The seminar will be chaired by Kristians Cernevics (C3MP, EPFL). 

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Jens K. Nørskov

The 22nd NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Jens K. Nørskov, Professor of physics at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), on "Catalysis for sustainable production of fuels and chemicals".

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Kristin Persson

The 23rd NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Kristin Persson, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California Berkeley (USA) on "The Era of Data-Driven Materials Innovation and Design".

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Georg Kresse

The 24th NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Georg Kresse, Professor of Computational Materials Physics at the University of Vienna – with a talk entitled: "Finite temperature properties with first principles accuracy, is machine learning the way to go?"

CECAM-MARVEL Classics in molecular and materials modelling: David Vanderbilt and Raffaele Resta

David Vanderbilt (Rutgers University) and Raffaele Resta (IOM-CNR Democritos, Trieste) will give a joint lecture on "Berry phases in condensed matter physics", in what will be the third event in the series "Classics in molecular and materials modelling" hosted by CECAM and MARVEL.

Fix the leaky pipeline!

Fix the leaky pipeline! — Kick off event 2021 — Save the date!!! Tuesday, 16 March 2021 — online.

MARVEL Review and Retreat January 2025

The eleventh MARVEL Review and Retreat will take place on January 13-15, 2025. The event will gather all MARVEL members, group leaders as well as postdocs and students. Presentations will show to all the community where the projects stand and what are the next steps. 

CECAM-MARVEL Classics in molecular and materials modelling: David Ceperley and Claudia Filippi

David Ceperley (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA) and Claudia Filippi (University of Twente, NL) will give a joint lecture on "Quantum Monte Carlo, in what will be the 11th event in the series "Classics in molecular and materials modelling" hosted by CECAM and MARVEL.

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Gerbrand Ceder

The 39th NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Gerbrand Ceder (University of California, Berkeley). 

CECAM-MARVEL Mary Ann Mansigh series: Science and diplomacy

CECAM and MARVEL present a new event in our Mary Ann Mansigh Conversation series. In these complex times, we believe that the theme of Science and Diplomacy is of utmost relevance. We plan to address it from points of view that include education and scientific exchange in developing countries, the potential of computational science as a facilitator for diplomacy, actions of international institutions promoting peace and disarmament, and the management of cooperative research infrastructures in problematic areas.

MARVEL Distinguished Lecture — Alexandre Tkatchenko

The 39th NCCR MARVEL Distinguished Lecture will be given by Prof. Alexandre Tkatchenko, University of Luxembourg. He will be presenting a lecture entitled: "AI-Driven Fully Quantum Biomolecular Simulations".