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Physics

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Chinedu Ekuma

Chinedu Ekuma

Associate Professor

610.758.6428
che218@lehigh.edu
Sherman Fairchild 210
Education:

2015: Louisiana State University, PhD Computational Condensed Matter Physics

2010: Southern University Baton Rouge LA, MSc Computational Condensed Matter Physics

2007: Ebonyi State University Nigeria, BSc (Highest honors) Industrial Physics

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Research Statement

My research focuses on first-principles, computer-aided material design, discovery, and modeling to understand the fundamental origin of the complex behaviors in materials and use this information to make predictions to guide the experimental search for improved materials. Computer-aided simulation has the potential to mitigate the risk, cost, and time used in the experimental testing of potential materials. While we explore the whole periodic table searching for materials with exotic properties, we focus mainly on a special class of materials generally referred to as correlated materials including two-dimensional-based materials, heavy fermions, transition metal oxides, ferromagnetic semiconductors, manganites, Heusler-alloys, lanthanides, and actinides, etc. This class of materials shows a range of emergent and exotic properties not limited to topological states, quantum phase transitions, charge-density-wave, high-temperature superconductivity, spintronics, valleytronics, thermoelectricity, ferromagnetism, colossal magnetoresistance, and other correlated phenomena.

Biography

Chinedu Ekuma is an Associate Professor of Physics at Lehigh University, where he leads research at the intersection of theory, computation, and data-driven discovery. Before joining Lehigh, he was a George F. Adams Distinguished Research Scientist at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and a National Research Council Research Fellow at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Louisiana State University under the mentorship of Prof. Mark Jarrell. Dr. Ekuma’s research combines ab initio methods such as density functional theory, advanced many-body methods such as the GW method, and large-scale computational modeling with machine learning and materials informatics to accelerate the design and understanding of complex materials. By unifying rigorous theoretical frameworks with high-performance computation and modern data-driven tools, his group seeks to discover new materials with transformative applications, to disentangle and control the interplay of coexisting quantum functionalities such as magnetism, topological states, and optical response, and to explore how imperfections and defects can be harnessed to generate novel properties. This integration of theory, computation, and data-driven approaches positions his group at the forefront of materials design, where predictive theory, computational simulation, and machine learning converge to drive both fundamental insight and the rational development of next-generation technologies for sustainable energy, quantum devices, and advanced electronics.

  1. C.E. Ekuma and Z.-L. Liu, “ElasTool v3.0: Efficient computational and visualization toolkit for elastic and mechanical properties of materials,” 2024, Computer Physics Communications vol. 300, p. 109161, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2024.109161.
  2. S.M. Kastuar and C.E. Ekuma, “Chemically tuned intermediate band states in atomically thin CuxGeSe/SnS quantum material for photovoltaic applications,” 2024, Science Advances vol. 10, no. 15, eadl6752, doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adl6752.
  3. C.E. Ekuma, “Dynamic in-context learning with conversational models for data extraction and materials property prediction,” 2025, APL Machine Learning vol. 3, no. 1, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0254406.
  4. S.M. Kastuar, C. Rzepa, S. Rangarajan, and C.E. Ekuma, “A high-throughput and data-driven computational framework for novel quantum materials,” 2024, APL Machine Learning vol. 2, no. 4, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0221823.
  5. A.C. Iloanya, S.M. Kastuar, G. Jana, and C.E. Ekuma, “Atomic-scale intercalation and defect engineering for enhanced magnetism and optoelectronic properties in atomically thin GeS,” 2025, Scientific Reports vol. 15, no. 1, p. 4546, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88290-z.
  6. T. Lian, A.C. Iloanya, S.M. Kastuar, G. Jana, and C.E. Ekuma, “Defect-induced bipolar magnetism in atomically thin GeS,” 2025, Journal of Applied Physics vol. 137, no. 23, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0268105.
  7. C.I. Nwaogbo, S.K. Das, and C.E. Ekuma, “Tunable topological phase in 2D ScV6Sn6 kagome material,” 2025, Materials Today Physics vol. 57, p. 101780, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtphys.2025.101780.
  8. K.S. Kastuar, C.E. Ekuma, and Z.L. Liu, “Efficient prediction of temperature-dependent elastic and mechanical properties of 2D materials,” 2022, Scientific reports vol. 12 , pp, 1-8, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07819-8.
  9. Z.L. Liu, C.E. Ekuma, W.Q. Li, J.Q. Yang, and X.J. Li, “ElasTool: An automated toolkit for elastic constants calculation,” 2022, Computer Physics Communications vol. 270, pp, 108180, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2021.108180.
  10. K.O. Egbo et al., “Vacancy defects induced changes in the electronic and optical properties of NiO studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry and first-principles calculations,” 2020, Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 128, pp. 135705, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0021650
  11. S. Khanmohammadi et al., "Engineering ultrafast carrier dynamics in GeS: nanostructuring and small molecule intercalation," 2022 47th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), 2022, pp. 1-2, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/IRMMW-THz50927.2022.9895853.
  12. K.O. Egbo et al., “Effects of acceptor doping and oxygen stoichiometry on the properties of sputter-deposited p-type rocksalt NixZn1-xO (0.3≤ x≤ 1.0) alloys,” 2022, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 905, pp. 164224, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.164224.
  13. K.M. Price et al.,  “Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition of HfO2 on Monolayer, Bilayer, and Trilayer MoS2 for the Integration of High-κ Dielectrics in Two-Dimensional Devices,”, 2019, ACS Applied Nano Materials, vol. 2, pp. 4085-4094. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b00505.

Teaching

Dr. Chinedu Ekuma’s teaching reflects his passion for helping students bridge fundamental theory, computational practice, and modern applications in physics. Whether introducing undergraduates to the mysteries of quantum mechanics or guiding graduate students through advanced methods and research, his courses are designed to cultivate both deep understanding and hands-on problem-solving skills. He has taught a wide range of classes spanning core physics, computational modeling, and experiential research training, equipping students with the tools to succeed in both academic and industrial careers.

 

  1. PHYS 428 – Method of Mathematical Physics I
    A graduate-level course teaching mathematical methods (like differential equations, linear algebra, and special functions) that are foundational for solving advanced problems in physics.
  2. PHYS 031 – Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
    An undergraduate introduction to quantum mechanics, covering topics such as wave functions, the Schrödinger equation, and applications to simple systems.
  3. PHYS 369 – Quantum Mechanics II
    A second, more advanced quantum mechanics course for graduate students. Likely focuses on perturbation theory, identical particles, angular momentum, and approximation methods.
  4. PHYS 421 – Electricity & Magnetism
    A graduate-level class on classical electromagnetism, dealing with Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves, and their applications.
  5. PHYS 472 – Special Topics in Physics: Experiential Materials Modeling
    A hands-on course developed by Dr. Ekuma. Students use computational tools and modeling to explore materials physics problems, often leading to research publications.
  6. PHYS 491 / PHYS 492 – Graduate Research
    Research credits for graduate students working directly on projects under supervision. These courses train students in independent research methods and writing.
  7. PHYS 273 – Research
    A 1-credit research experience for undergraduates, providing early exposure to physics research.