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Michael Widom is a professor in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. His research centers on theoretical modeling of novel materials within condensed matter and biological physics contexts. He employs methods from statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, alongside computer simulations, to investigate the structural and stability properties of materials. A major focus of his work is on metals and non-crystalline structures, including liquid metals and metallic glasses. His studies explore phenomena such as the liquid-liquid transition in supercooled silicon and the properties of multi-component alloys that retain liquid-like structures upon freezing. Additionally, he investigates quasicrystals, which are partially ordered structures that exhibit high symmetry and quasiperiodicity. Widom has contributed significantly to understanding materials through first-principles calculations and statistical mechanics models, illuminating the probable structures of complex materials.
Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Full-time Professor in the Department of Physics.
Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Courtesy Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.
University of Pittsburgh Medical School • Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Adjunct appointment for teaching and research collaboration.
Université Paris VI (France) •
Short-term visiting position to teach and conduct research.
Université Paris VII (France) •
Collaborated on research projects while on sabbatical.
Université Paris Sud (France) •
Engaged in research and hosted seminars.
Cornell University •
Faculty position focused on research and teaching.
Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Tenured faculty position in the Department of Physics.
Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Entry-level faculty position in the Department of Physics.
Harvard University •
Conducted advanced research in condensed matter physics.
Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.