Volker Blum
@aimsduke.bsky.social
Ab initio materials simulations at Duke University. Associate professor, Duke MEMS & Chemistry. https://aims.pratt.duke.edu/ . Opinions my own. Unlike the shirt on the right side of the profile image, which is not my own. The number on the shirt is 10.
Reposted by Volker Blum
If you are working on AI for Materials, consider submitting to the AI4MAT Workshop @iclr-conf.bsky.social!
📍 April 26–27 2026, Rio 🇧🇷
📝 Deadline: Feb 1
🌐 sites.google.com/view/ai4mat/
📍 April 26–27 2026, Rio 🇧🇷
📝 Deadline: Feb 1
🌐 sites.google.com/view/ai4mat/
AI4Mat-ICLR 2026
About the Workshop
sites.google.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:12 PM
If you are working on AI for Materials, consider submitting to the AI4MAT Workshop @iclr-conf.bsky.social!
📍 April 26–27 2026, Rio 🇧🇷
📝 Deadline: Feb 1
🌐 sites.google.com/view/ai4mat/
📍 April 26–27 2026, Rio 🇧🇷
📝 Deadline: Feb 1
🌐 sites.google.com/view/ai4mat/
Yes. And advancing a host of technologies that make life better everywhere. Much more than just survival. The scientists who came before us made our planet better, made human life better. They weren't finished. Neither are we.
Today, on #CleanEnergyDay we want to remind everyone that the #energy transition is one of the greatest challenges of our time! At FHI, we work on solutions together with kindred spirits worldwide. Let's do research for our planet!
#InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy
#InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy
January 26, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Yes. And advancing a host of technologies that make life better everywhere. Much more than just survival. The scientists who came before us made our planet better, made human life better. They weren't finished. Neither are we.
Reposted by Volker Blum
Jane Richardson was born #OTD in 1941
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
January 26, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Jane Richardson was born #OTD in 1941
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
+ Developed the Richardson (ribbon) diagram to represent proteins' 3D structure (becoming a standard representation for protein structures)
+ MacArthur Fellow, 1985
+ Elected, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, 1991
+ President, Biophysical Society, 2012
#WomenInSTEM
There are so many positive things to make our country better. Science, technology, trails, transportation infrastructure, emissions-free energy. Instead, our goverment downprioritzes science and spends their social media energy defending what looks like executions on a street, on video.
January 25, 2026 at 2:59 PM
There are so many positive things to make our country better. Science, technology, trails, transportation infrastructure, emissions-free energy. Instead, our goverment downprioritzes science and spends their social media energy defending what looks like executions on a street, on video.
Reposted by Volker Blum
Applications are now open for the 2026 MolSSI ACT-CMS Faculty Fellowship. This fellowship supports faculty in molecular science disciplines who are developing curriculum to integrate cyberinfrastructure skills in the undergrad curriculum. Info session on Jan 30. More info: act-cms.molssi.org#/home
MolSSI ACT-CMS
act-cms.molssi.org
January 12, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Applications are now open for the 2026 MolSSI ACT-CMS Faculty Fellowship. This fellowship supports faculty in molecular science disciplines who are developing curriculum to integrate cyberinfrastructure skills in the undergrad curriculum. Info session on Jan 30. More info: act-cms.molssi.org#/home
I read the abstract of the Cell paper found below. And while I am not an expert, the claim that Alzheimer's disease can be pharmacologically reversed ("full cognitive recovery" .. ok, in mice, but still) seems quite remarkable.
Early stage research, and in mice not humans, but potentially a seismic shift in the future for Alzheimer's.
Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
December 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I read the abstract of the Cell paper found below. And while I am not an expert, the claim that Alzheimer's disease can be pharmacologically reversed ("full cognitive recovery" .. ok, in mice, but still) seems quite remarkable.
Agreed. Pretty good resolutions. Will try.
Woody Guthrie's New Year's Resolutions, 1942. I particularly like Nos. 19, 25, and 31. Happy New Year!
December 31, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Agreed. Pretty good resolutions. Will try.
Amazing!
Eine Geburtstagsparty für die Schrödingergleichung gibt's am 22-23 Jänner am @esivienna.bsky.social
www.esi.ac.at/events/e596/
www.esi.ac.at/events/e596/
December 29, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Amazing!
I'm saddened and dismayed to see this. Penalizing institutions because their research outcomes are politically undesirable poses an overwhelming danger to U.S. technology leadership. This must stop, in the interest of this country. I firmly believe this.
They’re stealing from us. They are stealing from us and we have to put a stop to this. This cannot stand.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
December 17, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I'm saddened and dismayed to see this. Penalizing institutions because their research outcomes are politically undesirable poses an overwhelming danger to U.S. technology leadership. This must stop, in the interest of this country. I firmly believe this.
Reposted by Volker Blum
Still another month or so to apply to work with me: predicting the crystals and their properties on Titan!
I've got a post-doctoral research position available at Curtin University (Western Australia) starting 2026.
The project involves computational prediction of crystal structures, their growth, and their properties for organic minerals on Titan (moon of Saturn).
staff.curtin.edu.au/job-vacancie...
The project involves computational prediction of crystal structures, their growth, and their properties for organic minerals on Titan (moon of Saturn).
staff.curtin.edu.au/job-vacancie...
Job vacancies, employment opportunities, academic and professional positions - Careers at Curtin | Curtin University, Perth Australia
Our mission is to transform lives and communities through education and research. Curtin employees form a unique and diverse community committed to innovative research and student learning. Find out a...
staff.curtin.edu.au
December 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Still another month or so to apply to work with me: predicting the crystals and their properties on Titan!
I still strive to post about science but I am shocked that the richest man in the world is now working to destroy the EU for his personal profit, apparently working to ensure that the US would let this happen or even aid in the process.
December 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I still strive to post about science but I am shocked that the richest man in the world is now working to destroy the EU for his personal profit, apparently working to ensure that the US would let this happen or even aid in the process.
I am puzzled by the universities who require a detailed postal address when submitting reference letters. I expect to receive a postal (paper) response soon.
November 29, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I am puzzled by the universities who require a detailed postal address when submitting reference letters. I expect to receive a postal (paper) response soon.
Reposted by Volker Blum
looking for a 5y postdoc to work with Stephen Dale (scholar.google.com/citations?us...) and myself within a collaboration between the Acceleration consortium at UofT and the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials at NUS.
scholar.google.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
looking for a 5y postdoc to work with Stephen Dale (scholar.google.com/citations?us...) and myself within a collaboration between the Acceleration consortium at UofT and the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials at NUS.
Yes. This is increasingly a problem. Partly an issue of convention center cost, I would suspect, but it would be interesting to learn how different societies view this.
Conference registration fees are getting out of hand. I know its part of the tenure game but I can't justify dropping 800 USD to go give a talk.
November 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Yes. This is increasingly a problem. Partly an issue of convention center cost, I would suspect, but it would be interesting to learn how different societies view this.
Reposted by Volker Blum
Great little crystal of bright orange scheelite. It would be surprisingly heavy if you held it due to the tungsten in this mineral. #MineralMonday #GeoscienceBluesky ⚒️🧪
November 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Great little crystal of bright orange scheelite. It would be surprisingly heavy if you held it due to the tungsten in this mineral. #MineralMonday #GeoscienceBluesky ⚒️🧪
#chemsky #compchemsky
We updated the web page for our Theory Training Workshop, November 21/22, 2025, with several IMO really useful materials, almost to completion:
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
The talks were remarkable, as were the tutorials. HUGE thanks to all speakers and tutors!
We updated the web page for our Theory Training Workshop, November 21/22, 2025, with several IMO really useful materials, almost to completion:
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
The talks were remarkable, as were the tutorials. HUGE thanks to all speakers and tutors!
2025 HybriD3 Materials Theory Training Workshop
The 2025 HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop will be held at Duke University on November 21 and 22, 2025. The workshop is aimed at graduate students and postdocs entering the field; senior undergraduate ...
hybrid3.duke.edu
November 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM
#chemsky #compchemsky
We updated the web page for our Theory Training Workshop, November 21/22, 2025, with several IMO really useful materials, almost to completion:
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
The talks were remarkable, as were the tutorials. HUGE thanks to all speakers and tutors!
We updated the web page for our Theory Training Workshop, November 21/22, 2025, with several IMO really useful materials, almost to completion:
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
The talks were remarkable, as were the tutorials. HUGE thanks to all speakers and tutors!
Yosuke Kanai starting off the second day of our HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop. Molecular and electronic dynamics. Happy to see everyone back on a Saturday at 9 am. The future of our field is bright :) #compchemsky
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Yosuke Kanai starting off the second day of our HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop. Molecular and electronic dynamics. Happy to see everyone back on a Saturday at 9 am. The future of our field is bright :) #compchemsky
Forgot #chemsky #compchemsky
Weitao Yang kicking off our HybriD3 Materials Theory workshop this morning, with 60+ participants from the Carolinas, Virginia and elsewhere. Thank you!
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Forgot #chemsky #compchemsky
Weitao Yang kicking off our HybriD3 Materials Theory workshop this morning, with 60+ participants from the Carolinas, Virginia and elsewhere. Thank you!
November 21, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Weitao Yang kicking off our HybriD3 Materials Theory workshop this morning, with 60+ participants from the Carolinas, Virginia and elsewhere. Thank you!
The big day of our HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop is almost here!
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
Thank you to everyone who is coming and looking forward to seeing you there! Thank you to NSF-DMREF, NCShare & Rhodes IID for support!
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
Thank you to everyone who is coming and looking forward to seeing you there! Thank you to NSF-DMREF, NCShare & Rhodes IID for support!
2025 HybriD3 Materials Theory Training Workshop
The 2025 HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop will be held at Duke University on November 21 and 22, 2025. The workshop is aimed at graduate students and postdocs entering the field; senior undergraduate ...
hybrid3.duke.edu
November 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The big day of our HybriD3 Theory Training Workshop is almost here!
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
Thank you to everyone who is coming and looking forward to seeing you there! Thank you to NSF-DMREF, NCShare & Rhodes IID for support!
hybrid3.duke.edu/workshops/20...
Thank you to everyone who is coming and looking forward to seeing you there! Thank you to NSF-DMREF, NCShare & Rhodes IID for support!
As far as the masked individuals in unmarked cars (my first post): I have not met them. But I have seen some videos from Durham, North Carolina, my home town. So this is close enough for me to comment. As I said, my firm view is that this needs to stop.
The point is that this practice of sowing fear needs to stop.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
I have never lived in an America where immigrants needed to be afraid to be rounded up by masked individuals in unmarked cars according to their looks and their accents. I am not likely to be profiled. I think. But I carry my passport, as I always have.
November 20, 2025 at 2:01 AM
As far as the masked individuals in unmarked cars (my first post): I have not met them. But I have seen some videos from Durham, North Carolina, my home town. So this is close enough for me to comment. As I said, my firm view is that this needs to stop.
The point is that this practice of sowing fear needs to stop.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
I have never lived in an America where immigrants needed to be afraid to be rounded up by masked individuals in unmarked cars according to their looks and their accents. I am not likely to be profiled. I think. But I carry my passport, as I always have.
November 20, 2025 at 1:57 AM
The point is that this practice of sowing fear needs to stop.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
Now. I am actually a citizen. But because of Justice Kavanaugh's words, technically I can be profiled. And no, the current profiling, as reported, does not appear to target me. But that does not make things better.
I have never lived in an America where immigrants needed to be afraid to be rounded up by masked individuals in unmarked cars according to their looks and their accents. I am not likely to be profiled. I think. But I carry my passport, as I always have.
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I have never lived in an America where immigrants needed to be afraid to be rounded up by masked individuals in unmarked cars according to their looks and their accents. I am not likely to be profiled. I think. But I carry my passport, as I always have.
Happy to see this tonight. Go TACC & NSF!
Installation has officially begun on Horizon, which will be the nation’s largest academic supercomputer, marking a major milestone for the U.S. NSF Leadership-Class Computing Facility at TACC. 🚀🔬🪐
Learn more: bit.ly/4oEoDBs
Learn more: bit.ly/4oEoDBs
NSF LCCF Horizon Supercomputer To Power Breakthroughs for the Nation’s Leading Scientists
Installation of nation’s largest academic supercomputer begins, ushering in a new era of open science and discovery
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Happy to see this tonight. Go TACC & NSF!
Happy to be part of this new paper today, with a pretty cool effect ... at room temperature, if one excited this material with circularly polarized light, the electrons/holes in the material "remember" for quite some time, as seen in subsequent emission.
doi.org/10.1002/adfm...
doi.org/10.1002/adfm...
Thermally Activated Circularly Polarized Photoluminescence in a 2D Hybrid Perovskite with Giant Spin Splitting
We demonstrate large circularly polarized emission in polar achiral 2D halide perovskites excited with circular polarization. This thermally activated ‘spin memory’ reaches 19% polarization at 350 K,....
doi.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Happy to be part of this new paper today, with a pretty cool effect ... at room temperature, if one excited this material with circularly polarized light, the electrons/holes in the material "remember" for quite some time, as seen in subsequent emission.
doi.org/10.1002/adfm...
doi.org/10.1002/adfm...