Zhihao Cui

2026 Regional Award Finalist — Post-Doc

Zhihao Cui

Current Position:
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry

Institution:
University of California, Irvine

Discipline:
Theoretical Chemistry

Recognized for: Developing computational theories that model how electrons interact with vibrations and light, advancing the prediction and design of superconductors and quantum materials with unusual properties. 

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Theoretical Chemistry, Computational Materials Science, Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Materials, Superconductivity

Previous Positions:

B.S., Peking University, China (Advisor: Hong Jiang)
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, USA (Advisor: Garnet Chan)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University, USA (Advisors: David Reichman and Andrew Millis)

Research Summary:

Quantum materials could transform future electronics, energy systems, and computing, but their unusual properties are difficult to predict and control. Zhihao Cui, PhD, develops computational theories that model how electrons interact with vibrations and light, revealing the forces that shape materials such as superconductors. His work improves scientists’ ability to predict when materials may conduct electricity without resistance, respond to light in unusual ways, or display other valuable quantum behaviors. By making these complex interactions easier to understand and design, Cui’s research is advancing the discovery of next-generation materials for future technologies.

“Remarkable materials often hide their secrets in how electrons move together. My goal is to make those patterns clear to guide discovery and design from chemical theories. I'm honored by the Blavatnik Awards as I launch my research group at UC Irvine.”

Key Publications:

  1. Z.-H. Cui, A. Mandal, D. R. Reichman. Variational Lang-Firsov approach plus Møller-Plesset perturbation theory with applications to ab initio polariton chemistry. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 2024.
  2. Z.-H. Cui, J. Yang, J. Tölle, H.-Z. Ye, S. Yuan, H. Zhai, G. Park, R. Kim, X. Zhang, L. Lin, T. C. Berkelbach, G. K.-L. Chan. Ab initio quantum many-body description of superconducting trends in the cuprates. Nature Communications, 2025.
  3. C.-Y. Huang, D. G. Chica, Z.-H. Cui, T. Handa, M. Thinel, N. Olsen, Y. Liu, M. E. Ziebel, G. He, Y. Shao, C. A. Occhialini, J. Pelliciari, D. N. Basov, M. Sfeir, A. Pasupathy, V. Bisogni, D. R. Reichman, X. Roy, X. Zhu. Coupling of electronic transition to ferroelectric order in a 2D semiconductor. Nature Communications, 2025.
  4. Z.-H. Cui, A. J. Millis, D. R. Reichman. Theory of interaction-induced charge order in CrSBr. Physical Review B, 2025.

Other Honors:

2023 Herbert Newby McCoy Award
2022 Chemical Computing Group Excellence Award for Graduate Students, American Chemical Society
2020 Eddleman Research Fellowship, Eddleman Quantum Institute
2018 Caltech C Fellowship
2017 Weldon Brown Fellowship, Caltech
2017 Undergraduate Research Award, Peking University
2013 45th International Chemistry Olympiad, Gold Medal

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