Yu (Eric) Zhu



I am passionate about creating novel experiences in science education with VR and AI,

by exploiting my research experiences in physics and nanoelectronics.

Virtual Reality

Nano2D

  • Nano2d is an interactive laboratory for studying two-dimensional materials, serving as an educational and research tool for advanced materials science.
  • I served as producer, designer and programmer, using my expertise in physics to design and produce a product integrating cutting-edge materials sicence into VR.

Scrapbook

  • Scrapbook is an interactive story about the growth of a film director from childhood, to school, to early career, all the way to Oscar trophy.
  • This is a project completed in two weeks, an example of quick prototyping and collaboration between team members with different talents.

A Virtual Tour in Einstein's Playground

  • Einstein's playground is a video game developed in MIT game lab to illustrate relativsitic effects in daily life by slowing down the speed of light.
  • In an independent study hosted by MIT game lab, I did a media comparison research to evaluate both PC and VR version of this game on learning effectiveness.

Leadership

NanoDsim

  • NanoDsim is a software package for simulating quantum transport in nanoelectronic devices based on atomistic models using first-principles.
  • The software is an integration of multidisciplinary fields including condensed-matter physics, applied mathematics, computer science, and electronic engineering.
  • I served as project manager, designer and programmer, and coordinated communications and collaborations with experts in different fields.

NAQEDA

  • NAQEDA is a 3-year industrial research assistant program aiming to develop algorithms for the next generation of electronic design automation tools.
  • I was one of the leading scientists to initiate the program, carry out the research and write the reports.

Data Science

Two-Dimensional Materials

  • We performed a systematic materials informatics search for two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database.

High Tc superconductors

  • We built machine learning models for layered High Tc superconductors using random forest, supporting vector machine, and neutral network.
  • This work has been chosen as the first place winner of the 2020 APL Materials Excellence in Research Award.

Quantum Transport

Nonequilibrium Coherent Potential

  • We formulated the theory of nonequilibrium coherent potential for analyzing disorder effects in nonequilibrium quantum transport of nanoelectronic devices.

Device-to-Device Variability

  • We formulated the Green's function theory for predicting device-to-device variability due to random discrete dopants.