People Wissam A. Al-Saidi
Visiting Research Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
alsaidi@pitt.edu
phone: 412-383-5928
Fax: 412-624-8301
Office: 222 Eberly
Education
PhD in Physics, The Ohio State University, 2003
MS in Physics, Ohio University, 1999
BS in Physics, Lebanese Univeristy, 1996
Professional Interests
Dr. Al-Saidi joined the department in 2009 after three post-doctoral
positions at the College of William and Mary, Cornell and University
of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on material's design using
first-principles modeling and simulations. He employs state-of-the-art
electronic structure methods such as density-functional theory and
quantum Monte Carlo methods. The overall goal of his research is to
understand and develop materials with enhanced properties.
Dr. Al-Saidi's current work is focused on:
1. Quantum Monte Carlo study of clusters and solids
2. Adsorption of molecules on surfaces and ab initio catalysis
3. ferroelectricity
Selected Publications
W. A. Al-Saidi, Variational and Diffusion Monte Carlo study of post-d 13-17 elements,
J. Chem. Phys. 129, 64316 (2008).
W. A. Al-Saidi and C. J. Umrigar, Fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo study of the structures
of m-benzyne, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 154324 (2008).
Wirawan Purwanto, W. A. Al-Saidi, Henry Krakauer, and Shiwei Zhang, Eliminating
spin contamination in auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo: realistic potential energy curve
of F2, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 114309 (2008).
W. A. Al-Saidi, Eric J. Walter and Andrew M. Rappe, Optimized norm-conserving
Hartree-Fock pseudopotentials for planewave calculations, Phys. Rev. B 77, 075112 (2008).
W. A. Al-Saidi, Shiwei Zhang and Henry Krakauer, Bond breaking with auxiliary-field
quantum Monte Carlo, J. Chem. Phys. 127, 144101 (2007).
W. A. Al-Saidi, Shiwei Zhang and Henry Krakauer, A study of H+H2 and several H-bonded
molecules by phaseless auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo with planewave and
Gaussian basis sets, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 194105 (2007).
W. A. Al-Saidi, Henry Krakauer and Shiwei Zhang, Auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo
study of first- and second-row post-d elements, J. Chem. Phys. 125, 154110 (2006).
W. A. Al-Saidi, Shiwei Zhang and Henry Krakauer, Auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo
of molecular systems with a Gaussian basis, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 224101 (2006).
W. A. Al-Saidi and D. Stroud, Quantum Monte Carlo study of the phase diagram of a
disordered Josephson junction array, Physica C 402, 216 (2003).
W. A. Al-Saidi and D. Stroud, Langevin vortex dynamics for a layered superconductor
in the lowest Landau level approximation, Phys. Rev. B 68, 144511 (2003).
W. A. Al-Saidi and D. Stroud, Phase phonon spectrum and melting in a quantum rotor
model with diagonal disorder, Phys. Rev. B 67, 024511 (2002).
W. A. Al-Saidi and D. Stroud, Several small Josephson junctions in a resonant cavity:
Deviation from the Dicke model, Phys. Rev. B 65, 224 512 (2002).
W. A. Al-Saidi and D. Stroud, Eigenstates of a small Josephson junction coupled to a
resonant cavity, Phys. Rev. B 65, 014 512 (2002).
