College of Science
Center for Simulation and Modeling
(formerly known as Computational Materials Science Center)

Doctoral students preparing their dissertations under the direction of Prof. Estela Blaisten-Barojas:

  • Jonathan Aumann "Molecular Dynamics of Flexible Polymers via Machine Learning Input from their Oligomers" (PhD student)
  • William Scott "Perspectives of Machine Learning Enhencement on the Density Functional Theory Discovery of Polymer Structure" (PhD student)

    • Doctoral students that graduated under Prof. Estela Blaisten-Barojas's direction at GMU:

  • Abere, Yoseph: graduation, June 2024. "Coarse-Grained Force Field Development for Oxidized Polypyrroles and Monte Carlo Simulation of Their Properties." Currently, Chief Software Engineer, private sector.

  • Abdullah Al-Sunaidi: graduation, December 1999. "Computer Simulation of Aggregation and Gelation in Colloidal Mixtures." Currently a professor and chair at Department of Physics, KFUPM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

  • James Andrews: graduation, January 2021. "Modeling and Simulation of Polymeric Macromolecules." Currently a postdoctoral fellow at Clemson University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

  • Chang-Hong Chien : graduation May 2000. "Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Neutral and Multiply Charged Metal Clusters". Formerly a research faculty at Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Tapei, Taiwan.

  • Yafei Dai : graduation, May 2009 "Quantum and Classical Studies of Calcium and Zinc Clusters, and of Oligopyrroles." Currently, associate professor at Physics Department, NanJing Normal University, China.

  • Xiao Dong : graduation, May 2006. "Quantum and Classical Simulation of Molecular Clusters." Currently, Associate Professor at Beijing Institue of Technology, China.

  • Clifford Hall: graduation, May 2013. "Accelerating the Adaptive Tempering Monte Carlo Method with CUDA Graphics Processing Units," Currently working in the private sector.

  • Greg Helmick: graduation, August 2022. "High Performance Computing Technniques for Metropolis Monte Carlo Simulations of Oxidized Polypyrrole." Currently, Chief Software Engineer, private sector.

  • Scott Hopkins: graduation, May 2025. "Thermoresponsive Polymers in Viscous Solvents through Molecular Dynamics." Currently, part of a research team at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins U.

  • Mohamed Lach-hab: graduation, May 1998. "Aggregation Processes in Colloids: Computer Simulations." Senior Software Engineer, College of Science, George Mason University until his sad passing.

  • Yibing Li: graduation, July 1997. "Molecular Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Metal Clusters." (deceased at age 42).

  • John Lyver : graduation, July 2010. "Thermal Conductivity at the Nanoscale: A Molecular Dynamics Study." Retired from NASA headquarters, Office of Security Assurance. Later, he sporadically served as adjunct professor of the Computational and Data Sciences department of GMU. We will remember him dearly after his unexpected passing in June 2024.

  • Richard Massaro: graduation, May 2011. "Photoluminescent Organic Molecules from the Perspective of Density Functional Theory." Currently employed by US Army ERDC-TEC-VA laboratory.

  • Jeff Mirick: graduation May 2002. "A Study of Molecular Processes in Calcium Clusters, Sarin and Calcium Carbonate Clusters." Presently retired from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA).

  • Anthony Patrick: graduation, December 2008. "Metallization of Carbon Clusters and Silicon Carbide Nanostructures." Currently working for the private sector and serving as an adjuct professor in the Mason CDS department.

  • Doug Reitz: graduation, December 2018. "Monte Carlo and Machine Learning Applications in Binary Alloys" . Currently working for the federal goverment.

  • Daniel Sponseller: graduation December 2017. "Polymers in Solution: a Molecular Dynamics Study". Currently, owner and CEO of a progressive corporation and serving as adjunct professor in the Mason CDS department.

  • Guan Ming Wang graduation, December 2002: "Development of many-body potentials based on the electronic structure of clusters and crystals." Currently working in the private sector, Washington D. C.

    • Master in Science students that graduated under Prof. Estela Blaisten-Barojas's direction at GMU:

  • Scott Evans: May 1994. Master in Physics

  • Jacob Walts: May 1997. Master in Physics

  • Carlos Cruz: May 1999. Master in Physics

  • Leulu Gebremedhin: December 2003. Master in Computational Science.

  • Alexandra Landsberg: May 2004. Master in Computational Science.

  • Scott Mitchell: August 2005. Master in Computational Science.