Pratik Dholabhai Headshot

Pratik Dholabhai

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
Program Faculty, School of Chemistry and Materials Science

585-475-4178
Office Location
Office Mailing Address
84 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623

Pratik Dholabhai

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science
Program Faculty, School of Chemistry and Materials Science

Education

BS, MS, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (India); MS, Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

Bio

Dr. Dholabhai received his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Nuclear Physics from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (India), and his M.S. in Physics and Ph.D. in Physics & Applied Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington. After completing graduate studies, he worked at Arizona State University (2.5 years), Brookhaven National Laboratory (2 years), Los Alamos National Laboratory (4 years), and University of Colorado Boulder (6 months) before joining the School of Physics and Astronomy in Fall 2017.

Research area: Computational Condensed Matter Physics, Computational Materials Science, Materials Chemistry

Dr. Dholabhai's expertise is in applying atomistic simulation methods such as density functional theory and molecular dynamics and the development of kinetic Monte Carlo methods to study and design diverse materials. His research focuses on integrating fundamental physics, materials science, and chemistry in conjunction with state-of-the-art computational tools to investigate materials for a wide range of applications. He leverages fundamentally different, yet complementary atomistic simulation methods to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that control the properties of materials, and lead to nanoscale materials design. His recent work entails the study of basic structure-property relationships at heterointerfaces, grain boundaries, surfaces, and solids of complex ceramic oxides, which have important applications in next-generation energy technologies such as fuel cells, batteries, catalysis, nuclear materials, etc. A vital aspect of his work is comprehending the thermodynamics and kinetics of defects and their interaction with structural anomalies.

585-475-4178

Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Grant, Michael, et al. "Integrating Atomistic Simulations and Machine Learning to Design Multi-principal Element Alloys with Superior Elastic Modulus." Journal of Materials Research 37. (2022): 1497. Web.
Luan, Brian and Pratik P. Dholabhai. "First Principles Modeling of CO2 Adsorption on (100), (010), and (001) Surfaces of Wollastonite for Applications in Enhanced Rock Weathering." Surface Science 724. (2022): 122143. Web.
Santos, Zackary and Pratik P. Dholabhai. "Thermodynamic stability of defects in hybrid MoS2/InAs heterostructures." Computational Materials Science 110426. (2021): 110426. Web.
Pilania, Ghanshyam, Pratik P. Dholabhai, and Blas P. Uberuaga. "Role of Symmetry, Geometry, and Termination Chemistry on Misfit Dislocation Patterns at Semicoherent Heterointerfaces." Matter 2. (2020): 1-14. Web.
Dholabhai, Pratik P., Enrique Martinez, and Blas P. Uberuaga. "Influence of Chemistry and Misfit Dislocation Structure on Dopant Segregation at Complex Oxide Heterointerfaces." Advanced Theory and Simulations 2. (2019): 1800095. Web.
Dholabhai, Pratik P. and Blas P. Uberuaga. "Beyond Coherent Oxide Heterostructures: Atomic-Scale Structure of Misfit Dislocations." Advanced Theory and Simulations 2. (2019): 1900078. Web.
Dholabhai, Pratik P. "Atomic-scale Structure of Misfit Dislocations in CeO2/MgO Heterostructures and Thermodynamic Stability of Dopant–defect Complexes at the Heterointerface." Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 21. 37 (2019): 20878. Web.
Proshchenko, Vitaly S., et al. "Heat and Charge Transport in Bulk Semiconductors with Interstitial Defects." Physical Review B 99. (2019): 14207. Web.
Uberuaga, Blas P., et al. "Semicoherent Oxide Heterointerfaces: Structure, Properties, and Implications." APL Materials 7. (2019): 100904. Web.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Dholabhai, Pratik P. "Defect Formation and Interface Charge Transfer at Misfit Dislocations in CeO2/MgO Heterostructure." MRS Spring Meeting 2022. Materials Research Society. Hawaii, HI. 23 May 2022. Conference Presentation.
Dholabhai, Pratik P. and Brian Luan. "Combating global warming: Modeling enhanced rock weathering of silicates using density functional theory." MRS Fall Meeting 2021. Materials Research Society. Boston, MA. 1 Dec. 2021. Conference Presentation.
Dholabhai, Pratik P. "Influence of Defects on the Structure and Properties of Fluorite-Based Nanostructured Oxides." MRS Spring/Fall Virtual Meeting 2020. Materials Research Society. Boston, MA. 27 Nov. 2020. Conference Presentation.
Dholabhai, Pratik P., et al. "Multi-scale Framework for Predicting Mechanical Properties in High Entropy Alloys." 1st World Congress on High Entropy Alloys. The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS). Seattle, Washington. 17 Nov. 2019. Conference Presentation.
Santos, Zackary and Pratik P. Dholabhai. "Stability of Defects at MoS2/InAs Hybrid Heterostructures." APS March Meeting. American Physical Society. Boston, MA. 4 Mar. 2019. Conference Presentation.
Dholabhai, Pratik P. "Atomic-scale Structure and Stability of Dopant-defect Complexes at Misfit Dislocations in Complex Oxide Heterostructures." 148th TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition. The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS). San Antonio, TX. 10 Mar. 2019. Conference Presentation.
Uberuaga, Blas P., et al. "Defect Interactions with Semi-Coherent Interfaces in Ionic Materials." 148th TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition. The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS). San Antonio, TX. 11 Mar. 2019. Conference Presentation.
Dholabhai, Pratik P., Yongfeng Zhang, and Jeffery A. Aguiar. "Developing a Combinatorial Modeling Approach to Multiscale Modeling and Predictions for High Entropy Alloy Design." 5th World Congress on Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME 2019). The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS). Indianapolis, IN. 22 Jul. 2019. Conference Presentation.

Currently Teaching

MTSE-632
3 Credits
This course is an introduction to the physics of the solid state including crystal structure, x-ray diffraction by crystals, crystal binding, elastic waves and lattice vibrations, thermal properties, the free electron model of solids, and band theory and its applications.
MTSE-790
1 - 9 Credits
Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
MTSE-793
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
PHYS-275
1 Credits
This seminar will assist students in their preparation for the Physics Comprehensive Oral Exam (CORE) required at the end of the course by presenting a unified as opposed to topical approach to physics. Physics majors must pass this course before going on to 300-level Physics courses.
PHYS-532
3 Credits
This course is an introduction to the physics of the solid state including crystal structure, x-ray diffraction by crystals, crystal binding, elastic waves and lattice vibrations, thermal properties, the free electron model of solids, and band theory and its applications.
PHYS-720
3 Credits
This hands-on course introduces students to the different ways that scientists use computers to address problems in physics. The course covers root finding, interpolation, numerical differentiation and integration, numerical linear algebra, the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, fast Fourier transforms, numerical statistics, and optional topics drawn from areas of current physics research. In each of these areas, students will write their own codes in an appropriate language.
PHYS-790
1 - 4 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
PHYS-791
0 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.