Research

Computational materials physics

My research focuses on understanding and engineering semiconductor materials through electronic-structure calculations. I am particularly interested in intermediate-band semiconductors, defect physics, and how atomic-scale changes shape optical, electronic, and magnetic properties.

Google Scholar Simplified CV

Research themes

Semiconductor electronic structure

Band structures, optical response, excitonic effects, and materials design for semiconductor systems.

Defects and magnetism

How defects, dopants, and structural distortions modify electronic and magnetic behavior in solids.

Computational materials methods

First-principles simulations and related computational approaches for connecting microscopic physics with measurable properties.

Selected publications

Giant Excitonic Effects in Vacancy-Ordered Double Perovskites F. Zhang, W. Gao, G. J. Cruz, Y. Sun, P. Zhang, J. Zhao · Physical Review B · 2023

Giant Narrow-Band Optical Absorption and Distinctive Excitonic Structures of Monolayer C₃N and C₃B Z. Tang, G. J. Cruz, Y. Wu, W. Xia, F. Jia, W. Zhang, P. Zhang · Physical Review Applied · 2022

Quasiparticle Band Structures of the 4d Perovskite Oxides SrZrO₃ and BaZrO₃ G. Lopez-Candales, Z. Tang, G. J. Cruz, W. Xia, F. Jia · Physical Review B · 2021

Mentoring

Undergraduate research is a separate part of my academic work.

Student projects, posters, code, and presentations are organized by semester on the Undergraduate Research page →