Ilum graduate wins award at one of the world’s largest physics events

Gabriel Pereira Xavier, a member of the first class to graduate the Ilum School of Science, the undergraduate degree program offered by the Brazilian National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), received the Excellent Talk Award at the 2026 APS Global Physics Summit, one of the most important international events in the field of physics. Gabriel, who is currently pursuing his doctorate at the Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo (USP), was recognized for his presentation describing his work in the area of computational simulation of materials.

The Global Summit is held by the American Physical Society (APS) with the presence of thousands of researchers from around the world, and is recognized as one of the most prestigious events in the field. This year’s summit combined different traditional meetings of this group, further expanding both the reach and the scientific importance of the event.

The award was granted by Cell Press’s journal Newton in recognition of the quality of Gabriel’s oral presentation, a format used for most of the event’s scientific contributions.

His work lies within the field of computational simulation of crystalline materials, with a focus on single-layer perovskites, a topic which has stirred interest for its potential applications in optoelectronics. Using density functional theory, a computational approach to model the properties of materials based on their atomic structure, Gabriel’s research investigated the stability, mechanical properties and electronic characteristics of these structures.

“Using atomic configuration, we were able to obtain results comparable with experiments and even predict the properties of materials that have not yet been synthesized,” he explained.

The findings of his study included determining which compositions are stable and which are not, important information for experimental research. “For example, we can determine which materials have greater potential for application and which are less likely to be viable in practice,” he added.

The research is part of Gabriel’s doctoral research, which explores the properties of low-dimensional materials, an area that is expanding in the fields of physics and materials science.

An Ilum education as the foundation for a scientific trajectory

Gabriel was a member of Ilum’s first graduating class, and he stressed the importance of the interdisciplinary training he received there for his subsequent academic and scientific trajectory.

“The foundations we received at Ilum were extremely important, in terms of content as well as connections. In fact, it was through this environment that I met my PhD advisor.”

He added that training in science and technology contributed to an integrated vision of research, facilitating dialog between different knowledge areas.

“Ilum provides very solid support for us to work amid complex topics. Even in such a demanding area as physics, this training was very helpful in adaptation and carrying out research.”

Gabriel also highlighted the impact of his academic experience beyond technical aspects: “I am very grateful for the education I got at Ilum, not only as a researcher but also as a person,” he added.