Dr. Udo Schwingenschlögl is a professor of applied physics at KAUST in the Materials Science and Applied Physics Program, and the associate dean of faculty and research in the Physical Science and Engineering Division. He heads the university’s Computational Physics and Materials Science Lab (CPMS-Lab). Professor Schwingenschlögl addresses the structural and electronic properties of a large variety of materials using computational and theoretical methods. He has an extensive publication record with an h-index of 81, and has co-authored more than 600 papers. His most cited works concern the giant spin-orbit-induced spin splitting in 2D transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors, with 1,300+ citations; prediction of 2D diluted magnetic semiconductors, with 600+ citations; and polar transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers, with 300+ citations.​

Professor Schwingenschlögl’s research in condensed matter physics and first-principles materials modeling focuses on 2D materials, surfaces and interfaces, nanostructured materials, quantum transport, correlated materials, nanoparticles, energy harvesting, energy storage, semiconductors, and magnetism. His multidisciplinary approach integrates perspectives of physics, materials science, and chemistry. Professor Schwingenschlögl and the CPMS-Lab researchers aim to discover and understand exotic physical or chemical characteristics of materials to facilitate technological advancement.​