527 U3350

AI and Computational Methods for Materials

Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Course No.
527 U3350
Instructor
阮俊興/Nguyen Tuan Hung
Category
Undergraduate Courses_Spring Semester 2026

Course Introduction

527U3350 · 材料科學與工程學系

材料人工智慧與計算方法

AI and Computational Methods for Materials — 114-2 Elective course (3 credits). Machine learning, deep learning, DFT, Quantum ESPRESSO, and materials informatics.

527U3350 Curriculum Number 114-2 Semester 3 Credits 50 Seat Limit

✦ Course Information

Course title 材料人工智慧與計算方法 / AI and Computational Methods for Materials
Semester 114-2
Department Materials Science and Engineering (材料系)
Curriculum Number 527U3350
Class
Credits 3
Full / Half Yr. Half
Required / Elective 選修 (Elective)
Language 英文授課 (English-taught)
Target students 3rd yr, 4th yr
Remarks Maximum number of students: 50

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Class Section

Class Instructor Time Location
Nguyen Tuan Hung (阮俊興)

Course Description

This course will introduce modern computational methods for materials science, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and density functional theory (DFT). Both AI/ML and DFT are becoming standard tools in chemistry, physics, and materials science. Deep learning specifically involves linking input data (features) with output data (labels) through a neural network. Neural networks are capable of approximating any function. A typical example is the relationship between a material's structure and its properties. Conversely, DFT is a computational method used to analyze the electronic structure of atoms, molecules, and materials. It is based on quantum mechanics and provides valuable insights into the properties and behavior of various materials. Both DFT and AI/ML have their own strengths and applications, and they can be combined. Depending on the engineering field and the specific problem, these methods can be relevant. Therefore, AI/ML and DFT are valuable tools for students who will become engineers and scientists.

Keywords
  • Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Density functional theory, Quantum ESPRESSO, TensorFlow, and Pytorch, Material Project

Course Objective

1

Understanding the DFT and AI/ML concepts.

2

Can practice the DFT and AI/ML by using the open-source Quantum ESPRESSO, TensorFlow, and Pytorch.

3

Using the dataset from the Material Project.

4

Apply DFT and AL/ML for practical applications in material science, such as screening solar cell materials.

Course Requirement

  • Prerequisites (needed skills or required abilities in advance): Know Linux and Python at basic level.
  • Office Hours:
  • Mandatory Reading (Textbooks):
    1. I. Goodfellow, Y. Bengio and A. Courville, Deep Learning, MIT Press, 800 Pages, (2016)
    2. N. T. Hung, A. R. T. Nugraha and R. Saito, Quantum ESPRESSO Course for Solid‑State Physics, Jenny Stanford Publishing, New York, 372 Pages, (2022).

References

1

MIT Introduction to Deep Learning | 6.S191 — https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtBw6njQRU-rwp5__7C0oIVt26ZgjG9NI

2

Quantum ESPRESSO for Solid State Physics — https://nguyen-group.github.io/courses/qe/

Grading

(僅供參考)

Item % Notes
Mid-semester examination50%3 hours
Final examination50%3 hours

Progress

Week Topic
1Introduce Python and install the computing environment.
2Math review: Tensors and shapes
3Introduction to machine learning (ML)
4ML concepts: Regression, model assessment, classification, and kernel learning
5Introduction to deep learning
6Graph neural networks (GNN)
7Equivariant neural networks
8Mid-semester examination
9Introduction to material science
10Application of ML in the material science
11Introduction to density functional density (DFT) and Quantum ESPRESSO (QE)
12Practical DFT with QE: Basics parameters
13Practical DFT with QE: Advanced topics
14Practical DFT with QE: Input generator
15Combine DFT and ML
16Final examination

Attachments

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