Maia García

Research and career Vergniory worked as a research fellow at the Ikerbasque and the Donostia International Physics Center. She studied novel materials and computational strategies to realise new condensed matter systems.

Verginory became interested in the design of new topological materials with optimised functional properties. Topological materials are insulators in the bulk but conductive on their surfaces. The conducting channels that facilitate current flow are robust and independent of size.

Vergniory studied the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database to identify topologically nontrivial materials. She designed a computational effort to simulate real materials and determine whether or not they showed topological properties. This included complex theoretical analysis that could classify topological phases, and information from materials scientists on whether materials were suitable or not. Vergniory uses her supercomputers to perform her calculations ab initio.

Awards and honours 2017 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award 2022 Elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society

Selected publications