Tanglaw Roman

Research Fellow

College of Science and Engineering

place Bedford Park (3005)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Dr. Tanglaw Roman is a condensed matter physicist and is a Research Fellow at the Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis team of the Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Flinders University. He specializes in using and developing theoretical and computational methods for two end goals: for a fundamental understanding of condensed matter and materials at different length scales, and for finding new materials and optimising chemical processes relevant to the industry and renewable energy technology. Tanglaw was part of the academic staff at the Institute of Theoretical Chemistry in Ulm University, Germany before taking up research posts at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and School of Mathematics and Physics of the University of Queensland, Australia, and at the Nano Institute and School of Physics of the University of Sydney.

Tanglaw has published over 50 articles in internationally recognised scientific journals, including top physics, chemistry, and materials engineering journals such as Physical Review Letters, ACS Catalysis, and Advanced Materials. Through his research projects, he has collaborated with over 70 scientists from 40 research institutions spanning 14 countries. He has presented his research in over 40 international conferences held in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Tanglaw has also led research carried out together with the Toyota Motor Corporation, the second-largest automobile manufacturer in the world, among other university-industry research linkages. He envisions bringing high-performance computing to new heights in the search for sustainable materials and renewable energy solutions.

Key responsibilities

Tanglaw uses high-performance computing with density functional theory, many-electron wave function theory, and semiempirical force field models to determine, among others:

   • Crystal and surface structures

   • Electronic density of states

   • Electronic band structures

   • Vibrational frequencies

   • Fermi surfaces

   • STM profiles of surfaces

   • Magnetic ordering in materials

   • Surface work functions

   • Fluid viscosity & other bulk properties

   • Free energies of reactions

As the data scientist of the Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis team, Tanglaw also works closely with the NanoESCA research team to successfully deliver project milestones in the field of materials and surface physics.

Teaching interests

Tanglaw has taught and managed Condensed Matter Physics courses for undergraduate and postgraduate Physics majors in Australian universities.