Tara Karimzadeh Sabet

About

I am a doctoral candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where I am advised by Dr. Ismaila Dabo. (You can watch a short overview of our research group’s vision for AI and sustainable energy here). My research explores how chemical disorder, structural complexity, and atomic-scale interactions govern compositional stability and transport phenomena in advanced materials. I am broadly driven by developing predictive frameworks for phonons and vibrational transport in chemically complex systems where conventional assumptions of periodic symmetry no longer hold. By integrating first-principles calculations, high-performance computing, and machine learning, I seek to elucidate how complex phenomena emerge from atomistic disorder and how they can be deliberately engineered for next-generation energy conversion and thermal management systems for a more sustainable and equitable future.

My core doctoral work centers on the predictive modeling of phonons in complex oxides—specifically high-entropy oxides—for thermal energy harvesting and efficiency. To probe these expansive, non-conventional compositional spaces, I leverage high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) workflows alongside machine learning techniques, such as graph neural network (GNN) interatomic potentials. This hybrid framework dramatically accelerates calculations, allowing us to model complex structures that would otherwise be computationally prohibitive using traditional quantum mechanics alone.

An overarching theme motivating my research is navigating the fundamental tradeoff between physical interpretability and computational efficiency. Within this space, my work aims to address critical underlying questions: How can we meaningfully define, track, and unfold vibrational modes in strongly disordered materials? What structural information is lost when complexity is reduced to parent components, and what new atomistic descriptors are required to capture emergent behavior? Furthermore, how can we design data-driven models that strictly respect underlying physical constraints?

Rather than viewing these complex challenges as obstacles, I treat them as opportunities to rethink how we engineer materials at the atomic level. To bridge these already-way-too-broad questions with targeted engineering solutions, my research deploys specialized methodologies, such as phonon band unfolding, non-analytical corrections to dynamical matrices, and the virtual crystal approximation. My work is inherently collaborative and interdisciplinary; I actively engage with theorists and experimentalists as a member of the Center for Nanoscale Science, a prestigious Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) supported by the National Science Foundation, as well as other multi-institutional networks.

I am always happy to discuss research, cool ideas, or potential collaborations, and I welcome any conversations that challenge me. Definitely feel free to reach out! :-)

Here's a brief geography of my life so far, highlighting where I began and where life has taken me since! View map .

Acknowledgement

This website uses the designed template by Martin Saveski, forked from its GitHub repository available here.

Publications

All publications are also available on Google Scholar.
^‡ indicates equal contribution.

Conference Talks

• Ultra‑low heat conductivity by configurational entropy for thermoelectric conversion

  American Physical Society (APS) Global Physics Summit, Anaheim, CA, 18 March 2025 (Talk)
  Abstract
• Electrocaloric performance of high‑entropy oxides from first principles

  Materials Research Society (MRS) Spring Meeting & Exhibit, Seattle, WA, 24 April 2024 (Invited Talk) ★
  Abstract
• Electrocaloric performance of high‑entropy perovskites from first principles

  American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 4 March 2024 (Talk)
  Abstract
• Electric polarization in high‑entropy oxides for electrocaloric refrigeration

  American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 9 March 2023 (Poster)
  Poster
• First‑principles prediction of the phase stability of high‑entropy oxides

  American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 8 March 2023 (Talk)
  Abstract
• Temperature‑dependent compositional stability and electric polarization of high‑entropy oxides in electrocaloric cooling applications

  Conference Across MRSEC‑PREM Schools (CAMPS), Columbus, OH, 9 November 2022 (Poster)
  Poster

Teaching Experience

Resume

Full resume available here [last updated June 2026].

• Carnegie Mellon University Jan 2025 - present

  Graduate Research Assistant
  Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Carnegie Mellon University Jan 2025 - present

  Doctor of Philosophy
  Materials Science
• Carnegie Mellon University Jan 2025 - Dec 2025

  Master of Science
  Materials Science and Engineering
• Pennsylvania State University Aug 2021 - Dec 2024

  Graduate Research Assistant
  Center for Nanoscale Science (MRSEC)
• Iran Khodro Automotive Company (IKCO) Jul 2019 - Sep 2019

  Summer Intern
  Paint Shop, R&D Shop
• Iran University of Science and Technology Sep 2016 - Sep 2020

  Bachelor of Science
  Materials Engineering

Fun

Playing the piano has long been a central part of my life. I enjoy exploring a wide range of music that spans from the Romantic era—particularly the works of Chopin and Liszt—to contemporary composers such as Hans Zimmer, Max Richter, Ludovico Einaudi, and Yann Tiersen. Occasionally, I compose minimalist pieces of my own or reinterpret modern songs that resonate with me. You can listen to a performance of Claude Debussy's Piano Trio in G Major by our trio chamber ensemble, as well as our piano quintet's interpretation of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Traveling and learning about new cultures constantly inspires me. I find delight in wandering around new places, discovering local art, savoring regional cuisine, and capturing the quiet rythms of daily life through photography. I also enjoy hiking, camping, and skiing; any excuse to be outdoors and feel connected to nature.

I have recently discovered a deep appreciation for woodworking, and find it truly grounding and rewarding. Learning about CMU's TechSpark makerspace was a natural entry point, and I had the opportunity of benefiting from the tools and community to turn ideas into some cool, tangible objects. Some of my recent projects are:

Reading remains a cherished refuge of mine. I am drawn to fiction novels and philosophy, which together enrich my understanding of the world and the human experience. I cannot begin to describe how much reading has shaped who I am and how I view things since years ago. I am also on goodreads!

Feel free to take a look at my short article about learning and intellectual humility on Medium.

Photography

A small selection of some nature photos I've taken.