The primary goal of the Perdew research group is to understand and develop the Kohn-Sham density functional theory of interacting and quantum mechanical many-electron systems.  In particular, the group aims to improve approximations to the density functional for the exchange-correlation energy, and so to enable practical and more accurate computer calculations predicting what atoms, molecules, nanostructures, solids and surfaces can exist, and with what properties.

The work of our group has been supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0501588 and previous grants.