Timothy Liao

Timothy Liao is a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University working at the intersection of computational materials and geophysics. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin, where he developed machine learning–guided frameworks for the discovery and design of rare-earth-free magnetic materials. His current research focuses on modeling the thermodynamic stability and thermoelastic properties of hydrous minerals, particularly serpentines, using first-principles calculations, molecular dynamics, and machine learning interatomic potentials. His work aims to bridge atomistic simulations with geophysical observations by providing quantitative constraints on phase stability, elasticity, and seismic signatures under Earth’s interior conditions.