Hi I'm Alaa Mohammed Idris Bakhit
My social media
What I do
I am currently a Postdoctoral researcher at the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) in San Sebastián. Previously, I did my PhD at the Materials Physics Centre (MPC), University of the Basque Country in San Sebastián. I am working together with their nanophysics lab group. My research is focused on understanding the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of 2D materials, particularly in the context of their potential for spintronic applications. I combine Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations with hands-on experimental techniques such as STM, LEED, XPS and ARPES to examine these materials at the atomic scale. I also use synchrotron-based methods such as XAS, NEXAFS, and XMCD to gain precise insights into their properties.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Mar. 2021 - Sep. 2025
PhD in Physics
The Materials Physics Center (MPC) in Donostia / San Sebastian
Oct. 2018 - Dec. 2020
M.Sc. in Condensed Matter Physics
ICTP-East African Institute for Fundamental Research (EAIFR), University of Rwanda, Rwanda. Master thesis on ”Diamond under extreme strains” with Prof. Sandro Scandolo, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
Sep. 2017 - Jun. 2018
M.Sc. in Mathematical Sciences
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-Cameroon), Cameroon. Master thesis on ”Radio Interferometry: From the Measurements to the Image” with Dr. Marcel Atemkeng, Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies, Rhodes University. South Africa.
Oct. 2010 - Nov. 2014
B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics, First Class
Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan.
Research visits
Sep. - Nov. 2024
University of Trieste / ICTP
Trieste, Italy.
Apr. - Jun. 2023
BESSY Synchrotron
Berlin, Germany.
Synchrotron visits
Jun. 2024
BESSY Synchrotron
Beamline RGBL, Germany.
May 2024
SOLEIL Synchrotron
Beamline DEIMOS, France.
Jan. 2023
BESSY Synchrotron
Beamline RGBL, Germany.
Sep. 2022
ESRF Synchrotron
Beamline ID32, France.
Dec. 2021
ALBA Synchrotron
Beamline BL29 - BOREAS, Spain.
Oct. 2021
ALBA Synchrotron
Beamline BL24-CIRCE, Spain.
Sep. 2021
Elettra Synchrotron
BACH beamline, Italy.
Jun. 2021
ALBA Synchrotron
Beamline BL24-CIRCE, Spain.
My detailed CV is available here
See My Latest Works
Europium intercalation as a route to modulate electronic and magnetic properties of h-BN/Ni(111)
Formation and protection of an Eu-Ir surface compound below hexagonal boron nitride
Alaa Mohammed Idris Bakhit, Khadiza Ali, Frederik Schiller, 2025, arXiv
Near-Ambient Pressure Oxidation of Silver in the Presence of Steps: Electrophilic Oxygen and Sulfur Impurities
A ferromagnetic Eu-Pt surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride
Structure and electronic properties of stable facets in the 2D material hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) on curved platinum
Raman frequencies of diamond under non-hydrostatic pressure
Alaa Mohammed Idris Bakhit, S. Mutisya, S. Scandolo, 2021, Appl. Phys. Lett.
Conferences
Graphene 2025
Spain, June 2025
CMSP Seminar (Atomistic Simulation Seminar Series)
Italy, November 2024
CAMD Summer School 2024
Denmark, August 2024
Poster: Formation of Europium-transition metal surface compound and protection of Eu below hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)
Graphene 2024
Spain, June 2024
Talk: Formation and protection of a ferromagnetic Eu–transition metal surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride
Online Short-Term Scientific Mission Workshop on Innovative and Advanced Epitaxy
Spain, April 2024
Talk: Epitaxial Growth of Hexagonal boron–nitrogen–carbon (h-BNC) Monolayer on Different Substrate Materials
The DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section
Germany, March 2024
Talk: Formation of Europium-Ruthenium surface compound and protection of Eu below hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)
36th European Conference on Surface Science
Poland, August 2023
Talk: Formation of Europium transition metal surface compounds and protection of Eu below hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)
Joint EPS-SIF International School on Energy 2023
Italy, July 2023
Talk: Formation of Europium transition metal surface compounds and protection of Eu below hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)
The 5th BESSY @ HZB user meeting
Germany, June 2023
Contribution with Poster: Epitaxial growth of hexagonal boron–nitrogen–carbon (h-BNC)
The DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section
Germany, March 2023
Talk: Formation of Europium transition metal surface compounds and protection of Eu below hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)
Graphene2022 International Conference
Germany, July 2022
Poster: Electronic structure of stable facets in the 2D material hBN/Pt system
The Capri Spring School on Transport in Nanostructures
Italy, May 2022
Talk: Electronic structure of stable facets in the 2D material hBN/Pt system
5th International Conference on Applied Surface Science
Spain, April 2022
Talk: Electronic structure of stable facets in the 2D material hBN/Pt system
Poster: Raman frequencies of diamond under non-hydrostatic Pressure
Seminars
University of Trieste, Department of Physics
Italy, September 2024
PhD seminars at the Materials Physics Center (MPC) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC)
Spain, April 2024
Talk: Formation and protection of a ferromagnetic Eu–transition metal surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride
PhD Day of the Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country
Spain, April 2024
Plenary talk: Formation and protection of a ferromagnetic Eu–transition metal surface compound grown below hexagonal boron nitride
Get In Touch
e-mail: alaa.mohammed@ehu.eus
© 2026 Alaa Mohammed Idris Bakhit. All rights reserved.