Steven Maley

Steven Maley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Wilfrid Laurier University. His research focuses on computational chemistry, catalysis, and machine learning applications in chemical systems. He explores catalyst design for polymerization reactions, non-covalent interactions in catalytic systems, and reaction mechanisms using quantum mechanical methods like DFT and CCSD(T). His work bridges computational modeling with experimental outcomes to advance materials science and catalytic process optimization.

Dr. Maley’s office is located in BA418, and he holds regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2–4 p.m. He actively supervises student research opportunities in computational chemistry and catalysis, encouraging graduate and undergraduate involvement in cutting-edge projects.

His publications emphasize machine learning integration with computational chemistry to predict reaction outcomes, optimize catalysts, and analyze electronic structures. Recent trends include studying chromium and zirconium-based catalysts for ethylene trimerization, understanding σ-bond metathesis dynamics, and resolving structural dilemmas in organic molecules like isothiirane. His research also applies catastrophe theory to explain symmetry-breaking phenomena in molecular systems.

While no specific grants or awards are listed, his work demonstrates strong methodological innovation in combining theoretical approaches with data-driven analysis. He maintains a lab focused on computational simulations and collaborates across disciplines to address challenges in catalytic reaction design and materials discovery.