Davide Lionetti

Davide Lionetti serves as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Franklin & Marshall College, where he teaches General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organometallics courses while leading an active undergraduate research program focused on transition metal catalysis for energy applications.

His academic journey includes:

• B.S. in Chemistry (Minor in Medieval Studies) from University of Notre Dame under Dr. Seth Brown
• Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from California Institute of Technology under Dr. Theodor Agapie
• Postdoctoral research at University of Kansas with Dr. James Blakemore

Lionetti's research group designs transition metal complexes (primarily rhodium and ruthenium-based) to address energy storage and chemical feedstock conversion challenges. They investigate ligand effects on electron transfer processes, develop cheaper metal alternatives to precious metal catalysts, and optimize catalytic efficiency through electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. His work emphasizes fundamental mechanistic understanding while training undergraduates in air-sensitive synthesis and advanced characterization techniques.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on organometallic reaction mechanisms, ligand design principles, and electrocatalytic applications - particularly in hydrogen production and small molecule activation. The work bridges fundamental inorganic chemistry with practical energy solutions through systematic structure-property investigations.

Key recognitions include:

• National Science Foundation MRI Grant (co-PI for NMR instrumentation)
• ACS Petroleum Research Fund Undergraduate New Investigator Grant
• University of Kansas Sustainability Leadership Award
• Caltech Resnick Sustainability Institute Fellowship

Lionetti has secured substantial external funding to support his research infrastructure and undergraduate training program. His mentorship model integrates students directly into all research phases - from complex synthesis to data interpretation and publication - resulting in numerous undergraduate co-authorships. The laboratory maintains specialized capabilities for air-free synthesis and electrochemical characterization.

His research group operates within Franklin & Marshall's Department of Chemistry, utilizing dedicated synthesis suites and instrumentation for inorganic/organometallic research, with strong emphasis on undergraduate participation in cutting-edge scientific inquiry.