Diego Troya

Diego Troya is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech's College of Science. His research integrates computational chemistry with experimental collaborations to address challenges in chemical reactivity, materials design, and molecular transformations.

• B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Universidad de La Rioja, Spain
• Postdoctoral Associate at Northwestern University (2001–2004)

Research Interests: Focuses on quantum-mechanical calculations and molecular-dynamics simulations to study materials for chemical-warfare agent decontamination, single-atom catalysis, and molecular storage solutions. Key areas include:

• Single-atom catalytic materials
• Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
• Chemical reactivity and reaction mechanisms
• Nanomaterials for societal applications

Collaborative Focus: Works extensively with experimental groups in chemistry, materials science, and beyond to bridge theoretical insights with practical applications.

Scientific Awards

• NSF CAREER Award (2006)
• Research Corporation COTTRELL Scholar Award (2007)

Publications: Recent work explores MOFs for gas storage, nerve-agent decomposition pathways, polymer dynamics, and catalytic nanomaterials. His group emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to material synthesis and function.