Elena Jakubikova

Elena Jakubikova is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at North Carolina State University, part of the College of Sciences. Her research focuses on computational studies of light-induced processes in transition metal complexes, with applications in solar energy conversion and photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Colorado State University (2007), an M.S. in Mathematics (2005), and a Magister in Physics from Comenius University (2000).

• Education: Postdoctoral studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2010), Ph.D. Chemistry (CSU 2007), M.S. Mathematics (CSU 2005), Magister Physics (Comenius 2000).

Her work emphasizes understanding excited-state dynamics, electron transfer mechanisms, and ligand-to-metal charge transfer processes in materials for energy applications. Recent research highlights include developing adaptive basis sets for quantum computing and investigating CO₂ reduction via Cu-coordinated crystalline carbon nitride systems. She leads a research group focused on computational/theoretical inorganic and photochemistry, with interdisciplinary collaborations in materials science and environmental chemistry.

Publications span over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like J. Am. Chem. Soc., Inorganic Chemistry, and Dalton Transactions. Current research themes include optimizing excited-state lifetimes in transition metal complexes and designing atomically precise catalysts for sustainable energy applications.