Jiri Vanicek

Jiri Vanicek is an Associate Professor at EPFL's School of Basic Sciences (SB), within the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), leading the Laboratory of Theoretical Physical Chemistry (LCPT). He holds a secondary teaching role in the SCGC department. His research focuses on quantum dynamics, molecular spectroscopy, and computational chemistry, with a particular emphasis on nonadiabatic processes and semiclassical methods. He supervises PhD students in theoretical and computational chemistry, including current advisees Davide Barbiero and Yannick Calvino Alonso.

Vanicek's work bridges advanced theoretical frameworks with computational tools, addressing challenges in electronic coherence, vibronic spectra, and finite-temperature effects. His lab develops innovative methods like Hagedorn wavepacket dynamics and Ehrenfest-based approaches to model molecular systems. Courses taught include Mathematical Methods in Chemistry and Molecular Quantum Dynamics, emphasizing symmetry applications and numerical techniques.

His research group has produced over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2010, with recent work (2021–2025) exploring decoherence mechanisms, anharmonicity in vibrational spectra, and efficient quantum dynamics algorithms. He collaborates internationally on topics ranging from polyatomic electronic coherences to isotope effects in chemical reactions. Vanicek’s contributions have advanced both fundamental theory and practical computational tools in physical chemistry.

Advising spans 17 PhD students, with notable alumni including Tomislav Begusic and Seonghoon Choi. His lab maintains the LCPT website as a resource for research projects and methodologies.