Laura Gagliardi

Laura Gagliardi is the Richard and Kathy Leventhal Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, with joint appointments in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the James Franck Institute. She directs the Catalyst Design for Decarbonization Center, a U.S. Department of Energy-funded Energy Frontier Research Center. Her research focuses on quantum chemical methods, catalysis, and materials science, with emphasis on sustainable energy solutions.

Education and Career: Formerly at the University of Palermo (2002–2005), University of Geneva (2005–2009), and University of Minnesota (2009–2022), she has held distinguished roles such as Distinguished McKnight Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair. She previously directed the DOE-funded Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center and the Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry.

Research Interests: Her group develops advanced quantum and classical simulation techniques, including machine learning and electronic structure methods, to study catalysis, photochemistry, actinides, and quantum materials. Key projects include MOF design for gas separation, actinide chemistry for nuclear security, and quantum computing applications in chemistry.

Awards and Recognition: She is a National Academy of Sciences member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellow, and Royal Society of Chemistry member. Awards include the Pauling Medal, Peter Debye Award, and Faraday Lectureship Prize.

Advising and Labs: Supervised graduate students like Dr. Matthew Hennefarth and Dr. Arturo Sauza de la Vega. Leads the Gagliardi Group, collaborating on frameworks like MOFs and COFs. Active in journal editing (Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation).

Labs/Teams: Directs the Catalyst Design for Decarbonization Center and collaborates with experimental groups on materials and computational chemistry.