Maxx Q. Arguilla

Maxx Q. Arguilla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), with affiliations in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Solutions that Scale Initiative. He is also a member of the advisory boards for the Eddleman Quantum Institute and Chemical & Engineering News.

• Education: B.S. in Chemistry from University of the Philippines Diliman (2011, cum laude); Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from The Ohio State University (2017); Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT under Prof. Mircea Dincă.

Dr. Arguilla's research focuses on the discovery and chemical understanding of one-dimensional and quasi-1D crystalline materials with sub-nanometer thickness, often described as 'molecular pasta' due to their topological resemblance to spaghetti, rigatoni, and fusilli. His work bridges gaps between 0D, 1D, and 2D materials, aiming to uncover novel electronic, optical, and quantum phenomena. He employs advanced synthesis and characterization techniques to grow high-quality crystals and study their anisotropic properties.

Although no specific publications are listed in the provided texts, his research themes consistently center on low-dimensional inorganic solids, particularly van der Waals materials and metal-organic frameworks, with implications for quantum computing, optoelectronics, and nanoscale devices. His work emphasizes curiosity-driven exploration and hacking crystallization design rules across the periodic table.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• Runner-up, Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship (2024)
• NSF CAREER Award
• C&EN Talented Twelve (2023)
• Matter's 35 PIs under 35 (2024)
• Finalist, Dream Chemistry Award (2024)

Dr. Arguilla advises graduate students and leads an independent research group at UCI. He has received major research grants including the NSF CAREER Award, supporting his long-term vision in materials discovery. He is actively involved in scientific outreach, particularly with middle school students, and promotes diversity in STEM. He is also a photographer and food enthusiast, drawing creative parallels between cooking and materials synthesis.

He is affiliated with key research entities at UCI:

• Eddleman Quantum Institute (Advisory Board)
• Solutions that Scale Initiative (Affiliate Faculty)
• Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Affiliate Faculty)