Robert J. Gilliard, Jr.

Robert J. Gilliard, Jr. is the Novartis Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), part of the School of Science and the Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on energy-relevant chemical synthesis at the interface of organic and inorganic chemistry, with a particular emphasis on luminescent materials, stimuli-responsive systems, and main-group element chemistry. The Gilliard Lab develops novel synthetic methods for molecules addressing challenges in materials science, energy storage, and environmental chemistry, such as carbon dioxide sequestration and photothermal therapies.

His work is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Packard Foundation, and others. Notable projects include boron-doped nanographenes for electronics, thermoluminescent borafluorenium ions, and bismuth/antimony-based compounds for bond activation. Gilliard also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) since 2025 and has editorial roles in multiple high-impact journals.

Recent publications highlight breakthroughs in luminescent materials, boron-centered radicals, and main-group element reactivity. His group has graduated students like Marissa Villiarde, Levi Warring, and Eric Tra, while postdocs such as Kelsie Wentz and Philipp Dabringhaus have transitioned to academic positions. The lab collaborates with MIT's Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC) on CO2 utilization projects.