Stefano Costanzi

Dr. Stefano Costanzi serves as the Horace S. and May Davidson Isbell Professor of Chemistry and Policy at American University in Washington, DC, holding dual expertise in chemical sciences and international affairs. His primary appointment resides in the Department of Chemistry, where he directs the MS program in Chemistry and the Science and Policy Undergraduate Certificate.

His research focuses on the intersection of computational chemistry, policy development, and security frameworks to counter chemical weapons proliferation. Key methodologies include molecular modeling, virtual screening, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analyses applied to chemical weapons convention schedules and precursor lists. This work directly informs arms control strategies and nonproliferation policy through interdisciplinary collaboration with international security organizations.

Dr. Costanzi leads the Costanzi Research Group, which operates under the Department of Chemistry and maintains affiliations with the International Center for Chemical Safety and Security Global team, Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Security, and Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition. He teaches specialized courses including CHEM-479 Countering Chemical Weapons and CORE-105 Complex Problems Seminar: The Threat of Chemical Weapons, integrating real-world security challenges into academic curriculum.