Thao Tran Dominy

Thao Tran Dominy serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry within the College of Science at Clemson University. She holds the distinguished title of National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow and is recognized as an Emerging Leader in Materials Science by the American Institute of Physics for her pioneering work in quantum materials and spintronics.

Her educational background includes:

• Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemistry and Physics at Johns Hopkins University's Institute of Quantum Matter (2016-2019)
• Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from the University of Houston (2010-2015)
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Vietnam National University (2003-2007)

Prof. Dominy's research program addresses fundamental challenges in materials chemistry for next-generation energy and information technologies. Her team develops quantum and functional materials through chemical synthesis, advanced characterization (synchrotron X-ray, neutron diffraction, spectroscopy), and computational modeling. Key focus areas include quantum information science, spintronics, and multifunctional materials design, with direct applications in quantum computing and spintronic devices.

Her exceptional contributions are recognized through numerous prestigious awards:

• 2025 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
• 2025 US National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow
• 2024 NSF CAREER Award
• 2023 Beckman Young Investigator Award
• 2024 ACS Rising Star in Materials Chemistry Science
• 2024 Research Corporation Scialog Fellowship
• 2023 NSF EPSCOR Research Fellowship

Prof. Dominy has secured competitive research funding including the NSF CAREER Award and Beckman Young Investigator Award, supporting her innovative materials research. She actively mentors students through undergraduate research (CH 4990) and graduate courses in materials chemistry and inorganic chemistry.

She directs the Materials Chemistry Whisperers Laboratory across multiple Hunter Hall facilities (rooms 303, 383, 405, 407, 412), structured around three core research domains: creating multifunctional materials, developing materials design methodologies, and advancing quantum information science for transformative technological applications.