Theodor Agapie

Professor Theodor Agapie is the John Stauffer Professor of Chemistry and Executive Officer for Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research focuses on developing practical catalysts inspired by biological systems, particularly addressing challenges in energy resources and environmental sustainability. He holds a B.S. from MIT (2001) and a Ph.D. from Caltech (2007). His academic roles include teaching courses such as Ch 112 (Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry) and Ch 154 (Organometallic Chemistry).

Education

• B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001
• Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 2007

Research Interests

The Agapie laboratory investigates catalyst design using first-row transition metals, focusing on water oxidation/reduction, CO₂ reduction, and bioinspired systems. Key areas include metal oxide clusters, hemi-labile ligand-based complexes, and multimetallic catalysts for polymerization. Research methodologies emphasize synthesis innovation and mechanistic studies.

Publications

Recent works highlight advancements in copper-based spin dynamics, molybdenum-iron-sulfur clusters for CO activation, and silicate platforms for electrochemical applications. His studies bridge inorganic chemistry with energy-related catalytic systems.

Awards & Grants

No specific awards or grants are listed in the provided texts, though his research is supported by Caltech’s resources. His administrative role as Executive Officer reflects institutional leadership.

Labs & Teams

The Agapie laboratory at Caltech focuses on synthesis and catalysis, with a team involving graduate students and postdocs. Key projects include bioinspired catalyst development and electrochemical energy systems.