Please join us in congratulating our newest Ph.D.! Matthew’s hard work, creativity, and commitment to science have led him to this exciting achievement. In July, he will take the next step in his journey as a Quantum Solutions Computational Chemist at PsiQuantum in Palo Alto, California, where he will contribute to advancing quantum technologies for chemical innovation.
Congratulations, Dr. Hennefarth!
It is with great joy that we celebrate Dr. Matthew Hennefarth for his successful PhD defense in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago on June 6, 2025!
Matthew’s dissertation, “Linearized Pair-Density Functional Theory”, introduces a new approach to electronic structure theory. He developed the method from the ground up, designing the theoretical framework, implementing it in code, and applying it to explore excited-state reactions and dynamics.
Next month, Dr. Hennefarth will begin an exciting new chapter as a Quantum Solutions Computational Chemist at PsiQuantum in Palo Alto, California, where he will help advance the frontier of quantum technologies for real-world chemical applications.
Congratulations, Dr. Hennefarth! We’re excited to see the amazing impact your work will make in the future!
We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Arturo Sauza de la Vega on the successful defense of his PhD thesis, “Multireference Studies of Transition Metal and Actinide Containing Molecular Systems”, at the University of Chicago’s Department of Chemistry. Arturo defended his dissertation on June 5, 2025, presenting a seminar that showcased his innovative work on multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory and its application to molecular qubits.
Next, Arturo will join the University of Iowa as a postdoctoral scholar in the research group of Professor Bess Vlaisavljevich, where he will focus on actinide-containing molecular systems using relativistic four-component computational methods.
Congratulations once again, Dr. Sauza de la Vega! We are excited to see where your research leads next!
We are proud, and a bit heavy-hearted, to bid farewell to Dr. Mukunda Mandal as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in his career. Mukunda has accepted a position as a Computational Chemist at ExxonMobil in Bangalore, a fantastic opportunity that speaks to his talent, dedication, and the meaningful contributions he’s made during his time with us.
Yesterday, we gathered to celebrate Mukunda’s achievements and send him off with our warmest wishes. In true Mukunda fashion, he surprised us all with a deeply thoughtful gift: personalized mugs, each one uniquely tailored to the recipient. It was a wonderful and touching gesture, reminding us of the genuine connections he built within the group and how much his presence will be missed.
Mukunda, thank you for everything you’ve brought to the Gagliardi Group, scientifically and personally. We’re excited to follow your journey at ExxonMobil and beyond. Please stay in touch and rest assured, we’ll treasure our mugs as a daily reminder of you!
Congratulations and best wishes on your next adventure!
We’re excited to announce that Bhavnesh Jangid has been selected for the Olshansky Graduate Student Travel Award. This award will support his attendance at the 55th Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference (MWTCC55) in May 2025, where he will deliver an oral presentation titled “Multi-Reference Approach for the Band Structure of the Strongly Correlated System.”
Congratulations to Bhavnesh on this recognition and the opportunity to share his research at MWTCC55!
We are thrilled to share that Valay Agarawal has been named a recipient of the Olshansky Graduate Student Travel Award. This support will allow him to participate in the 55th Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference (MWTCC55) in May 2025. At the conference, Valay will present his work in an oral talk titled “Enabling Performant Multireference Calculations on Modern Computing Architecture.”
Kudos to Valay on this recognition and his upcoming presentation at MWTCC55!
We are thrilled to announce that Bhavnesh has been awarded the Weldon G. Brown Memorial Fellowship, a distinguished recognition of excellence in research. This highly competitive fellowship will support Bhavnesh for four academic quarters in Professor Laura Gagliardi’s Lab, beginning in Autumn Quarter 2025 and continuing through Summer Quarter 2026.
Congratulations, Bhavnesh! We are proud of your accomplishments and look forward to your continued success in the years ahead.
We are excited to share that Helen Clifford has been awarded the Nathan Sugarman Teaching Award in General Chemistry, recognizing her outstanding contributions to undergraduate teaching. The award will be presented at the Spring Student Awards Assembly on Friday, June 6th at 3:30 PM in Kent 107.
Helen received this honor for her work as a Teaching Assistant in Honors General Chemistry. Remarkably, she was nominated anonymously by one of her students, making this recognition especially meaningful.
Congratulations, Helen! This honor reflects the lasting impact of your work in the classroom and the strong foundation you’re helping build for future scientists.
Dustin earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Ohio State University, where he conducted research with Professor John Herbert, and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Brigham Young University.
Before joining the Gagliardi Group, Dustin worked as a Software Engineer at SendoutCards, bringing a strong background in both computation and practical application. He was also awarded a prestigious DOE-SGCSR Fellowship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he collaborated with Dr. Christopher Mundy.
We are excited to welcome Dustin and look forward to the expertise and perspective he brings to our research community!
Shoutout to Matthew Hennefarth of the Gagliardi Group for being featured in the Department of Chemistry Student Profile Series! His work on light-matter interactions is just one example of the impactful research coming from our team. We’re excited to highlight his contributions to the field and our community.
Read the full article here.