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Category Archives: People and Events

Former Gagliardi Group Researcher Varinia Bernales Develops Safer Chemicals and Advocates for Women in Science

Dr. Varinia Bernales, a postdoctoral researcher in the Gagliardi Group from 2014 to 2018, is making a lasting impact in computational chemistry and advocacy for women in science. Now Lead Research Scientist at UL Research Institutes, Bernales uses her expertise to develop safer chemicals and environmentally friendly materials. Her projects range from creating protective gear for firefighters to designing materials that filter toxic pollutants from air and water.

During her time in the Gagliardi Group, Bernales excelled in green chemistry, contributing to groundbreaking research on nuclear waste recovery and sustainable technologies. Mentored by Dr. Laura Gagliardi, she became a leader in computational methods, advancing projects that bridged experimental and theoretical chemistry.

In addition to her scientific work, Bernales is a strong advocate for women in STEM, mentoring young scientists and volunteering with initiatives like FIRST Robotics. Her dedication to both science and equality continues to inspire the next generation.

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Bernales’ outstanding contributions to both the scientific community and the world.

Read the article here.

Professor Laura Gagliardi Profiled in Two Italian Newspapers: La Stampa and Il Messaggero

Renowned chemist Prof. Laura Gagliardi of the University of Chicago has been featured in Italy’s prominent newspapers, La Stampa and Il Messaggero, for her groundbreaking work on a high-tech sponge that absorbs water vapor from the air and generates water.  Originally developed with military applications in mind, the sponge has the potential for wider uses, including air pollution cleanup and providing water in arid environments like deserts.  The prototype developed by Gagliardi’s research group showcases innovative solutions to global challenges and is a testament to her visionary scientific leadership.

You can read the full articles here:

Abhishek Mitra Joins PsiQuantum as Quantum Solutions Computational Chemist to Lead Quantum-Powered Materials Innovation

Congratulations to Abhishek Mitra on joining PsiQuantum as a Quantum Solutions Computational Chemist!  At PsiQuantum, Abhishek will focus on integrating fault-tolerant quantum computing with computational physics and chemistry to pioneer quantum computer-aided materials design.  His role involves conducting research, developing quantum workflows, and collaborating with experts to solve complex materials and chemistry problems using advanced quantum algorithms.

Best of luck, Abhishek, on this exciting new journey!

Farewell and Best Wishes to Dr. Leon Otis

The Gagliardi Group recently celebrated Leon Otis at a farewell party as he prepares to embark on a new journey.  Leon will be joining Rice University as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of James Shee.  We are excited to see him begin this new chapter and wish him continued success in his future endeavors!

Gagliardi Group’s Summer Get-together

The Gagliardi Group recently met up at Lake Michigan to enjoy a summer afternoon.  They enjoyed chatting, strengthening friendships, and eating great food.  It was a refreshing afternoon full of laughter and memorable moments together.

Bhavnesh Jangid has received the Olshansky Graduate Student Travel Award

Bhavnesh will use the travel award to attend the American Conference on Theoretical Chemistry 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. https://www.actc2024.org/

He will present a poster on his recent work on “Quantum Embedding based approaches for the core-level spectroscopy simulations”.  In this work, he had presented the scalable and cost-effective simulation of core IP of large systems with highly expensive methods like EOM-CC.

Congratulations Bhavnesh!

Abhishek Mitra has accomplished the defense of his PhD thesis with success!

Abhishek Mitra successfully defended his PhD thesis titled “Fragmentation-Based Quantum Chemistry on Classical and Quantum Computers”.  In July, he will join the Department of Research Education & Training Center (RETC) at Cleveland Clinic as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Dr. Kenneth Merz.  We wish Abhishek all the best in his future endeavors!

Dr. Daniel King successfully graduated on June 1, 2024

Congratulations to our newest Ph.D.!  His dedication and hard work have paved the way for a promising future.  We wish him all the best as he embarks on his next adventure at the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet at UC Berkeley in August.