Category Archives: People and Events

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.

How Will Quantum Computing Reshape the Future of Chemistry?

In a thought-provoking panel at the ACS Spring 2025 conference, renowned chemist Prof. Laura Gagliardi dove into the transformative power of quantum computing—and the ethical questions it raises.  From ultra-precise molecular simulations to the responsibilities around data use, this C&EN Future of Chemistry session is a must-watch for scientists, innovators, and the quantum-curious.

Watch the Instagram post here.

Last week, we gathered to celebrate Dr. Matthew Hermes and his well-deserved appointment as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

It was a wonderful occasion to recognize Matthew’s achievements and contributions to the group.  We are grateful for his dedication and expertise and look forward to his continued impact on our research.

On February 20, 2025, the Syensqo research center warmly welcomed Professor Laura Gagliardi as the 2025 Syensqo Chair in Chemistry by the International Solvay Institutes.  A special display honored her arrival, celebrating her outstanding contributions to chemistry.

Congratulations, Professor Gagliardi!

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Matthew Hermes has been appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry.  Matthew will continue to work closely with the Gagliardi Group students under the supervision of Professor Gagliardi, contributing his expertise and dedication to advancing research in the field.

Please join us in congratulating Matthew on this well-earned appointment.  We look forward to his continued success and contributions to the group!

We are excited to announce that Professor Laura Gagliardi has been awarded the prestigious Solvay Chair in Chemistry for 2025.  This honor, presented by the International Solvay Institutes, recognizes her pioneering work in theoretical and computational chemistry, particularly her advancements in electronic structure methods for complex chemical systems.

Professor Gagliardi joins an esteemed group of past awardees, including Nobel Laureates, and will deliver a series of lectures throughout the year.

To read the full article, click here.

Congratulations to Professor Gagliardi on this incredible achievement!

We are thrilled to celebrate Andrea Darù for being recognized as an honorable mention in the 2024 Maria Lastra Award for exceptional mentorship at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.  Andrea’s dedication to guiding and inspiring peers embodies the essence of mentorship, paving the way for future leaders in science and engineering.

Thank you, Andrea, for your contributions in fostering a collaborative and supportive research community.  Your impact is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship!

For more information, read here.

The Gagliardi Group congratulates Dr. Soumi Haldar as she begins an exciting new chapter in her career.  Soumi has joined Prof. Brett Savoie’s group as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Notre Dame.  In her new role, she will work on methods and software development, data analysis, and simulations for chemical machine learning and reaction prediction projects.

We wish Soumi all the best in this next phase of her journey!

We are excited to welcome Joshua Zhou as the newest member of our group.

Joshua earned his B.S. and M.S.E. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he worked with Professor Brandon Bukowski.  His research there focused on classical simulations of amphiphilic organic molecules and developing machine-learning potentials for lithium-sulfur systems.

As a Ph.D. student, Joshua will explore machine learning applications in electronic structure theories, with a focus on catalytic reactions involving transition metals and actinides.

Welcome, Joshua—we’re thrilled to have you on the team!