michael_ruggiero 0

Associate Professor

Department of Chemistry
Department of Materials Science
University of Vermont

Discovery Hall W318
82 University Place
Burlington, Vermont 05405

Email:
Phone: +1 (802) 656-0276


Education

B.Sc. Chemistry, State University of New York: Geneseo, May 2012
Ph.D. Chemistry, Syracuse University, February 2016
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge (UK), March 2016 – June 2018

Research Interests

My research lies at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, physics, and computer science, and focuses on uncovering underlying fundamental quantum mechanical properties that govern the behavior of solid materials. My work is highly interdisciplinary, with projects ranging from the stability and dynamics of solid pharmaceuticals to probing charge carrier dynamics in semiconductor materials.

Since my research interests are splattered all over this website, I’ll just tell you who I am here.

A native of Long Island, New York, I graduated in 2012 with a B.S. from SUNY Geneseo in Chemistry. After my time at Geneseo, I started a PhD at Syracuse University working for Prof. Tim Korter, where I used density functional theory and terahertz spectroscopy to investigate the origins of intermolecular forces in crystalline solids. I finished my PhD in 2016, and then headed across the pond to take up a position as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge in the Terahertz Applications Group headed by Prof. Axel Zeitler. I started my current position at the University of Vermont in the summer of 2018.

Throughout my career, I focused on understanding the fundamental origins of the chemical processes I observed on a daily basis. As such, I took classes in both chemistry and physics, and have worked with people from many disciplines including chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, materials science, computer science, and pharmaceutical sciences, to name a few. I am a strong believer in the idea that the best work arises from interdisciplinary collaboration, and am always happy to discuss new ideas with colleagues from any field.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my two dogs, Julep and Cooper, and we take full advantage of what Vermont has to offer. You can typically find me and the pups running around on some mountains, hiking, camping, and everything else outdoors. I’m also an avid reader, so if whoever is reading this has any good suggestions, send them my way!

Awards and Professional Appointments