michael_ruggiero 0

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemistry
Department of Chemical Engineering
Materials Science PhD Program
University of Rochester

Hutchinson Hall 451
120 Trustee Road
Rochester, New York 14627

Email:
Phone: +1 (585) 273-1836


Education and Experience

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
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 2018 – 2022
Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Vermont, 2022 – 2023
Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Rochester, 2023 –
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Rochester, 2024 –

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 was an Assistant (2018-2022) and Associate (2022-2023) Professor at the University of Vermont, before beginning at Rochester in the summer of 2023.

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 Upstate NY 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 Recognitions