Laura Gagliardi awarded the 2027 Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry

Laura Gagliardi, the Richard and Kathy Leventhal Professor in the Department of Chemistry with joint appointments in the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and the James Franck Institute, has been selected to receive the 2027 Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry from the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Gagliardi is being honored for exceptional contributions to theoretical and computational chemistry and their application to critical problems in energy science. Her work has advanced our understanding and computational design of catalysts and energy-relevant materials, including systems for carbon capture and separations, renewable energy, and decarbonization. She has also directed the Catalyst Design for Decarbonization Center, a U.S. Department of Energy Frontier Research Center (2022-2026).

The Storch Award is given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to fundamental or engineering energy-related research, development, and education that address the world's energy and chemical challenges. Administered by the ACS and supported by an endowed fund established by the ACS Division of Energy and Fuels, the award spans a broad landscape of energy chemistry, from renewable energy sources and energy storage to the catalytic and materials science underpinning a lower-carbon future. Recipients deliver an award address at a dedicated symposium held during an ACS National Meeting.

“I am honored to receive the Storch Award," said Gagliardi. "This recognition reflects the creativity and dedication of the students, postdocs, and collaborators I have been fortunate to work with, and the extraordinarily supportive environment at the University of Chicago. Chemists have a central role to play in the clean energy transition, and I am grateful to contribute to that effort by developing the theoretical tools that help us design better catalysts and materials for a more sustainable world.”

The Storch Award adds to a distinguished record of recognition for Gagliardi, who was named the 2026 recipient of the WATOC Schrödinger Medal and has previously received the Pauling Medal, the ACS Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry, and the Award in Theoretical Chemistry from the ACS Physical Chemistry Division, among many other honors. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her selection underscores UChicago PME's commitment to research that connects fundamental science with real-world impact on energy and sustainability.

Mark Levin, professor in the Department of Chemistry, was also selected to receive the ACS Award in Pure Chemistry, which recognizes outstanding fundamental research by an early-career scientist. Levin is honored for his pioneering work in synthetic organic chemistry, particularly the development of skeletal editing methods that enable precise modification of molecular frameworks one atom at a time. Both awards will be presented in conjunction with the ACS National Meeting in 2027.