MARK GORDON
Frances M. Craig Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Iowa State University and Director, Ames Laboratory Applied Mathematical Sciences program
Mark Gordon was born and raised in New York City. After completing his B.S. in Chemistry in 1963, Gordon entered the graduate program at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University). He received his Ph.D. from the school in 1967, under the guidance of Nobel Laureate John A. Pople.
Following a post-doctoral appointment with Klaus Ruedenberg at Iowa State University, Gordon accepted a faculty appointment at North Dakota State University in 1970, where he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming distinguished professor and department chair. He moved to Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory in 1992.
Gordon’s research interests are very broadly based in electronic structure theory and related fields, including solvent effects, the theory of liquids, surface science, the design of new materials and chemical reaction mechanisms. He has authored more than 480 research papers and is a member, and Treasurer, of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.
He received the 2009 American Chemical Society Award for Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research and he is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. In 2009, he was elected to the inaugural class of American Chemical Society Fellows.