Dr. Mark S. Gordon is a distinguished leader in computational chemistry with over five decades of impactful contributions to the field. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State University and holds a position at Ames Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy. Born in New York City on January 18, 1942, Gordon earned his B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute followed by a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University under Nobel laureate John Pople. After completing postdoctoral work with Klaus Ruedenberg at Iowa State University, he joined North Dakota State University where he rose to Distinguished Professor and served as Department Chair from 1981 to 1989 before transitioning to Iowa State University in 1992.
Gordon's pioneering work in computational quantum chemistry has revolutionized the field through the development of sophisticated yet accessible computational methods and software. He is renowned for his extensive contributions to the GAMESS (General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System) quantum chemistry program, which is utilized by thousands of researchers worldwide for complex molecular simulations. In 1996, Gordon and his collaborators introduced the effective fragment potential (EFP) method, a groundbreaking approach for modeling solvent effects that has become a cornerstone in computational chemistry. His research program focuses on developing highly parallel quantum chemistry methods that deliver quantum mechanical accuracy while significantly reducing computational costs, enabling studies of complex chemical systems including protein-substrate interactions and heterogeneous catalysis. Gordon's scholarly output spans over 380 publications that have profoundly influenced both theoretical and experimental chemists across diverse subdisciplines.
As a member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science since 2004 and Fellow of the American Physical Society, Gordon has significantly shaped the trajectory of computational chemistry through leadership and mentorship. He directed the Applied Mathematical and Computational Science program at Ames Laboratory from 1997 to 2014, fostering collaborations between computational scientists and domain experts that accelerated scientific discovery across multiple fields. Gordon's research group has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish successful careers in academia and industry, continuing his legacy of excellence in computational chemistry. His receipt of the American Chemical Society Midwest Award in 2004 and the ISU Award for Research or Artistic Creativity in 2005 recognizes both his scientific contributions and dedication to education. Currently, Gordon continues to advance the frontiers of computational chemistry through the development of exascale computing methods that will enable unprecedented insights into complex chemical phenomena.
