Dr. Paul Alivisatos stands as a preeminent leader in chemical sciences and higher education, currently serving as the 14th president of the University of Chicago since September 2021. Born in Chicago and spending his formative childhood years in Greece before returning to complete his undergraduate education, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry with honors from the University of Chicago in 1981. He continued his academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received his PhD in physical chemistry in 1986 under the guidance of Charles B. Harris. Prior to his current presidency, Dr. Alivisatos held significant leadership positions including Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UC Berkeley and Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for six years, demonstrating an exceptional trajectory from faculty member to institutional leadership.
Dr. Alivisatos is globally recognized as a pioneer in nanoscience, having developed groundbreaking techniques for synthesizing colloidal nanocrystals with precise control over their size, shape, and structural properties. His seminal research established the fundamental physical chemistry principles governing the optical, electrical, and thermodynamic behavior of nanocrystals, transforming nanotechnology from theoretical concept to practical application. He and his colleagues were the first to demonstrate that semiconductor nanocrystals, now commonly known as quantum dots, could serve as highly fluorescent probes for medical diagnostics, revolutionizing biological imaging and tumor analysis. This work catalyzed numerous commercial applications through ventures he co-founded, including Quantum Dot Corporation (now part of Thermo Fisher) and Nanosys, with quantum dot technologies now integral to high-end electronic displays, medical diagnostics, and renewable energy solutions worldwide.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Alivisatos has profoundly shaped the scientific community through his founding editorship of the influential journal Nano Letters, which has become essential reading for nanotechnology researchers globally. He has mentored more than 170 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers while publishing approximately 440 scholarly papers that have garnered around 170,000 citations, demonstrating exceptional scholarly impact. His leadership extends to institutional development, where he spearheaded strategic initiatives at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory including new research facilities for computational science, solar energy, and biological sciences. As president of the University of Chicago, Dr. Alivisatos continues to champion scientific innovation while guiding one of the world's premier research universities, maintaining his commitment to advancing knowledge at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and practical applications that benefit society.
