Rate My Professor Maria Benavides

Maria Benavides, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Houston-Downtown, where she holds the positions of Chemistry Program Coordinator and Assistant Chair. She has been a faculty member since 2005, serving as Associate Professor of Chemistry and Physics. Benavides coordinates the Bachelor of Science programs in Chemistry, including concentrations in Biochemistry, Forensic Science, Environmental Chemistry, and general Chemistry. Her administrative office is located in STB 340, and she advises students on course requirements and career paths in these fields. As a dedicated educator, she teaches courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and quantitative analysis, contributing to the department's mission in chemical and physical sciences.

Benavides maintains an active research profile in computational chemistry, with a recent publication titled 'Au⋅⋅⋅H−X (X=N or C) Intramolecular Interactions in Gold(I)···Gold(I) Dimers with Mixed Ligands' in ChemistryOpen (2024), co-authored with Elizabeth Granda. This study investigates intramolecular hydrogen bonding and aurophilic interactions in gold(I) complexes using density functional theory. She has also co-authored works on Gold(I)-NHC complexes featuring aromatic C−H activation and earlier contributions to modeling G protein-coupled receptor signal transduction. Benavides mentors undergraduate students through the UHD Scholars Academy, guiding research projects and presentations at student research conferences. She served as Co-PI on Nuclear Regulatory Commission scholarships and the MSIP program, supporting student internships and graduate preparation. In university service, she is Faculty Council Secretary (2025-2026), Faculty Grievance Committee member (term ending August 2026), former Chemistry Field of Study Advisory Committee member (until 2023), and participant in Scholars Academy planning committees. Benavides received recognition in the UHD Faculty Awards as Professor of Natural Sciences. Her involvement fosters student success, as noted by graduates crediting her mentorship.