Rate My Professor Maria Benavides

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.