Rate My Professor Mark Gordon

Mark S. Gordon serves as the Frances M. Craig Chair and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Iowa State University, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Ames Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in 1963, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1967, under the supervision of John Pople. Following his doctoral studies, Gordon conducted postdoctoral research at Iowa State University with Klaus Ruedenberg. He then joined the faculty at North Dakota State University, where he progressed from assistant professor to full professor over 12 years. In August 1992, he moved to Iowa State University as professor, and was appointed Distinguished Professor in April 1998. Additionally, he has held visiting positions, such as at the University of California, Irvine, from November 1978 to February 1979, and directs the Applied Mathematical Sciences program at Ames Laboratory.

The research of the Gordon group centers on developing highly parallel quantum chemistry methods and computational codes, including the widely used GAMESS (General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System) program, to perform accurate calculations on large molecular systems. Applications include protein-substrate interactions, heterogeneous catalysis, deep eutectic solvents, solvent effects on chemical processes in ground and excited electronic states, and photochemical dynamics. Emphasis is placed on theoretical models for gas-phase and condensed-phase phenomena, as well as adaptations for massively parallel computers and novel architectures. Gordon has published over 780 papers in peer-reviewed journals, contributing significantly to computational quantum chemistry. His impact is evidenced by major awards such as the 2015 American Chemical Society Award in Theoretical Chemistry, the 2004 ACS Midwest Award, election to the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science, and university honors including the Iowa State University Distinguished Achievement Citation. He has also contributed to editorial roles and public lectures in the field.