Rate My Professor Michael Messina

Messina's research interests center on computational quantum dynamics, encompassing H atom tunneling in enzyme-catalyzed quantum dynamics, coupled electron-nuclear quantum dynamics of metal-mediated dihydrogen activation, development of modules for real-time visualization of laser-molecule interactions using UV and IR spectroscopy, and algorithms for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for long-time non-adiabatic processes. His contributions to the literature include key publications such as “Quantum control of I₂ in the gas phase and in condensed phase using optimal strong-field coherent control” (The Journal of Chemical Physics, 1997), “On the Possibility of Detecting Low Barrier Hydrogen Bonds with UV Spectroscopy” (Journal of Chemical Information and Computer Sciences, 2003), and “Observing Quantum Dynamics in Real Time: An Excel-Ready Finite Difference Time Domain Approach” (Journal of Chemical Education, 2020). Messina mentors undergraduate researchers and serves on several university committees, including as a member of the University Curriculum Committee and the University IDS Advisory Council, chair of the Chemistry Department Scholarship Committee, and provider of transfer advising for the department.