Dr. Adam Willard

Biography

Adam P. Willard is the Francis Wright Davis Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on theoretical simulations to explore the role of molecular fluctuations in a variety of chemical phenomena. Willard’s group particularly investigates complex systems where mean field approaches fail to reproduce experimental results. The research addresses the collective dynamics of molecules, spatial dynamic heterogeneity, and the coupling of fast and slow time scales, culminating in unexpected macroscopic phenomena. A significant part of his work involves the dynamics of excited electrons in conjugated molecular systems, stressing the sensitivity of electronic properties and potential energy distributions to the configuration of molecules. This focus has implications for the design of organic electronic devices, such as bulk-heterojunction solar cells, where molecular morphology greatly influences performance. He also studies the molecular structure of liquid water interfaces and how substrate chemistry shapes the intrinsic characteristics at these interfaces, contributing to a deeper understanding of interface-mediated chemical processes.

Research Interests

Experience