Theoretical Chemistry

Telluride School on Theoretical Chemistry 

Telluride Science is the proud home of the biennial Telluride School on Theoretical Chemistry (TSTC), founded in 2009 by Jack Simons, University of Utah Professor of Chemistry. The next school will be held July 21-25, 2025. Use the links below to learn more about TSTC and to access curriculum material from all the past schools.

TSTC General Info

The Telluride School on Theoretical Chemistry is a biennial summer school program (next one in summer 2025) held in Telluride, Colorado and facilitated by the Telluride Science Research Center (TSRC). TSTC is the only summer school in country focusing on Theoretical Chemistry. About thirty participants who are competitively selected from the applicant pool are invited to attend and work closely with three or four senior faculty members, plus one or two of the ACS Physical Division Awardees during this one-week intensive program.

The Program Includes:

The School is Intended for:

Cost:

Miscellaneous:

2023 TSTC Program Info

2023 Dates: July 11th – 15th

(Tuesday – Saturday)
Nandini Ananth, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University
Todd Gingrich, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University
Benoit Roux, Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago
Dominika Zgid, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan

School Description

The field of theoretical and computational chemistry has traditionally been a key component within physical chemistry and chemical physics. More recently, theoretical chemistry has begun to assume important roles in biological chemistry and materials science as well. Most experimental scientists working in these disciplines have not had the background necessary to gain a working knowledge of theory as it is used in their research disciplines. Because many of them want to make use of theory to interpret their data and to guide their research, they constitute one component of the student body for the proposed schools. In addition, many faculty members who teach undergraduate chemistry, biology, and materials science classes want to incorporate computer modeling into the classroom. The schools would offer them an efficient route for learning the theoretical and computational background needed to do so. Most importantly, the Ph. D. and postdoctoral students entering theoretical and computational chemistry can also benefit. Most of these young peoples’ doctoral and postdoctoral work has focused on only
a sub-set of theory’s main areas (electronic structure, dynamics, statistical mechanics, molecular modeling). Especially if they pursue an academic career, they will be expected to teach classes in a wider range of theoretical topics. Moreover, their research careers are likely to evolve in directions that will require them to become proficient in areas other than where their doctoral and postdoctoral work focused. These Schools offer them an excellent chance to broaden their knowledge and skill sets at an early career stage.

Each TSTC school will involve approximately six to eight hours of lectures on electronic structure theory, chemical dynamics, biophysics, and statistical mechanics. Poster sessions for participants to describe their interests and problem solving sessions will also be held. The school’s endowment covers the registration cost for those applicants who are accepted into the school.

Lectures

Chemical Dynamics — Prof. Nandini Ananth (Cornell University)
Statistical Mechanics — Prof. Todd Gingrich (Northwestern University)
Biophysics — Benoit Roux (University of Chicago)
Electronic Structure Theory — Dominika Zgid (University of Michigan)

School Venue

Telluride Science & Innovation Center at the Telluride Intermediate School, 721 W. Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435

Application is Open Now!

Application Deadline is March 15, 2023

For more information, email info@telluridescience.org