Geraldine L. Richmond

Geraldine Lee Richmond is an American chemist and physical chemist who is the Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) at the University of Oregon. She directs and oversees the university's entire research enterprise. She is committed to enhancing research excellence and strengthening the role or research, scholarship, and creative activity across the university. Before her appointment as VPRI, she served as the Under Secretary of Energy for Science in the US Department of Energy from 2021 to 2025. Richmond was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to her role on November 5, 2021. In this position, she oversees the Office of Science, the Applied Energy offices, and 13 of the 17 Department of Energy national laboratories. Before this appointment, Richmond served as a Professor of Physical Chemistry and held the Presidential Chair in Science at the University of Oregon. Her research has focused on understanding the chemistry and physics of complex surfaces and interfaces, using laser-based experimental and theoretical computational methods. These understandings are most relevant to energy production, atmospheric chemistry and remediation of the environment. Throughout her career she has also worked to increase the number and success of women scientists in the U.S. and in many developing countries through the COACh program that she founded in 1999. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In recognition of her scientific achievements and contributions to women in science, she received the National Medal of Science from President Obama in 2013.

Country

United States

Category

Scientists

Type

Scientist

Status

living

Dates

Born 1953 · age 73

Written about in

13 languages