Robert Vianello is a Senior Scientist with Tenure at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, where he leads the Laboratory for Computational Design and Synthesis of Functional Materials, and acts as the President of the Expert Scientific Council for Chemistry.
His research focuses on computational chemistry and biochemistry, with particular emphasis on enzymology, chemical reactivity, drug design, and functional materials. His laboratory employs advanced techniques such as quantum mechanics (QM), density functional theory (DFT), quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), empirical valence bond (EVB) calculations, docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. These methods are applied to a diverse range of topics, including organic, inorganic, organometallic, and biological systems. His work bridges theoretical science with practical applications, impacting areas such as pharmaceutical development and materials science.
His notable contributions include studies on monoamine oxidase inhibition, antitumor drug design, and the development of pH sensors.
He has received numerous honors, including two Croatian National Science Awards (2006, 2017), Leopold Ružička Award (2007), and Marie Curie Success Story (2012). He is very active in promoting science through media, science festivals, and public lectures, inspiring future scientists and demystifying complex concepts.
