MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro Dies at 47

Nuno Loureiro, a professor of nuclear science and engineering and director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, has died at the age of 47. Loureiro joined MIT's faculty in 2016, focusing on plasma behavior and its applications in fusion energy and astrophysics. His research advanced understanding of plasma turbulence and magnetic reconnection, contributing to the development of fusion devices and the study of phenomena like solar flares. In 2024, he was appointed director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Loureiro earned his physics degree from Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal and a PhD from Imperial College London. He held positions at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the UKAEA Culham Center for Fusion Energy before returning to Instituto Superior Técnico as a researcher. At MIT, he taught courses in plasma physics and received multiple awards, including the National Science Foundation Career Award and the American Physical Society's Thomas H. Stix Award. His death is mourned by colleagues and students, who remember him as a brilliant scientist and compassionate mentor.