Sergey Varganov

Summary

Dr. Sergey Varganov is a theoretical and computational chemist and chemical physicist interested in molecular electronic structure and spin dynamics with applications in molecular magnetism, catalysis and astrochemistry. He obtained his Ph.D. with Prof. Mark Gordon at Iowa State University and was a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Peter Gill at the Australian National University and Prof. Todd Martinez at Sandford University. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Research interests

• Molecular dynamics
• Chemical kinetics
• Molecular magnetism
• Spin dynamics

Honors and awards

• Hyung K. Shin Award, 2025
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2017
• Department of Energy Leadership Computing Challenge Award, 2017
• University of Nevada, Reno Westfall Scholar Mentor Award, 2012

News features

• Two years on, quantum research project gets renewed funding
• DoE Center aims to design new molecules to improve quantum sciences

Education

• Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Iowa State University, 2005
• Candidate of Sciences in Condensed Matter Physics, Kirensky Institute of Physics, 2003
• M.S. in Physics, Siberian State Aerospace University, 1999

Selected publications

• Dergachev, V. D.; Chibotaru, L.; Varganov, S. A. Ab initio Description of Vibronic Emission Bands in Non-Centrosymmetric Lanthanide Complexes. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2025, 16, 2309-2313.
• Rooein, M.; Varganov, S. A. Predicting kinetics of spin-dependent reactions in an external magnetic field with nonadiabatic statistical theory. Chem. Phys. 2024, 161, 164306.
• Mahmud, T.; Moore, D. C.; Dergachev, I. D.; Sun, H.; Varganov, S. A.; Tucker, M. J.; Jeffrey, C. S. Cortical polysaccharides play a crucial role in lichen UV protection. Cell Reports Physical Science 2024, 5, 102242.
• Li, K.; Dergachev, V. D.; Dergachev, I. D.; Zhang, S.; Varganov, S. A.; Ping, Y. Excited-state dynamics and optically detected magnetic resonance of solid-state spin defects from first principles. Rev. B 2024, 110, 184302.
• Mirzanejad, A.; Varganov, S. A. Derivation of Morse Potential. Molecular Physics 2024, 123, e2360542.
• Dergachev, V. D.; Tran Tan, H. B.; Varganov, S. A.; Derevianko, A. Effect of Extreme Variations of Fundamental Constants on Structure of Atoms and Molecules. Chem. Lett. 2024, 15, 4111-4116.
• Dergachev, V. D.; Nakritskaia, D. D.; Alexeev, Y.; Gaita-Ariño, A.; Varganov, S. A. Analytical nonadiabatic coupling and state-specific energy gradient for the crystal field Hamiltonian describing lanthanide single-ion magnets. Chem. Phys. 2023, 159, 184111.
• Dergachev, I. D.; Dergachev, V. D.; Pooein, M.; Mirzanejad, A.; Varganov, S. A. Predicting Kinetics and Dynamics of Spin-Dependent Processes. Accounts of Chemical Research 2023, 56, 856-866.
• Jiang, N.; Nakritskaia, D.; Xie, J.; Ramanathan, A.; Varganov, S. A.; La Pierre, H. Tuning Symmetry and Magnetic Blocking of an Exchange-Coupled Lanthanide Ion in Isomeric, Tetrametallic Complexes: [LnCL₆(TiCp₂)₃]. Chemical Science 2023, 14, 4302.
• Mirzanejad, A.; Varganov, S. A. Role of Intermediate Triplet State in Iron-Catalyzed Multi-State C-H Activation. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2022, 24, 20721-20727.
• Dergachev, V. D.; Nakritskaia, D. D.; Varganov, S. A. Strong Relativistic Effects in Lanthanide-Based Single-Molecule Magnets. Chem. Lett. 2022, 13, 6749-6754.
• Dergachev, V. D.; Rooein, M.; Dergachev, I. D.; Lykhin, A. O.; Mauban, R. C.; Varganov, S. A. NAST: Nonadiabatic Statistical Theory Package for Predicting Kinetics of Spin-Dependent Processes. Topics in Current Chemistry 2022, 380, 15.
• Mukherjee, S.; Varganov, S. A. Intersystem crossing and internal conversion dynamics with GAIMS-TeraChem: Excited state relaxation in 2-cyclopentenone. Chem. Phys. 2021, 155, 174107.
• Zhang, T.; Bhattarai, C.; Son, Y.; Samburova, V.; Khlystov, A.; Varganov, S. A. Reaction Mechanisms of Anisole Pyrolysis at Different Temperatures: Experimental and Theoretical Studies. Energy Fuels 2021, 35, 9994-10008.
• Mukherjee, S.; Fedorov, D. A.; Varganov, S. A. Modeling Spin-Crossover Dynamics. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry 2021, 72, 515-540.
• V.D. Dergachev, M. Rooein, I.D. Dergachev, A.O. Lykhin, R.C. Mauban, and S.A. Varganov (2022). NAST: Nonadiabatic Statistical Theory Package for Predicting Kinetics of Spin‐Dependent Processes. Topics in Current Chemistry 380, 15.
• Mukherjee, D.A. Fedorov, and S.A. Varganov (2021). Modeling Spin-Crossover Dynamics. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry 72, 515-540.

Professional History

• Visiting Scholar, University of Valencia, Spain, 2019
• Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, 2018
• Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Reno, 2011-2017
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University, 2009-2011
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University, 2006-2008