The Department of Chemistry congratulates Prof. Anna Krylov, USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences, for being named a recipient of the 2024 George Gamow Award. Presented annually by the Russian-American Association of Scientists (RASA-America), the award celebrates internationally recognized contributions from the Russian-speaking scientific diaspora and honors the legacy of Georgy Antonovich Gamow (1904-1968), the Soviet-American physicist whose important work reshaped nuclear and quantum theory.
Prof. Krylov’s recognition reflects her pioneering achievements in theoretical and computational chemistry as well as her advocacy of scientific integrity and academic freedom. She has developed powerful electronic-structure methods to describe open-shell and electronically excited species, advancing understanding of metastable states and light-matter interactions. Her breakthroughs in the field of quantum chemistry have opened new directions in spectroscopy, combustion, solar energy conversion, bioimaging, and quantum information science. In addition to her research, Krylov is widely admired for her leadership within the scientific community, serving as President of Q-Chem, Inc. and mentoring the next generation of chemists.
“This prize is meaningful to me not only for its scientific lineage but also for the spirit Gamow embodied—curiosity, clarity, and the joy of sharing ideas with broad audiences. I’m honored to carry that legacy forward in both research and public engagement,” Krylov said.
The George Gamow Award, established in 2015, will be presented at an award ceremony during the 16th International RASA Conference, held November 15-16, 2025, at Rutgers University. Prof. Krylov joins a distinguished group of recipients across several disciplines, including USC faculty members, Prof. Valery Fokin and Prof. Vladimir Zelman. The Department of Chemistry is proud to announce that her contributions have been recognized with this prestigious honor.