Who Was Nuno Loureiro? MIT Professor Killed At His Brookline Home

BROOKLINE, MA — Resident Nuno Loureiro was shot and killed at his home on Monday night.

The MIT professor of nuclear science and engineering graduated with a degree in Physics from Instituto Superior Técnico in his native Lisbon, Portugal in 2000. Five years later, he earned his Ph.D in the subject from Imperial College London. He conducted post-doctoral work at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory between 2005 to 2007, and then at the UKAEA Culham Centre for Fusion Energy between 2007 and 2009.

Loureiro returned to his native country and his alma mater to begin his professional career as a researcher at IST. He later came to MIT in January 2016 as an assistant professor in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering before becoming a full-time teacher in 2021. Three years later in 2024, he was appointed as the Plasma Science and Fusion Center Director.

“This role is a significant responsibility but also a great opportunity to shape the plasma physics and fusion research agenda, at MIT and elsewhere," Loureiro said in a statement after his promotion.

Loureiro’s storied career included many awards in his field throughout the decade, according to MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. They include the American Physical Society Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research, the National Science Foundation Career Award, the PAI Outstanding Professor Award from the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Ruth and Joel Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching from MIT School of Engineering, Stanislaw Ulam Distinguished Scholar from the Center for Nonlinear Studies at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and most recently the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Nuno Loureiro, who led MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. We honor his life, his leadership in science, and his enduring contributions.” U.S. Ambassador to Portugal John J. Arrigo said in a statement.