Lorena Tribe

Dr. Lorena Tribe is a professor of chemistry at Penn State Berks whose research bridges theoretical chemistry, computational chemistry, and environmental interface science. Her work focuses on understanding molecular interactions at complex interfaces, with particular emphasis on mineral–water systems, environmental surfaces, and materials relevant to energy and sustainability.

Current research projects involve computational investigations of small molecules interacting with minerals, clays, hydroxyapatite, and shale components. Areas of interest include adsorption and transport processes at environmental interfaces, methane and carbon dioxide interactions with geologic materials, contaminant behavior in natural systems, and the molecular mechanisms governing chemical reactivity at solid–liquid interfaces. Her research also explores applications in biomaterials, drug delivery, and sustainable energy technologies.

Dr. Tribe actively engages undergraduate students in research, providing opportunities to contribute to projects spanning computational chemistry, molecular modeling, environmental chemistry, and materials science. She welcomes students with diverse scientific interests and encourages the development of independent research ideas that can be integrated into ongoing investigations.

Research in the Tribe group utilizes a range of computational approaches, including electronic structure calculations, molecular simulations, quantum mechanical and hybrid QM/MM methods, and data-driven modeling techniques. These studies are conducted using both locally developed computational tools and advanced software running on high-performance computing resources.

In addition to her research program, Dr. Tribe is committed to advancing chemistry education through the development of innovative laboratory experiences and the integration of computational methods into undergraduate curricula. She is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of scientists and fostering collaborative, high-impact research that leads to presentations at regional, national, and international scientific meetings, as well as publications in peer-reviewed journals.