Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was shot dead at his Brookline, Boston home on Monday night. He was rushed to a local hospital but died the following morning from his injuries, the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office confirmed. Authorities said no suspects were in custody, describing the case as “an active and ongoing homicide investigation,” as quoted by the prosecutor’s office.The news of his death drew reactions from colleagues and students. Dennis Whyte, a former director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Centre, said in conversation with a campus publication: “He shone a bright light as a mentor, friend, teacher, colleague and leader. He was universally admired for his articulate, compassionate manner.”Early life and educationLoureiro was a native of Portugal. He completed his undergraduate studies in Portugal before earning a doctorate in London, according to MIT’s faculty profile. After his PhD, he moved to the US to pursue postdoctoral research at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, specialising in plasma physics and nuclear fusion.A colleague at Princeton told MIT News in conversation that Loureiro “was dedicated to advancing the field of fusion energy from the very start of his career.” His academic background in Europe and the US provided a strong foundation for his later work in experimental and theoretical plasma physics.Career at MIT and research leadershipLoureiro joined MIT in 2016 as a professor in Physics and Nuclear Science and Engineering. Before joining MIT, he had worked at the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion at IST Lisbon, Portugal, contributing to research on magnetic confinement and nuclear fusion technology, MIT noted.In 2022, he was appointed director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Centre, one of the largest laboratories at the university, employing more than 250 researchers across seven buildings. Loureiro told MIT News: “Fusion energy will change the course of human history,” emphasising the centre’s mission to accelerate clean energy research.Colleagues and international observers recognised his contributions. The US ambassador to Portugal, John J. Arrigo, wrote online that “it’s not hyperbole to say MIT is where you go to find solutions to humanity’s biggest problems,” honouring Loureiro’s leadership in plasma science. Under his direction, the centre advanced both experimental projects and theoretical studies in nuclear fusion, mentoring students and researchers along the way.
