Nuno Loureiro, an MIT physics professor known for his work on plasma behavior and fusion vacuum chambers, was shot and killed at his Brookline home on Dec. 15. Authorities believe the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, is linked to a Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine. Loureiro, who earned degrees from Instituto Superior Técnico and Imperial College London, joined MIT in 2016 and received an NSF CAREER Award and multiple teaching honors. Colleagues remembered him for both scientific excellence and personal warmth; he is survived by his wife and three daughters.
MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro Fatally Shot at Brookline Home — Colleagues Remember a 'Brilliant' Mentor
Those who knew Nuno Loureiro described him as a brilliant scholar and a deeply respected mentor, colleague and leader after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor was shot and killed at his home on Gibbs Street in Brookline on Dec. 15.
Authorities say the suspect in Loureiro’s death is Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, whom officials believe is the same gunman suspected in the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others. Both Loureiro and the suspect are originally from Portugal; court records indicate they attended the same academic program at a Portuguese university from 1995 to 2000. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive and the investigation remains active.
Academic Career and Research
Loureiro earned an undergraduate degree in physics from Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal and completed a PhD in physics at Imperial College London in 2005. After roughly a decade of postdoctoral work, he joined MIT as a researcher in 2016 and later served on the faculty in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.
His research addressed difficult problems related to fusion vacuum chambers and plasma behavior, producing advances widely recognized in the fusion and plasma science community. Loureiro’s awards include a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and he was twice honored with the department’s PAI Outstanding Professor Award.
Remembrances
“Nuno was not only a brilliant scientist, he was a brilliant person,” said Dennis Whyte, former head of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. “He shone a bright light as a mentor, friend, teacher, colleague and leader, and was universally admired for his articulate, compassionate manner. His loss is immeasurable to our community… and around the entire fusion and plasma research world.”
Students and colleagues recalled Loureiro’s combination of intellectual rigor and personal warmth. Visiting scientist Rachel Bielajew praised his leadership and the way he made laboratory members feel valued, while physics graduate student Henry Wietfeldt said he took every class Loureiro taught because the professor combined teaching excellence with a charismatic presence.
Family and Aftermath
A GoFundMe page set up to assist Loureiro’s family states he is survived by his wife and three daughters. MIT announced his death to the community on Dec. 16, and the university has shared tributes and information about his professional contributions. Local and federal authorities continue to investigate the shootings and have not released a motive.
Note: This article has been edited to remove promotional or subscription prompts included in earlier reports.
