Varinia Bernales

Varinia Bernales is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on AI-driven platforms that accelerate scientific discovery, including autonomous agents for quantum chemistry and self-driving laboratories for molecular and materials design. She also develops rigorous AI safety and governance frameworks for scientific settings and leads interdisciplinary teams across computer science, chemistry, engineering, and physics.

Varinia Bernales is a researcher at the University of Toronto specializing in Theoretical Chemistry, Catalysis, and Green Chemistry. Her work focuses on the design and characterization of metal–organic framework (MOF) supported catalysts for sustainable chemical processes. She investigates the structural and electronic properties of MOF nodes and their impact on catalytic performance, particularly in reactions such as oxidative dehydrogenation of propane, ethylene dimerization, and ethanol dehydration. Her research also explores the role of heterobimetallic complexes and single-site catalysts in enhancing catalytic efficiency and selectivity. Bernales employs quantum mechanical methods and computational modeling to guide the development of environmentally friendly catalytic systems.