Portuguese physicist Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro, 47, a distinguished professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was fatally shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, late on the evening of Monday, December 15.
Authorities confirmed that Loureiro, originally from Viseu, Portugal, was found with multiple gunshot wounds at his residence.
First responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after 8:30 p.m. following reports of gunfire in the neighborhood. Loureiro was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of Tuesday, December 16.
Neighbors reported hearing several loud bangs that sounded like gunshots. Law enforcement immediately launched a homicide investigation, which remains active and ongoing. No suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made as of this time.
In response to the killing, MIT President Sally Kornbluth released a statement expressing deep sorrow. “We are devastated by the loss of Professor Loureiro. He was a brilliant scientist, an inspiring mentor, and a compassionate leader whose contributions to research and to the MIT community were profound. Our thoughts are with his family, students, and colleagues during this tragic time,” she said.
His death has sent shockwaves through academic and scientific communities worldwide, with colleagues and former students paying tribute to his research, leadership, and mentorship. MIT spokesperson added that the institution extends its deepest sympathies to all those mourning his loss.
The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, issued a message of condolence, stating, “Professor Loureiro distinguished himself by his intellectual rigor, his tireless dedication to science, and the significant contributions he made to the field of physics. His premature death is an irreplaceable loss for science and for all who worked and collaborated with him.”
Professor Nuno Loureiro, a distinguished international academic before joining MIT’s faculty in 2016, was widely recognized as a global leader in plasma physics and fusion research, overseeing one of the institute’s largest laboratories dedicated to advancing clean energy science.
The investigation is being led by the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office in coordination with the Massachusetts State Police. Authorities have emphasized that the case remains under active investigation, and no further details regarding possible motives or circumstances have been released.
Professor Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro earned his physics degree from Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2000 and a doctorate from Imperial College London in 2005. He completed postdoctoral research at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. From 2009 to 2015, he worked as a researcher at IST Lisbon’s Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion, leading the Theory and Modelling Group. He joined MIT in 2016, became a full professor in 2021, and was appointed Director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center in May 2024.
PAJ/Staff/This developing story will be updated
