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An MIT professor, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, was fatally shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, according to authorities who have opened an active homicide investigation.
Dr. Loureiro was a prominent figure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, holding positions in the departments of nuclear science and engineering and physics.
He also served as the Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, one of the school’s largest labs.
Police were dispatched to Dr. Loureiro’s home on Monday night after a report of a man shot.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Dr. Loureiro was transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning.
“This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made in the case, according to spokesman David Linton.
Dr. Loureiro was a highly respected scientist with a distinguished career.
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Director Appointment: He was named director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center in May 2024, overseeing over 250 researchers, staff, and students.
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Presidential Honor: In January, he was among nearly 400 scientists awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for his work on the generation and amplification of magnetic fields in the universe.
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MIT Career: Dr. Loureiro joined the MIT faculty in 2016 and was appointed deputy director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center in 2022.
MIT released a statement expressing deep sympathy for his family, students, and colleagues.
The university is offering support and care to the campus community affected by the loss.
Dr. Loureiro’s death has also drawn international attention.
CNN Portugal reported that Portugal’s foreign affairs minister announced the death in Parliament.
The U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, John J. Arrigo, released a statement honoring Dr. Loureiro’s life, leadership, and contributions to science.
