Varinia Bernales in

Varinia Bernales

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Director of Research at University of Toronto
📍 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Varinia Bernales is an Assistant Professor and Director of Research at the University of Toronto, specializing in inorganic and materials chemistry. A 2024 C&EN Trailblazer, her career spans industry roles at Dow and UL Research Institutes. She received her education from the Universidad de Chile.

Passionate about creating a positive impact, she is a recognized leader and role model within the Hispanic technical community. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists to help solve significant societal challenges through chemistry.

Her research focuses on the complex challenge of activating dinitrogen to create more sustainable chemical manufacturing processes.

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Experience
11 Years
Current Role
Director of Research
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Personality Overview

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Priorities

Topics Varinia cares about

Sustainable Chemistry
Her core research aims to develop more energy-efficient and sustainable methods for chemical synthesis, particularly for ammonia production.
Dinitrogen Activation
This is her specific area of academic expertise, focusing on breaking the strong triple bond in nitrogen molecules for use in chemical reactions.
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Career

Work history

4-2025
Director of Research
University of Toronto
11-2023 - 3-2025
Lead Research Scientist - ULRI
UL Research Institutes
2-2021 - 11-2023
Associate Research Scientist
Dow
4-2018 - 2-2021
Senior Research Specialist
Dow
6-2014 - 3-2018
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Minnesota
In the press

Media appearances

Varinia Bernales | AI & Quantum Chemistry - University of Toronto. Featured in University of Toronto – Matter Lab
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Education
2010 - 2014
Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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