The Garrod group develops and applies new computational techniques to the study of chemical kinetics in interstellar, star-forming, and solar-system environments. Our simulations involve gas-phase, dust-grain surface, and ice-mantle chemistry, with a particular emphasis on the detailed treatment of surface and solid-phase processes over astronomical timescales. Working closely with astronomical observers, we use these simulations to model and understand the abundances and observable emission spectra of some of the most complex organic species in the most chemically-rich interstellar objects.

We are based in the Astronomy and Chemistry departments at the University of Virginia. We are also associated with UVa's Virginia Initiative on Cosmic Origins (VICO), and the CosmicAI project.

Rob Garrod is also one of the founders/organizers of the Global Astrochemistry Lecture Series (GALS). Every spring, we host globally accessible online lectures by the top experts in astrochemistry, to provide a free/at-cost course on astrochemistry for students and postdocs of all academic backgrounds. We cover all the main topics in the field, but with a different emphasis each year; the focus in 2026 will be ices. See the website for details and registration.

Since 2020, Rob has been the Main Scientific Organizer of a recurring mini-symposium on astrochemistry at the COSPAR Scientific Assembly, which takes place every two years. The 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly will be held in Florence, Italy, 1 – 9 August 2026, where we will hold our event F3.4, "Interstellar Chemistry, Interstellar Origins: Observations, Experiments, Models and Theory of the Molecular Evolution of the Universe," organized in collaboration with Deputy Scientific Organizer Prof. Sergio Ioppolo. We especially welcome oral and poster abstracts from early-career researchers. Abstract submission opens Nov. 8th 2025, and closes Feb. 13th 2025!