My current research interests focus on experimental probes of the electronic structure of atomic, molecular and cluster anions, as well as neutral radicals and diradicals in the ground and excited states. The experiments offer an in-depth look at molecular bonding motifs and reactivity, made possible by photoelectron imaging spectroscopy. The principal research directions include: photoelectron imaging spectroscopy of negative ions; photoelectron angular distributions in anion photodetachment; characterization of exotic anions and neutral reactive intermediates; cluster chemistry and interactions of electrons with molecules. This work aims to attain a molecular-level view of the fundamental driving force of chemistry: the electronic structure transformations implicated in chemical reactions and intermolecular interactions. As chemical bonding is controlled by electrons, it is their behavior that determines the molecular potential energy landscapes and ultimately controls the reaction outcomes.
Awards and Achievements
- Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award ( 2004)
- NSF CAREER Award ( 2002)
- Beckman Young Investigator Award ( 2002)