Scott A. Reid
Department Chair / Wehr Distinguished Professor
Phone: (414) 288-7565 or 288-7715
E-mail: scott.reid@mu.edu
Way Klingler Sabbatical
Wehr Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Scott Reid has been awarded the Way Klingler Sabbatical to continue in-depth research with colleagues in Madison and Australia from the fall of 2010 to spring 2011.
Since joining Marquette in 1994, Reid has established himself as a leader in the area of reactive intermediates - short-lived, unstable molecules that are key players in the mechanisms of many real-world chemical processes, such as reactions in combustion, the atmosphere and beyond. "Only by understanding the mechanisms of these important chemical processes can we make progress in better utilizing them," Reid said.
During his sabbatical, Reid will collaborate with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Sydney to develop new solutions for studying reactive intermediates, which by their short-lived nature are hard to capture and study. Reid said this research will, in part, develop expertise in experimental methods that can be applied at Marquette for new research initiatives. As evidence of Reid's reputation in his field, colleagues have cited his election as one of the main organizers of specialized workshops held biannually at Telluride, Col., as well as his selection to organize the Gordon Conference on Molecular Energy Transfer, which seeks to understand how energy flows within and between molecules.
Reid said an emphasis on research in his department is one thing that drew him to Marquette. "One thing I really appreciate about Marquette is the teacher-scholar model," Reid said. "Your research informs your teaching, and you strive for excellence in both. Our research with undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students is critical as we seek to encourage, motivate and equip the next generation of scientists". (Adapted from article by Tim Cigelske - Marquette Matters - May 2010)
Biography
Professor Reid received a B.S. degree from Union University (Jackson, TN) in 1985, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) in 1990 under the direction of J. Douglas McDonald. His interests in molecular spectroscopy and chemical dynamics led him to the University of Southern California, where he completed post-doctoral training under the direction of Hanna Reisler. He has been at Marquette since 1994. In 1996, he received an Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator award, and was the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award in 1997. In 2004, he spent a semester at National Tsing Hua University (Hsinchu, Taiwan) as an NSC fellow, working in the group of Professor Yuan-Pern Lee.
Research Fields
Our research is in the general field of laser chemistry, and encompasses a number of areas including:
- Laser spectroscopy of transient molecules and free radicals
- Photodissociation dynamics and photochemistry of molecules and free radicals
- Coherent laser spectroscopy, including four wave mixing and quantum beat spectroscopy
- Photoionization mass spectrometry
- Characterization of pulsed laser ablation and pulsed laser deposition of thin films
- Development and application of spectroscopic instrumentation and methods
Current research projects and students
Recent videos:
Elephant Toothpaste experiment on local news show.
Recent Publications:
M. Deselnicu, C. Tao, C. Mukarakate, and S. A. Reid, “Fluorescence excitation and emission spectroscopy of the 
system of CHBr”, J. Chem. Phys. Vol. 124 (2006) 134302/1-134302/11.
H. Fan, C. Mukarakate, M. Deselnicu, C. Tao, and S. A. Reid, “Dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of jet-cooled HCF and DCF: Vibrational structure of the 
state”, J. Chem. Phys. Vol 123 (2005) 014314/1-014314/7.
C.-P. Liu, S. A. Reid, and Y.-P. Lee, “Two-color resonant four-wave mixing spectroscopy of highly predissociated levels in the Ã2A1 state of CH3S”, J. Chem. Phys. Vol. 122 (2005) 124313/1-124313/8.
Klingler College of Arts & Sciences
