Vaida’s current research interests are at the interfaces of chemical physics and environmental research using fundamental techniques and concepts of physical chemistry to investigate the spectroscopy and reactivity of environmentally relevant molecules. Water-air interfaces are present in the atmosphere at the ocean surface and on atmospheric aerosols, which are important in climate, atmospheric chemistry and human health. Vaida proposed that organic films on atmospheric aerosols and impart on the system unique morphological, optical and chemical properties and proposed that atmospheric aerosols can be effective chemical reactors in the contemporary and prebiotic atmosphere as well as indoor environments. The Vaida research program is fundamental in its conception and nature and relevant to a central problem on the planet: that of energy supply to a large population while maintaining a viable gaseous envelope, the atmosphere.
keywords
Physical chemistry of planetary, atmospheric and environmental systems, energy and the environment, spectroscopy of reactive molecules, prebiotic chemistry and evolutionary biophysics
Spectroscopy of Retinoic Acid at the Air-Water Interface.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Isolated Molecules, Clusters, Radicals, and Ions; Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Astrochemistry; Theory.
6908-6919.
2022
Reactivity of Electronically Excited SO2 with Alkanes.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Isolated Molecules, Clusters, Radicals, and Ions; Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Astrochemistry; Theory.
7782-7789.
2018
The hydration of formic acid.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Isolated Molecules, Clusters, Radicals, and Ions; Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Astrochemistry; Theory.
363-370.
2002
Direct absorption spectroscopy of water clusters.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A: Isolated Molecules, Clusters, Radicals, and Ions; Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Astrochemistry; Theory.
8620-8624.
1999
CHEM 1221 - Engineering General Chemistry Lab
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
Meets general chemistry laboratory requirement for engineering students. Designed to illustrate chemical concepts and introduce basic techniques in chemical measurement and synthesis. Department enforced prerequisites: one year of high school chemistry or CHEM 1021 (min. grade C-) and high school algebra; B- in CHEM 1021 recommended. Credit not granted for this course and CHEM 1114 or CHEM 1401.
CHEM 4511 - Physical Chemistry 1
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022
Chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. Includes study of laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, entropy, free energy, chemical potential, chemical equilibriums, and the rates and mechanisms of chemical reactions. Department enforced prereq or coreq., PHYS 1120 (minimum grade C-). Degree credit not granted for this course and BCHM 4400 and BCHM 5400.
CHEM 4581 - Physical Chemistry Lab 1
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
One 3-hour lab per week. Instruction in experimental techniques of modern physical chemistry. Experiments illustrate the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Illustrates the material discussed in CHEM 4511.
CHEM 4591 - Physical Chemistry Lab 2
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
One lect. and one 3-hour laboratory every two weeks. a continuation of CHEM 4581, but may be taken concurrently with CHEM 4531. Experiments illustrate the principles of quantum chemistry and spectroscopy discussed in CHEM 4531.
CHEM 6401 - Seminar: Physical Chemistry
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Student, faculty, and guest presentations of current research in physical chemistry. Discussion of research topics related to the subject of weekly physical chemistry/chemical physics seminar and appropriate journal articles.
CHEM 6901 - Research in Chemistry
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2022
May be repeated up to 15 total credit hours.
