Candidates' Bios and Statements
Chris Cappa

1. Chris Cappa

Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of California, Davis

Physical, chemical, and optical properties of aerosols

  • B.S. (Chemistry) Hope College, 2000
  • Ph.D (Chemistry) University of California, Berkeley, 2005
  • Post-doctoral scholar, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at University of Colorado, Boulder and Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005-2007
  • Assistant Professor, University of California, Davis, 2007 - present


My research interests include characterization and understanding of atmospheric aerosol particles in relation to their influence on climate and air quality. An important tool I use in this pursuit is the vacuum ultraviolet aerosol mass spectrometer (VUV-AMS) endstation at BL 9.0.2. The VUV-AMS is a one-of-a-kind resource that provides for real-time measurement of the changing chemical composition of aerosol particles. I (along with my collaborators) have been using the VUV-AMS to develop molecular level understanding of the inter-relationship between chemical composition and aerosol physical properties. In addition to my recent work on BL 9.0.2, a significant portion of my graduate studies were carried out at the ALS, where I was a user on BL 8.0.1, BL 9.0.2 and BL 11.0.2.

As a UEC member, I would bring a perspective as both a PI and a former grad-student user.

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Scott Fendorf

2. Scott Fendorf

Professor, Soil Biogeochemistry
Stanford University

Soil Biogeochemistry

  • BS, California Polytechnic State University, SLO (1988)
  • MS, University of California, Davis (1990)
  • PhD, University of Delaware  (1992)
  • Associate Professor, University of Idaho (1993-1998)
  • Professor, Stanford University 1999 - present

I am interested in the chemical and biological processes that control the fate and movement of elements (ranging from carbon to arsenic to uranium) within soils, sediments, and surface waters.  My research group examines the chemical environments that develop as a result of both biotic and abiotic processes, and we strive to account for the physical complexity and hydrology of natural settings.   A particular emphasis is given on reactions which change the oxidation state (redox reactions) and associated speciation of  contaminants/nutrients or solids that control their partitioning. 

 

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Oliver Hemmers

3. Oliver Hemmers

Research Professor and Executive Director, Harry Reid Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas(UNLV)

Angle Resolved Soft X-Ray Photoemission

 

 

  • M.S. in Physics, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany (1988)
  • Ph.D. in Physics, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany (1993)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max-Planck Society,
    Berlin, Germany (1993-1994)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las
    Vegas, NV (1994-1998)
  • Assistant Research Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada,
    Las Vegas, NV (1998-2006)
  • Associate Research Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada,
    Las Vegas, NV (2006-2008)
  • Director, Office of Strategic Energy Programs, University of Nevada, Las
    Vegas, NV (2006-2008)
  • Research Professor and Executive Director, Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (2008-present)

My primary research interests include  x-ray spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation on gas-phase targets to probe electronic structures, correlations and processes. I am a long-time synchrotron radiation user with over 25 years experience at various national and international facilities. My first beamtime at the ALS was in 1994 and I have been involved in experiments at beamlines 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Over the years I have developed a major roll-up end station that has been used at several ALS beamlines as well as several smaller experimental setups. In recent years I branched into materials science with a focus on ceramic composite materials and high pressure x-ray crystallography techniques.

If elected to the ALS UEC I would represent all users and their interests
and address user needs to the ALS management that include space and facility
issues, support infrastructure overall scientific program direction and
other user issues.

 

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Adam Hitchcock

4. Adam Hitchcock

Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Canada Research Chair in Materials Research
Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

 

Soft X-Ray Spectromicroscopy

 

  • McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, B.Sc. (Chemistry) 1974
  • University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.  PhD (Chemical Physics) 1978
  • University of British Columbia,  Postdoctoral fellow 1978-79
  • McMaster University, faculty appointed in July 1979. (full professor, 1989)

My research interest is in the use of X-ray and electron beam excitation of inner shells for materials analysis, with a strong focus on soft X-ray spectromicroscopy using X-PEEM and STXM. My group is involved in instrument and technique development, as well as exploiting inner shell based imaging and spectroscopies for studies of nanomaterials, biomagnetism, fuel cell materials, polymers, etc. At the ALS I conduct experiments mainly at beamlines 5.3.2, 11.0.2 and 7.3.1. I am a past member of the ALS Proposal Study Panel (2001-05) and a past member of the UEC (late 1990’s). If elected to the UEC, I would work with the ALS management to improve the environment for ALS users. 

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Peter Nico

5. Peter Nico

Earth Sciences Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Soil and Environmental Chemistry

  • B.S. (Chemistry) University of California at Davis (1994)
  • M.S. (Organic Chemistry) University of California at Los Angeles (1996)
  • Ph.D. (Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry) University of California at Davis (2001)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow (Soil and Environmental Biogeocehmistry) Stanford University (2002)
  • Assistant Professor, California State University Stanislaus (2002-2005)
  • Visiting Scholar, Stanford University (2002 - present)
  • Geologic Scientist at LBNL (2005 - present)


Peter Nico is a Soil and Environmental Biogeochemist who studies transition metal redox processes and their impact on the fate and transport of environmental contaminants.  He also investigates soil carbon stabilization and mineralization mechanisms with an emphasis on the role of mineral surfaces and redox active metals such as Fe and Mn.  Much of his work uses synchrotron based X-ray spectromicroscopic techniques to probe chemical and physical heterogeneity on the micron and nanometer scale.  He been an ALS user since 2002 and has worked at several different ALS beamlines including: 1.4.3, 5.3.2, 8.3.2, 10.3.2, and 11.0.2. He received his B.S degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, and a M.S. in Organic Chemistry from U.C.L.A.  He received his Ph.D in 2001 in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California, Davis.

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Yuri Suzuki

6. Yuri Suzuki

Materials Science and Engineering
University of California at Berkeley

Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Fabrication and Charaterization of Nanomaterials

  • B.A., Physics, Harvard University (1989)
  • Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Stanford University (1995)
  • Postdoctoral Member of Technical Staff, AT&T Bell Laboratories (1994-1996)
  • Assistant and Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University (1997-2002)
  • Associate and Full Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley (2002-present)
  • Faculty Scientist, Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2004-present)

My group focuses on the study of novel ground states and functional properties in condensed matter systems synthesized via atomically precise thin film deposition techniques. These model systems often provide for ground states and functional properties not observable in the bulk.  Our recent emphasis has been on highly correlated electronic systems, especially new spintronic materials that address fundamental questions that still exist in magnetism. At the ALS, we conduct experiments at beamlines 4.0.2, 6.3.1 and 11.0.1. If elected, I will do my best to advocate for the ALS users to the management.

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Rudy Wenk

7. Rudy Wenk

Earth Sciences
University of California at Berkeley

 

Structural Geology

  • Ph.D. University of Zurich, Switzerland (1965
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA (1966-1967)
  • Professor, University of California at Berkeley (1967-present)

Rudy Wenk is interested in deformation processes in the Earth and particularly the exploration of microstructures to understand the detailed mechanisms. In his career he has made extensive use of synchrotron and neutron facilities, such as ALS, APS, ESRF, SLS, ILL and LANSCE. Experiments at ALS include high pressure (12.2.2), microfocus diffraction (12.2.3.) and tomography (8.3.2). Together with graduate students the research has advanced experiments, data processing and interpretation. He feels strongly about close interaction between users and facility management to establish an efficient harmonic relationship and thus served on the UEC of LANSCE. For more details visit his webpage or the ALS Highlights.

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Quentin Williams

8. Quentin Williams

Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California at Santa Cruz

Experimental Geochemistry

  • A.B. (Chemistry) Princeton University (1983)
  • Ph.D. (Geology) University of California at Berkeley (1988)
  • Professor and Department Chair, University of California at Santa Cruz
Quentin Williams’ interests lie in the high-pressure properties of materials, and particularly those that make up the Earth and other solar system bodies. One of his major areas of focus has been on the structural properties and phase transitions of materials while held at the simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature conditions of planetary interiors. A portion of this work utilizes beamline 12.2.2 at the ALS, and he is the principal investigator of the ALS portion of the NSF Consortium for Materials Properties Research in the Earth Sciences (COMPRES), which supports staff and infrastructure of the high-pressure experimental effort at 12.2.2. His principal goals in serving on the UEC include ensuring that an intensively interactive and reactive interplay continues between the management of the facility and the needs of users.

 

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Jian Liu

Jian Liu

Dept. of Physics
University of Arkansas

Resonant X-ray Spectroscopy of Complex Functional Materials

  • B.S. Nanjing University, China (2004)
  • M.S. University of Houston, Houston (2006)
  • Ph.D. candidate, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (2007-present)
  • ALS Doctoral Fellow, LBNL, (2011-present)

My research interest is novel electronic and magnetic behaviors of functional materials, particularly in strongly correlated electron systems. My current focus is on emergent phenomena at interfaces and heterostructures between distinct complex oxides. Resonant x-ray spectroscopy is my main tool for probing the buried ultrathin layers and interfaces in order to explore the underlying roles of strain, dimensionality, quantum and chemical confinements in controlling the collective orderings. I have become a synchrotron user since I joined my graduate research program. As a student fellow, the experience of using various state-of-the-art instrumentations of multiple beamlines at the ALS has truly benefited not only my thesis study, but also my professional exposure and development. Serving in the ALS UEC will allow me to promote the communication and cooperation between the ALS and the user communities, especially the students. Presenting users’ needs to the management will be my priority. I would make all my effort to facilitate opportunities and an encouraging environment in the ALS for junior users.


 

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