David J. Nesbitt and Nesbitt
Labs : University of Colorado at Boulder
Fellow of JILA : Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) : Full Professor, Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry : Lecturer, Department of Physics
Professor Nesbitt is interested in
laser spectroscopy, dynamics, and kinetics of fundamental molecular,
bio-molecular, and nanoparticle systems, studied at either the quantum
state-to-state or single molecule level. Areas of research interest are:
- high resolution IR laser spectroscopy of jet
cooled radicals/molecular ions
- state-to-state reactive scattering in crossed
molecular beams
- non-adiabatic dynamics and potential surface
development
- reactive/inelastic scattering at gas-liquid
interfaces
- reaction stereodynamics with aligned
reagents: clusters and crossed beams
- single molecule microscopy/kinetics of
quantum dots and SERS active nanoparticles
- time-resolved FRET studies of single RNA
binding/folding kinetics
- single molecule electrophoresis
- photoionization imaging microscopy
- apertureless near fieldscanning optical
microscopy (ANSOM)
The group's work involves extensive use of state-of-the art cw and ultrafast
pulsed laser technology, nonlinear generation of tunable mid and near-infrared
laser light, fast analog electronics, scan probe methods, confocal microscopy,
servo-loop control, shaped supersonic expansions, plasma discharges, kinetic
analysis and quantum theoretical calculations. A central unifying goal of the
research program is the elucidation of fundamental kinetics and dynamics of
elementary chemical/biophysical processes from both experimental and
theoretical perspectives.
Nesbitt Group Projects
Laser Spectroscopy (Clusters,
Radicals, Molecular Ions):
- dynamics of highly quantum mechanical
molecules
- intermolecular potential energy surfaces
- high resolution laser characterization of
reactive radical intermediates ("combustion chemistry at 10K")
- jet cooled molecular ion spectroscopy,
astrochemistry
- low temperature radical/ion kinetics
- fundamental tests of non-Born-Oppenheimer
dynamics
Fundamental Chemical Reaction
Dynamics:
- state-to-state reaction dynamics in crossed
supersonic jets
- non-adiabatic dynamics and potential surface
development
- crossed jet chemistry in hyperthermal
environments
- state-resolved reactive/inelastic scattering
at gas-liquid interfaces
- vibrationally mediated photolysis in size-
and quantum state-selected clusters
- chemical reactions with rovibrationally
aligned molecular reagents
Single Molecule Microscopy and
Kinetics: Biomolecules and Nanocrystals:
- single quantum dot (CdSe/ZnS) fluorescence
blinking kinetics
- Ag nanoparticle lithography, kinetics, SERS
activity
- single RNA conformational kinetics
(docking/undocking)
- single DNA electrophoresis
- "apertureless" near field scanning
optical microscopy at < 10 nm resolution
- single molecule photoionization microscopy
Opportunities Available
The Nesbitt Group routinely has
openings for postdoctoral associates and graduate students. In addition, the
Nesbitt group also has traditionally made undergraduate research opportunities
available for especially motivated and independent students. Current projects
of interest include
- high resolution laser spectroscopy of jet
cooled radicals/molecular ions
- IR/UV laser studies of state-to-state
reaction dynamics
- state-resolved reactive/inelastic scattering
at gas-liquid interfaces
- binding kinetics of biomolecules via
FRET/time-correlated single photon counting/single molecule microscopy
- confocal fluorescence/kinetics studies of
quantum dot/Ag nanoparticles
- single molecule electrophoresis
- single molecule photionization microscopy
- apertureless near field scanning optical
microscopy and imaging
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Relevant graduate PhD programs
at the University of Colorado and Department Hompages: |
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Postdoctoral Associate Positions at JILA: |
(Individuals interested in
working with the Nesbitt Group can contact David J. Nesbitt at: JILA, Campus
Box 440, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0440; email: djn@jila.colorado.edu; phone: (303)
492-8857; or fax: (303) 735-1424.)
Biographical Data
David J. Nesbitt
BA Chemistry and Physics, Harvard
University, 1975; Teacher (math, physics, and chemistry), Colorado Academy,
Denver, 1975-77; PhD, Chemical Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder,
1981; National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, National Bureau of
Standards, 1981-82; Miller Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, 1982-84;
American Chemical Society Nobel Laureate Signature Award, 1983 (with S. R.
Leone and J. T. Hynes); Dreyfus Foundation Grant for Newly Appointed Faculty in
Chemistry, 1984; Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, 1987; Wilson Prize Lecture, 1989;
American Physical Society Fellow, 1991; Arthur S. Fleming Award for Government
Service, 1991; Department of Commerce Silver Medal, 1992; Edward Uhler Condon
Award (National Institute for Standards and Technology), 1995; Earle K. Plyler
Prize (American Physical Society) 1997; William F. Meggers Award (Optical
Society of America), 1999; Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, 1999-present;
Fellow of JILA.
Career Information
Click here for a brief summary on what
former group members are doing now.
Group Pictures
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Click here for group pictures.
Publications
Click below to view Nesbitt Group
publications.