One of my primary interests is the use of cavity ring-down [CRD] spectroscopy to study small molecules and new radicals. CRDS is an ultra-sensitive spectroscopic direct absorption technique that can measure trace amounts of atoms or molecules in the gas phase. CRDS is useful for both static spectroscopic investigation, and also for non-intrusive time dependent concentration measurements of an absorbing species. The three main components of CRDS are the laser, high-reflectivity mirrors, and the data acquisition system. I recently received funding for FDU students, Ms. Beatrice Markiewicz and Ms. Mariana Milan, to do research work at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY for 10 weeks. At BNL, we measured a room temperature CRD spectra of phenylacetylene, and, are now continuing this effort (Photo taken by Dr. Gregory Hall, GPMD/BNL). I am currently in the process of constructing a CRDS system here at FDU.

On December 9, 2010, Dr. Gregory Hall (Senior Chemist, Gas Phase Molecular Dynamics Group, Brookhaven National Laboratory) visited FDU to give a talk to my Instrumental Analysis Course students.

The Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science at Becton College hosted an event to promote the Chemistry Research program at FDU while recognizing several Chemistry Department undergraduate students who had spent the past Summer of 2010 doing scientific research and internships. Each student delivered a short presentation followed by a question and answer forum. The student speakers were (in order of the presentations): Ms. Beatrice Markiewicz, Ms. Laura Serafin, and Ms. Jessica Dickinson. Dr. Alexey Teslja moderated the event. More than seventy people attended the event, and asked various questions regarding both the students; scientific research and also their experiences. This event was sponsored by the FDU Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science, the FDU Chemistry Club, and the FDU Office of Admissions. Held on March 2, 2011 in Lenfell Hall (Florham Park Campus, Fairleigh Dickinson University).

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