Assistant System

OBJECTIVE:

Creative PhD candidate with ultrafast laser background seeking a research scientist position where I can effectively utilize my expertise in optical system design and alignment to make a positive contribution to the organization.

PROFILE:

Five years of doctorate research experience in multidimensional infrared spectroscopy and vibrational modulation of charge transfer, utilizing three sets of home-built ultrafast laser systems: 2DIR system, 3DIR system and pump(UV)-pump(IR)-probe(Visible) system.

Designed and built a novel triple-frequency fifth order infrared spectroscopy instrumental system from scratch, including three sets of optical parametric amplifiers and difference frequency mid-IR generation (DFG) setups, pulse delay control systems, nonlinear four-wave and six-wave mixing and heterodyned detection.

Diagnose commercial Ti:Sapphire oscillators and regenerative amplifiers when wrong laser performances happen, then communicate with the laser supplier and conduct appropriate repairs. Overhaul the succeeding optical systems after the laser source recovery.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Research Assistant – Tulane University, Aug. 2007 – present

Develop dual-frequency relaxation-assisted two dimensional infrared spectroscopy and apply the instrumental system in several aspects of research: investigating the molecular vibrational energy transfer features through chemical bonds, e.g. in metal complexes or in long polymer chains, distinguishing specific monosaccharide molecules with fine structural difference, revealing polymer coiling level in different solvents, etc.

Utilized a novel home-built pump(UV)-pump(IR)-probe(Visible) ultrafast laser system to conduct the modulation of the electron transfer rate in a donor-bridge-acceptor molecular system via vibrational excitation of the bridge modes.

Designed and constructed an optical system of triple-frequency relaxation-assisted three dimensional infrared spectroscopy. The system includes three sets of optical parametric amplifiers and DFG mid-IR generators, laser pulses delay control systems, six-wave mixing and heterodyned detection setups.

Implemented an accuate delay measurement system for translation stages based on HeNe laser interference. Perform maintenance of the laser systems, including the commercial Ti:Sapphire ultrafast oscillator and regenerative amplifiers. Train new group members.

Teaching Assistant – Tulane University, Aug. 2007 – Dec. 2008

Teaching assistant for senior level physical chemistry lab courses. Gave lectures, demonstrated scientific instruments and guided the physical chemistry experiments.

EDUCATION:

Tulane University – New Orleans, LA

PhD candidate in Physical Chemistry GPA: 3.94/4.0

August 2007 to Present. Projected graduation date: May 2012

Zhejiang University – Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry GPA: 3.69/4.0

September 2003 to July 2007

SKILLS SUMMARY:

Ultrafast laser operation and maintenance

Familiar with oscillator and regenerative amplifier setups

Spectroscopy instruments: IR, UV-Vis, etc.

Basic machining skills

Design and build a dual-frequency 2DIR system from scratch

Optical parametric amplifier, nonlinear four-wave mixing, heterodyne detection

Strong alignment skills of optics and opto-mechanics

Data analysis, modeling, programming: Matlab, Origin, Borland C++

DFT computation: Gaussian 03& 09

Research project management

Experiment results report and academic presentation

AWARDS:

IBM Corporation Fellowships in Computational Science, 2010

PUBLICATIONS:

Ballistic Energy Transport along PEG Chains: Distance Dependence of the Transport Efficiency

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP), 2012, submitted.

Constant-Speed Vibrational Signaling along Polyethyleneglycol Chain up to 60Å Distance

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2012, published online.

Discrimination Between Coupling Networks of Glucopyranosides Varying at a Single Stereocenter Using Two-Dimensional Vibrational Correlation Spectroscopy

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP), 2012, published online.

A Method for Determining Small Anharmonicity Values from 2DIR Spectra Using Thermally Induced Shifts of Frequencies of High-Frequency Modes

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (JPC B), 2011, 115(18), 5347.

Modulating Unimolecular Charge Transfer by Exciting Bridge Vibrations

Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), 2009, 131(50), 18060. Highlighted by Nature Chemistry.

Energy transport via coordination bonds

The Journal of Chemical Physics (JCP), 2009, 131, 154508. Editors’ Choice for 2009.

Correlating Energy Transport Time on a Molecular Level with Distance Using Relaxation-Assisted 2DIR

Laser Science XXV, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper LSWI2.

Modulating electron transfer rates via vibrational excitation

239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, March 21-25, 2010, PHYS-491.

Interferometric delay measurements implemented for dual frequency 2DIR setup

14th International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy, Meredith, NH, May 9-14, 2009.

Experimental observation of inelastic pathways in charge-transfer reaction in a donor-bridge-acceptor complex using UV-VIS/mid-IR/VIS spectroscopy

237th ACS National Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, March 22-26, 2009, PHYS-336.

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