I am a research scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA. I develop new optical approaches to study gas phase chemical physics problems as well as gas-surface interactions. My research interests include nonlinear spectroscopy, spectroscopic modelling, surface spectroscopy, catalysis, laser-based combustion diagnostics, and physical chemistry in general. My current research has two major thrusts. Gas phase work focuses on the development of new ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopic tools for measuring or controlling molecular dynamics. An example of this type of work is our recent invention of multidimensional CARS imaging on the basis of a single laser shot for gas phase sensing and measurement of fast energy transfer dynamics and chemistry. Presently, we are building an optical centrifuge for bimolecular collision studies at extreme rotational excitation. Measurement of the basic physical and chemical processes that affect the generation of signal and the laser-molecule interaction is an important component of this research. The second thrust of current work is on the development of new optically based tools for probing the interfacial processes (adsorption, energy transfer, and reaction) during molecular reactions at surfaces. Our lab employs advanced approaches such as ultrafast sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, ambient pressure XPS imaging, ultrafast near-surface CARS imaging, and LIF for this work. This work measures fundamental properties of molecules at surfaces and has direct impact in studies of catalysis, flame-wall interactions, and plasma-assisted reactions. I actively seek highly motivated PhD students who wish to either complete postdoctoral appointments or collaborate and work in my labs as part of their PhD research as well.Google Scholar publication list:http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1FUmPBAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao