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The focus of my work is the application of atomic, molecular, and surface physics to various astrophysical and atmospheric environments. We perform computations of atomic and molecular collision processes including collisional excitation, photodissociation, photodetachment, charge transfer, radiative association, and gas-grain interactions. These processes are relevant in the general interstellar medium, the early Universe, and stellar and planetary atmospheres. In particular, we use laboratory astrophysics data, some computed in our group, to model the recombination era, supernova remnants and ejecta, photodissociation regions, and cometary atmospheres. I am also interested in electronic structure calculations of small molecules and atoms in strong magnetic fields.

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Candidate Statement

The majority of information about the Universe outside of Earth's atmosphere is delivered to us primarily by photons, but also by cosmic rays, neutrinos, meteorites, etc. These photons are generated and/or modified by atomic, molecular, and/or surface processes. Our understanding of the Universe, therefore, is largely dependent on our knowledge of these and other fundamental, microscopic processes. Fortunately, these processes may be studied on the Earth - by experiment, theory, or computation - and used to interpret, analyze, and/or model astronomical observations. The subject of Laboratory Astrophysics has played a critical role in astronomy from the moment an astronomer recorded the first spectrum. The importance of laboratory astrophysics can only continue to grow with advances in detector resolution and sensitivity. It is therefore essential to not only maintain the health of the current laboratory astrophysics enterprise, but to expand it into other relevant areas, to draw in younger researchers, and to promote exciting progress. The LAD should be engaged on all of these tasks, besides organizing our annual meeting. Further, the LAD may consider other roles which aid laboratory astrophysicists, assist with dissemination of laboratory astrophysics data and/or products, identify future laboratory astrophysics needs, and consult with funding agency representatives. Since receiving my Ph.D. in 1994, I have been engaged in nearly all of these aspects and will bring this background into my role as an LAD officer, if elected.

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Committe Member, Working Group of Laboratory Astrophysics (WGLA) 2008-2012. I have been actively involved with LAD since its inception as WGLA (since 2008) as well as the Astrochemistry Division of ACS and organized several meetings with both of these organizations.

Professional Experience and Positions

Candidate Statement

Cryogenic ice and PAH chemistry and spectroscopy has been my laboratory research focus for over two decades. My work started with astrophysical applications (interstellar and dense molecular clouds) and expanded into planetary sciences (outer solar system icy bodies, comets, KBOs, etc), including exoplanet research. Astrobiology is another mainstream research area that I pursue.

I see that LAD has a unique place and role to play in the rapidly expanding fields of Space Sciences. LAD needs to work with Astronomy on one side and Planetary Sciences on the other. I would work with DPS (which is also a subdivision of AAS, just like LAD) and the four other subdivisions of AAS to ensure that we leverage on mutually complementary expertise. This includes combined annual meetings once every few years.

I will work towards integrating LAD into the emerging areas such as on Exoplanets and cross-discipline research such as Space Instrumentation. Laboratory researchers are best suited to develop future instrumentation needed for Planetary and Astronomical missions. These include in-situ instrumentation for robotic and human space missions to Mars, comets, asteroids, and outer solar system; remote-sensing exoplanetary atmospheres several light-years away; and future ground- and space-based telescopes such as ALMA and JWST.

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Candidate Statement

As the mentor of a group of students and postdoctoral fellows carrying out both astronomical observations and supporting research in the laboratory astrophysics of molecules and molecular ices, I see two key roles for an official position within the Laboratory Astrophysics Division - especially in light of the upcoming Decadal Survey activities. On the one hand, it is critical to look forward and help to identify the key experimental and theoretical work to undertake in support of ongoing and new observational activities. This involves a close coordination of LAD work with the broader AAS membership. Second, it will be essential to continue to effectively inform the AAS and federal agencies of the key role that laboratory astrophysics plays in the fullest utilization of B$+ astronomical facilities. Stable, long term support is critical, especially to our junior-most colleagues; and I expect to be involved in both LAD/AAS policy work and to continue my ongoing roles in science assessment in service of NASA and NSF peer-reviewed programs.

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Candidate Statement

I am honored to be nominated as Member-at-Large for the Laboratory Astrophysics Division of AAS. After receiving my PhD in plasma physics from UT Austin in 2007, where I developed plasma emission spectroscopy diagnostic tools to characterize an electric propulsion system for future crewed missions to Mars, I redirected my focus to planetary science. I am now using my plasma physics expertise to simulate the complex organic chemistry in Titan’s atmosphere by plasma discharge in N2-CH4-based mixtures. I have been characterizing the gas and solid phases of the Titan Haze Simulation experiment at the NASA Ames COSmIC facility since 2011. As a member of the Astrophysics and Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA Ames, I have expanded my scientific interest to the carbon chemistry and dust formation in the interstellar medium (that can also be simulated in the COSmIC chamber), and I have started collaborating with Ames laboratories studying ices, both in the Astrophysics and Earth division. As a Member-at-Large, I would like to encourage and promote pluridisciplinary collaborations, which in my opinion is the essence and the strength of Laboratory Astrophysics. I hope to achieve that goal by enabling a better communication between the many fields that compose our division.

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Candidate Statement

I believe that the Laboratory Astrophysics Division of AAS is at a unique position to bring together experts from different fields to answer some of the most important questions about stellar phenomena. It is the perfect forum for making connections between these fields, exchanging ideas, and understanding each other’s language. My own field of research is Nuclear Astrophysics, which is by default interdisciplinary. I am a member of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics – Center for the Evolution of the Elements (JINA-CEE). Through JINA-CEE, I have experienced first-hand the power of building bridges between different communities, and creating in the end a single community that includes observers, astrophysics modelers, nuclear experimentalists, and nuclear theorists. Because of my involvement with JINA-CEE I have a better appreciation of the importance of making connections, and I’d like to build on these experiences to strengthen the l inks between LAD and the nuclear astrophysics community. In particular, on the nuclear physics side, the construction of the next generation facility, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), is underway. FRIB will offer exciting opportunities for new measurements, producing isotopes that are currently beyond our reach, and which participate directly in nucleosynthesis processes. I believe that serving on this committee I can help to build stronger connections between the nuclear astrophysics community and LAD, so that we can all work together to better understand our Universe.

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Nuclear Astrophysics has matured to become a precision science that allows the use of stars (like our sun) to test fundamental aspects of Physics (like neutrino masses). However, many open questions remain unsolved not the least of which is the rate of oxygen formation during stellar helium burning; a problem designated by Willie Fowler in his 1984 Nobel speech as of "utmost importance" which unfortunately is still unresolved today. New measurements in new facilities such as underground accelerator based facilities and high intensity gamma-ray facilities, are promising to tackle some of these open questions. The field is poised for further developments with the use of these new tools to tackle some of these unsolved problems.