POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW WORKS WITH LASER

SPECTROSCOPY AT SPEA

Despite the fact that Michael Edwards is appointed to do research in IU’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs for the coming academic year, he received his Ph.D. in Chemistry, an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, an M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry, and a B.A. in Biology.  He describes his dissertation, entitled  “Kinetic Studies of Nitrogen Containing Radicals by Laser Spectroscopy,” as having emerged out of the evolution of his education from biology, through pharmaceutical chemistry, into physical chemistry and laser technology.

  He said that his “dissertation involved two areas.  In one, I used lasers to study gas phase reactions involving material used in chemical vapor deposition.  The materials that I looked at were silicon and germanium, and how they reacted with nitrogen compounds containing radicals.” In the other area, he used combustion chemistry.  “Using laser spectroscopy, I collected kinetic data, and looked at reaction pathways.  From there I looked at nitrogen oxide—it’s one of those gasses produced when you burn fossil fuels, involved in, say, smog, and the production of acid rain.  My research looked at ways of removing nitrogen oxide from the combustion chamber.  I got encouraging data,” Edwards noted, adding that he was able to generate two publications out of this data alone, and it was his research’s intersection with environmental concerns as well as his work with laser spectroscopy that made him particularly suited to work in SPEA.

Although Edwards had considered industrial positions, he felt that an academic post would best enhance his still advancing research interests and techniques, and the opportunity to work in a research capacity at SPEA seemed ideal.   The position is technically reserved for post-doctoral students, and has a one-year contract, with an option to renew for another year.  Edwards has been brought in to support Professor Phil Stevens, and describes his  “work with Phil as a means to learn new techniques, work on publications, grant writing, and essentially enhance my CV. . . . Having the background that I do, I am suited to perform this kind of research.  The laser he is using I am very familiar with, and our methods of interpretation are similar, but we are collecting data differently here.”  Edwards said that Stevens has created a very welcoming environment, and treats Edwards as an equal, a colleague.     

When asked whether or not he has considered re-entering industry after his time at IU, to work again for the EPA or similar organizations, Edwards said that he feels most suited for continuing in academia. He said, “I’ve been in an academic environment most of my life.  I’ve been trained to be a research scientist.  My talent is in the classroom; I’m a good chemistry instructor.”  His field, however, needn’t be restricted to chemistry programs.  “The application is the most important thing.  Here I am applying chemistry to the atmosphere, earth science.  The question is how can I teach the application of analytical chemistry.  Ideally speaking, even if I’m teaching, what I’d like to do is to get back to being an environmental consultant, to work with organizations that deal with waste management.”