William R. Simpson
Professor of Physical Chemistry and Department Chair
Biographical Sketch:
Professional Memberships and Awards:
Awards
- Terris and Katrina Moore Prize, Outstanding researcher for the year from the Geophysical
- Institute 2008
- NSF CAREER Grant Award 2001-2006
- Research Innovation Award for cavity ring-down spectroscopy, Research Corporation 1999
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for study at Stanford University 1989-1992
- American Chemical Society Annual Award for Scholastic Achievement,
- Swarthmore College 1988
- Stanley Adamson Prize in Chemistry, Given to the outstanding junior in the
- Chemistry Department, Swarthmore College 1987
Honorary Professional Societies
- Phi Beta Kappa honorary society
- Sigma Xi scientific honor society (Swarthmore Chapter)
- Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry honor society
- American Chemical Society, American
- Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Physical Society
- American Geophysical Union
Positions Held:
- (July 2008 - Present) PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, University of Alaska Fairbanks Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK. Investigating high latitude oxidation chemistry. Developing novel instrumentation for detection of reactive radicals. Investigating snowpack photochemistry at high latitudes.
- (July 2010 - Present) Serving as Elected Department Chair
- (July 2002 - 2008) ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, University of Alaska Fairbanks Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK. Investigating high latitude oxidation chemistry. Developing novel instrumentation for detection of reactive radicals. Investigating snowpack photochemistry at high latitudes.
- (Sept 1997 - July 2002) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, University of Alaska Fairbanks Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK.
- (Sept 1996-Sept 1997) POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE: Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK. Investigated nitrogen oxide chemistry in the group of Professor Daniel Jaffe. Constructed a chemiluminescence detector for NO and optimized performance of this detector. Assisted in balloon based ozone measurements.
- (August 1995-May 1996)POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ. Investigated protein dynamics in the group of Professor Thomas G. Spiro through resonance Raman spectroscopy. Developed instrumentation for time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy.
- (September 1989-July 1995) RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Performed Ph.D. research in physical chemistry in the group of Professor Richard N. Zare. Gained experience in gas-phase reaction dynamics and high-resolution nanosecond laser spectroscopy, including direct experience with LIF, REMPI, IR generation with an OPO, optoacoustic, stimulated Raman and CARS spectroscopy. Designed and built fluorescence and ion collection systems including a TOF mass spectrometer.
- (May 1987-May 1988) RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA. Wrote an undergraduate thesis on original research in laser chemistry performed in the group of Professor Thomas Stephenson. Duties included writing data analysis programs, and building, maintaining, and repairing electronic and mechanical parts of the laser spectrometer.
- (Summers 1982-1986) RESEARCH ASSISTANT: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD. Studied bacterial genetics in the group of Dr. Sankar Adhya. Duties included design of original techniques, molecular cloning, participation in laboratory group discussions, and scheduling of work times.
Selected Publications:
- Huff, D. M., P. L. Joyce, G. J. Fochesatto, W. R. Simpson, "Deposition of dinitrogen pentoxide, N2O5, to the snowpack at high latitudes", Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 4929–4938, 2011, doi:10.5194/acp-11-4929-2011.
- R. J. Salawitch, T. Canty, T. Kurosu, K. Chance, Q. Liang, A. da Silva, S. Pawson, J. E. Nielsen, J. M. Rodriguez, P. K. Bhartia, X. Liu, L. G. Huey, J. Liao, 4 R. E. Stickel, D. J Tanner, J. E. Dibb, W. R. Simpson, D. Donohoue, A. Weinheimer, F. Flocke, D. Knapp, D. Montzka, J. A. Neuman, J. B. Nowak, T. B. Ryerson, S. Oltmans, D. R. Blake, E. L. Atlas, D. E. Kinnison, S. Tilmes, L. L. Pan, F. Hendrick, M. Van Roozendael, K. Kreher, P. V. Johnston, R. S. Gao, B. Johnson, T. P. Bui, G. Chen, R. B. Pierce, J. H. Crawford, and D. J. Jacob, A new interpretation of total column BrO during Arctic spring, Geophysical Research Letters, 37, L21805, 2010, doi: 10.1029/2010GL043798.
- Domine, F., Houdier, S., Taillandier, A.-S., and Simpson, W. R.: Acetaldehyde in the Alaskan subarctic snowpack, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 919-929, doi:10.5194/acp-10-919-2010, 2010.
- Carlson, D., Donohoue, D., Platt, U., and Simpson, W. R.: A low power automated MAXDOAS instrument for the Arctic and other remote unmanned locations, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 429-439, doi:10.5194/amt-3-429-2010, 2010.
- Knepp, T. N., Bottenheim, J., Carlsen, M., Carlson, D., Donohoue, D., Friederich, G., Matrai, P. A., Netcheva, S., Perovich, D. K., Santini, R., Shepson, P. B., Simpson, W., Valentic, T.,Williams, C., and Wyss, P. J.: Development of an autonomous sea ice tethered buoy for the study of ocean-atmosphere-sea ice-snow pack interactions: the O-buoy, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 3, 249-261, doi:10.5194/amt-3-249-2010, 2010.
- Laura Alvarez-Aviles, William R. Simpson, Thomas A. Douglas, Matthew Sturm, Donald Perovich, Florent Dominé, Frost flower chemical composition during growth and its implications for aerosol production and bromine activation, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D21304, doi:10.1029/2008JD010277.
- Apodaca, R. L., Huff, D. M., and Simpson, W. R.: The role of ice in N2O5 heterogeneous hydrolysis at high latitudes, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 8, 7451-7463, 2008.
