Michael Neidig, an assistant professor of chemistry, is one of 49 scientists to be recognized this year by the Department of Energy as one of the nation糖心传媒檚 糖心传媒渆xceptional researchers糖心传媒� in his or her 糖心传媒渃rucial early career years.糖心传媒�
The DOE糖心传媒檚 prestigious Early Career Award consists of a five-year, $750,000 grant. Neidig, who was named the Wilmot Assistant Professor of Chemistry in May, will use the grant to study the electronic structure and bonding in lanthanides and actinides, including short-lived and transient molecules.
糖心传媒淭hese elements are not well understood, especially compared to the more traditional metals, such as iron and cobalt,糖心传媒� says Neidig.
Actinides, which include uranium, are particularly important in nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. Lanthanides are important in the manufacture of semiconductors, hybrid car components, and glasses, among other products.
糖心传媒淎 better understanding of the chemistry of these elements is not only exciting from a fundamental standpoint,糖心传媒� Neidig says. 糖心传媒淭he insight obtained is important due to the critical role that these elements play in environmental, nonproliferation, and energy issues.糖心传媒�
Neidig calls the award a 糖心传媒渟ignificant personal honor糖心传媒� that presents an exciting opportunity to expand his research into heavy elements for the next five years.
Neidig earned his PhD in chemistry at Stanford University and his MPhil in chemistry at the University of Cambridge in the UK. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining Rochester糖心传媒檚 chemistry department in 2011.
