Aleksei Treštšalov

Aleksei Treštšalov (born October 31, 1950) is a Research Fellow at the University of Tartu's Institute of Physics within the Faculty of Science and Technology. He has maintained continuous employment at the university since at least 2002, currently working as a Specialist at 0.50 capacity through 2026, following previous roles as Senior Research Fellow in Optics and Spectroscopy and Head of Laboratory.

Dr. Treštšalov earned his Doctor's Degree in 1978 from the Institute of Physics, Estonian Academy of Sciences, with his dissertation on "Polarized luminescence and reorientation of molecular impurity centres in alkali halide crystals" supervised by L. Rebane. He graduated cum laude from the University of Tartu's Physics Department (specializing in optics and spectroscopy) in 1973.

His research focuses on plasma physics and materials science, with specific expertise in high-pressure gas discharges, plasma-assisted synthesis of nanomaterials, and nanosecond time-resolved VUV-VIS spectroscopic diagnostics of plasma. His recent work demonstrates a strong emphasis on electrocatalysis for energy applications, particularly in fuel cell and battery technologies. His publications reveal a consistent research trajectory exploring plasma diagnostics and materials synthesis that has evolved toward contemporary energy conversion challenges.

Among his notable recognitions is the 1988 USSR Council of Ministers Science Prize for the development and investigation of excimer lasers. He has served as Head of the laboratory of laser techniques and as a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Physics at the University of Tartu since 1993.

His international collaborations include visiting positions at Uppsala University (Sweden), Paris-Nord University (France), University of Nijmegen (Netherlands), and Wihuri Physical Laboratory at Turku University (Finland).