Bernard Kirtman

Bernard Kirtman is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds affiliations within the College of Letters and Science. His research focuses on theoretical and computational chemistry, particularly structural and spectroscopic properties of molecules and materials, including nano-materials, vibrational effects on optical properties, and density functional theory applications.

Education: Dr. Kirtman earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Harvard University in 1961. He completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington and joined UCSB in 1965, where he has remained ever since.

Research Interests: His work spans nano-material fragment analysis, vibration-optical property interactions, infinite periodic systems' response to fields, density functional theory challenges, and doping effects on material properties. These areas reflect his expertise in bridging theoretical models with real-world material behavior.

Publications: His recent works (2005–2010) emphasize computational methods in material science, with contributions to Phys. Rev. B, J. Chem. Phys., and Solid State Comm.. These publications highlight advancements in electronic structure calculations and material property predictions.

Awards: He received the 1983 UCSB Distinguished Teaching Award and the 2005 ICCMSE Prize for Theoretical and Computational Chemistry. A 2009 symposium in Rhodes, Greece, honored his contributions.

Advising & Grants: While specific grants are not listed, his decades-long career at UCSB indicates sustained research support. His advising legacy includes mentorship reflected in collaborative publications with students and colleagues.

Labs/Teams: Active within the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, his work likely integrates with computational and theoretical research groups focused on materials and quantum chemistry.