Brandon Rotavera

Brandon Rotavera is an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia's School of Chemical, Materials & Biomedical Engineering. His research focuses on combustion chemistry, biofuel oxidation mechanisms, and the role of Criegee intermediates in atmospheric processes. Key areas include oxygenated fuel chemistry, reaction kinetics under low-temperature conditions, and applying machine learning to spectroscopic analysis. He holds a CAREER award for studying cyclic ether intermediates in combustion.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (not specified).

Research Interests:

• Combustion reaction mechanisms of hydrocarbons and biofuels
• Oxidation pathways and aerosol formation in low-temperature combustion
• Photoionization and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy for molecular analysis
• Conformer-dependent reactivity of Criegee intermediates
• Machine learning applications in chemical kinetics modeling

Recent Trends in Publications: Rotavera's work emphasizes oxygen-dependent reaction mechanisms, stereochemical effects in radical chemistry, and the development of predictive models for biofuel ignition. He has pioneered studies on cyclic ether intermediates (e.g., oxetanyl radicals) and their roles in energy sustainability.

Awards:

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2021)

Advising/Grants: No specific advisees listed, but active in securing grants for combustion chemistry research. Collaborates with experimental facilities like jet-stirred reactors and shock tubes.

Labs/Teams: Conducts research in UGA's combustion and spectroscopy labs, focusing on advanced measurement techniques and interdisciplinary approaches to energy systems.