Charles M. Folden III

Prof. Charles M. Folden III is a Professor of Chemistry at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Science and the Cyclotron Institute. He leads the Folden Research Group, focusing on heavy and superheavy element chemistry, nuclear forensics, and fusion reaction studies. His work bridges nuclear, physical, analytical, and radiochemistry, with collaborations worldwide. He holds a B.S. from Vanderbilt University (1999) and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley (2004), followed by postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley and Michigan State University.

Research Interests:

• Chemical properties of superheavy elements and their homologs (e.g., indium, thallium) using ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents
• Nuclear forensics to trace plutonium origins and reactor histories
• Understanding fusion reaction barriers limiting superheavy element discovery since 2010

Key Contributions:

• Developed methodologies for plutonium source attribution using fission product signatures
• Advanced instrumentation for single-atom chemical studies of superheavy elements
• Discovered collective effects suppressing compound nucleus survival in fusion reactions

Awards include the DOE Early Career Award (2012) and Montague Teaching Excellence Scholar (2011-2012). His group trains students in radioactive material handling, radioanalytical techniques, and global experimental collaborations.