معرفی
Jacob Stewart serves as Associate Professor of Chemistry and Assistant Chair of the Chemistry Department at Connecticut College, where he has been a faculty member since 2015. His research program focuses on understanding Earth's atmospheric chemistry through advanced laser spectroscopy techniques, with particular emphasis on biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).
His educational background includes:
- B.S. from Brigham Young University
- Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Postdoctoral Fellowship at Emory University
Professor Stewart specializes in physical chemistry, with research centered on developing methods to measure atmospheric molecules using Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) spectroscopy. His work addresses how naturally occurring compounds emitted by plants—despite their low concentrations—significantly impact climate change and air pollution processes. The Stewart group leverages QCL technology to create new instruments capable of detecting BVOCs at part-per-billion levels, while also providing fundamental molecular property data for theoretical modeling efforts.
Analysis of Professor Stewart's publication record reveals consistent contributions to molecular spectroscopy, with a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated atmospheric monitoring techniques. His work spans from fundamental molecular structure analysis to practical instrument development, demonstrating both theoretical depth and applied relevance. Notably, his research consistently involves undergraduate co-authors, reflecting Connecticut College's strong emphasis on hands-on student research experiences.
Professor Stewart teaches Analytical Chemistry (214), Chemical Thermodynamics (307), and Chemistry 309 (Atomic and Molecular Structure and Dynamics). His laboratory work benefits from the department's advanced facilities including infrared and UV-Visible spectrophotometers, a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer, and specialized laser systems. His mentorship of undergraduate researchers has resulted in numerous co-authored publications, providing students with research opportunities typically reserved for graduate programs at larger institutions.
