Paul Raston

Paul Raston is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, joining the faculty in 2023. His research focuses on experimental physical chemistry at ultra-low temperatures using advanced spectroscopic techniques.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Chemistry, Griffith University (Australia)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Wyoming (advised by David T. Anderson)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta (with Wolfgang Jäger)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Georgia (with Gary Douberly)
• Ramsay Fellow, University of Adelaide

Research Interests:
Dr. Raston specializes in molecular behavior at near-zero Kelvin temperatures. His work integrates helium nanodroplet isolation spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation, and cryogenic techniques to investigate quantum phenomena including tunneling reactions in solid hydrogen, finite-sized superfluidity, and dynamics of floppy molecules. This research bridges physical chemistry, molecular physics, and quantum mechanics.

Research Group:
He leads a laboratory focused on developing specialized instrumentation, including a helium nanodroplet isolation spectrometer originally built during his tenure at James Madison University. His team investigates molecular systems under extreme cryogenic conditions to uncover fundamental quantum mechanical behaviors.