Richard Mark Stratt

Richard Mark Stratt is the Newport Rogers Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics at Brown University, holding a joint appointment in the departments of Chemistry and Physics. He received his S.B. in Chemistry from MIT in 1975 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley in 1979.

His research focuses on the theoretical understanding of ultrafast molecular dynamics in liquids, emphasizing solvation, vibrational relaxation, and the role of potential energy landscapes. Key achievements include the development of instantaneous-normal-mode analysis to study elementary liquid dynamics and the exploration of nonlinear spectroscopies such as optical Kerr effect and two-dimensional Raman spectroscopy.

The 15 most recent publications reflect his work on disordered systems, solvation mechanisms, and ultrafast spectroscopic techniques. His research employs geodesic pathways and random matrix theory to analyze liquid dynamics, with implications for nonlinear response in polar and nonpolar solvents.

• Scientific Awards:
• National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (1980)
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow (1985-1989)
• Fulbright Scholar (1991-1992)
• Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (1997)
• Harrison S. Kravis University Professor (1999-2000)
• Newport Rogers Professor in Chemistry (2004-present)
• Philip J. Bray Award for Excellence in Teaching (2010)
• Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society (2013)
• American Chemical Society Joel Henry Hildebrand Award (2022)

He has served as Chair of the Brown chemistry department (1996-1999), the American Chemical Society Theoretical Subdivision (1998-1999), and the Physical Chemistry Division (2001-2002). He teaches courses ranging from introductory chemistry to advanced physical chemistry and statistical mechanics.