Professor Richard G. Blair
Researcher in Physics
Cluster for the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion
Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER)
Ph.D., Materials Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
Current Interests:
1. Energy efficient catalytic processing of biomass for fuels and chemical feedstock.
-mechanically induced catalysis
-co-products for lower fuel costs
-solid frustrated Lewis pairs for hydrogenation and CO2 capture
2. d10 metal fluorescent indicators for trace and presumptive identification of substances of abuse
3. Characterization and processing of biodiesel and biojet fuel
4. Alternative synthetic methods using ball mills in place of heating (mechanochemistry)
Appointments
| 2013 – present | University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida Researcher Department of Physics Cluster for the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion |
| 2007 – 2013 | University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Forensic Science Department of Chemistry |
| 2004 – 2007 | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California Materials and Device Technologies Group Postdoctoral Scholar |
| 2004 | Eltron Research, Boulder, Colorado Postdoctoral Scholar |
| 1999 | Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, California Advanced Assembly Technician |
| 1998 | Lawrence Hall of Sciences, Science View, Berkeley, California Programmer |
Education
| 1999 – 2004 | University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry (with Prof. Richard B. Kaner) |
| 1995 – 1997 | University of California, Berkeley M.S., Physical Chemistry (with Prof. Bradley Moore) |
| 1990 – 1994 | Hope College, Holland, Michigan B.S. – A.C.S., Chemistry B.S., Mathematics |
Honors and Awards
- 2007 – NASA Certificate of Recognition for the creative development of a technical innovation
- 2003 – Departmental Award for Distinguished Teaching – UCLA, Department of Chemistry
- 2002 – Student Travel Award – Solid State Chemistry I, Gordon Research Conference
- 2001 – Advancement to Candidacy Fellowship – UCLA
- 2000 – Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowship
- 1993 – Pew Research Fellowship
Professional Societies
- Pi Mu Epsilon, mathematics honor society
- Sigma Xi, research honor society
- Alpha Chi Sigma, chemistry fraternity
- American Chemical Society