{"id":49,"date":"2016-10-31T12:38:42","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T16:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencescosmaincms.cm.ucf.edu\/physics\/blairreasearch\/?page_id=49"},"modified":"2025-10-11T13:13:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T17:13:15","slug":"bio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/physics\/blair-research\/bio\/","title":{"rendered":"Biographical Sketch of Richard G. Blair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Richard<\/p>\n

Professor Richard G. Blair, FNAI<\/h3>\n

Research Professor at the Florida Space Institute<\/p>\n

Cluster for the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion
\nCenter for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER)<\/p>\n

Courtesy appointments in Physics and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
\nPh.D., Materials Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles<\/p>\n

Current Interests<\/b>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Catalysis enabling sustainable flight through the decomposition of NH3<\/sub> into N2<\/sub> and H2<\/sub><\/li>\n
  2. Boron-based heterogeneous catalysts with high activity due to the presence of defects.\n
      \n
    1. CO2<\/sub> reduction, photocatalytic hydrogen production, dehydroaromatization, and reverse Haber-Bosch<\/li>\n
    2. Measuring and improving reaction kinetics through catalyst preparation and immobilization.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    3. In situ<\/em> impact analysis during mechanochemical syntheses<\/li>\n
    4. IOT laboratory control and monitoring.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Appointments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      2016-Present<\/td>\nUniversity of Central Florida, <\/strong>Orlando, Florida
      \n<\/strong>Research Professor
      \n<\/strong>Florida Space Institute
      \n<\/strong>Cluster for the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      2013 – 2015<\/td>\nUniversity of Central Florida<\/strong>, Orlando, Florida
      \nResearcher
      \nDepartment of Physics
      \nCluster for the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      2007 – 2013<\/td>\nUniversity of Central Florida<\/strong>, Orlando, Florida
      \nAssistant Professor of Chemistry and Forensic Science
      \nDepartment of Chemistry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      2004 – 2007<\/td>\nJet Propulsion Laboratory<\/strong>, Pasadena, California
      \nMaterials and Device Technologies Group
      \nPostdoctoral Scholar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      2004<\/td>\nEltron Research<\/strong>, Boulder, Colorado
      \nPostdoctoral Scholar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      1999<\/td>\nAdvanced Micro Devices<\/strong>, Sunnyvale, California
      \nAdvanced Assembly Technician<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      1998<\/td>\nLawrence Hall of Sciences, Science View<\/strong>, Berkeley, California
      \nProgrammer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
      1999 – 2004<\/td>\nUniversity of California, Los Angeles<\/strong>
      \nPh.D., Inorganic Chemistry (with Prof. Richard B. Kaner)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      1995 – 1997<\/td>\nUniversity of California, Berkeley<\/strong>
      \nM.S., Physical Chemistry (with Prof. Bradley Moore)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      1990 – 1994<\/td>\nHope College<\/strong>, Holland, Michigan
      \nB.S. – A.C.S., Chemistry
      \nB.S., Mathematics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Honors and Awards<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • 2023 – Fellow, National Academy of Inventors<\/li>\n
      • 2022 – NSF CGCA Fellow<\/li>\n
      • 2007 – NASA Certificate of Recognition for the creative development of a technical innovation<\/li>\n
      • 2003 – Departmental Award for Distinguished Teaching – UCLA, Department of Chemistry<\/li>\n
      • 2002 – Student Travel Award – Solid State Chemistry I, Gordon Research Conference<\/li>\n
      • 2001 – Advancement to Candidacy Fellowship – UCLA<\/li>\n
      • 2000 – Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellowship<\/li>\n
      • 1993 – Pew Research Fellowship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Professional Societies<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Pi Mu Epsilon, mathematics honor society<\/li>\n
        • Sigma Xi, research honor society<\/li>\n
        • Alpha Chi Sigma, chemistry fraternity<\/li>\n
        • American Chemical Society<\/li>\n
        • Royal Society of Chemistry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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