Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Biography

2019-present

Concurrent Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame

2016-present

Professor of Physics, University of Notre Dame

2015-present

Co-founder, Chief Technical Officer, UMP Analytical

2011-2016

Elmer E. Hartgerink Professor of Chemistry, Hope College

2008-2012

Chair, Department of Chemistry, Hope College

2007-2011

Professor of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Hope College

2000-2007

Associate Professor of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Hope College

1993-2000

Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Environmental Science, Hope College

1990-1993

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory

1988-1990

Postdoctoral Fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

1987

Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, State University of New York - Stony Brook

1981

A.B. in Chemistry, Princeton University

Selected Awards

2019

Fellow of the American Chemical Society

Research Interests

Applied Nuclear Physics encompasses a broad array of experimental measurements, and my research interests lie at the interface between any nuclear or atomic physics measurement method and materials that impact society. This is the definition of applied research, in the sense that my group typically does not develop the basic techniques that have existed for decades in some cases, but we work on applying traditional methods in novel environments. Most of our measurements are accelerator-based (known as Ion Beam Analysis), where light charged particles are used to bombard the surface of some solid material. The resultant x-rays, gamma-rays or UV-Vis light emitted, plus the scattering of charged particles can yield important information about the elemental content and distribution within a sample. These measurements have applications when they determine the presence of lead in paint, or halogenated flame-retardants in furniture, or the occurrence of per-and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in the environment. Other work involves the harvesting of long-lived radioisotopes from accelerators for medical, environmental or defense purposes. In each case the successful publication of new science using nuclear physics techniques leads to societal impact.

Recent Papers

• Butzen, M. L., Wilkinson, J. T., McGuinness, S. R., Amezquita, S., Peaslee, G. F., Fein, J. B. "Sorption and desorption behavior of PFOS and PFOA onto a Gram-positive and a Gram-negative bacterial species measured using particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy" 2020 Chemical Geology, 552, 119778. DOI:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119778.
• Chen, J., Tang, L., Tang, L., Chen, W. -., Chen, W. -., Peaslee, G. F., Jiang, D. "Flows, Stock, and Emissions of Poly-and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in California Carpet in 2000-2030 under Different Scenarios" 2020 Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (11), pp. 6908-6918. DOI:10.1021/acs.est.9b06956.
• Loveless, C. S., Marois, B. E., Ferran, S. J., Wilkinson, J. T., Sutherlin, L., Severin, G., Shusterman, J. A., Scielzo, N. D., Stoyer, M. A., Morrissey, D. J., Robertson, J. D., Peaslee, G. F., Lapi, S. E. "Harvesting 48V at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory" 2020 Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 157, 109023. DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.109023.
• Rodowa, A. E., Christie, E., Sedlak, J., Peaslee, G. F., Bogdan, D., Diguiseppi, B., Field, J. A. "Field Sampling Materials Unlikely Source of Contamination for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Field Samples" 2020 Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 7 (3), pp. 156-163. DOI:10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00036.
• Tan, W. P., Boeltzig, A., Dulal, C., Deboer, R. J., Frentz, B., Henderson, S., Howard, K. B., Kelmar, R., Kolata, J. J., Long, J., Macon, K. T., Moylan, S., Peaslee, G. F., Renaud, M., Seymour, C., Seymour, G., Vande Kolk, B., Wiescher, M., Aguilera, E. F., Amador-Valenzuela, P., Lizcano, D., Martinez-Quiroz, E. "New Measurement of C 12 + C 12 Fusion Reaction at Astrophysical Energies" 2020 Physical Review Letters, 124 (19), 192702. DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.192702.
• Tighe, M., Knaub, C., Sisk, M., Ngai, M., Lieberman, M., Peaslee, G., Beidinger, H. "Validation of a screening kit to identify environmental lead hazards" 2020 Environmental research, 181, 108892. DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2019.108892.