Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Ultrafast Molecular Sciences is based on ultrashort laser spectroscopies which are sensitive to electronic charge rearrangements in molecules. The goal is to understand the fundamental electronic motions which underlie globally important processes such as photosynthesis, vision and solar energy conversion. Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy (TRPES), pioneered by the applicant, is an especially powerful probe of such dynamics. An important new aspect of this proposal is Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (TRXAS), an emerging new probe of ultrafast electronic motions which is atom-specific. A new Laboratory for Ultrafast X-ray Sciences, housing the highest average power ultrashort pulse laser in Canada, will produce the stable, bright soft X-ray pulses required for this method. The combination of these two ultrafast spectroscopy techniques within the same lab will advance our fundamental understanding of charge transfer and lead to entirely new design principles, based on dynamics, for solar energy conversion. A secondary outcome of our ultrafast laser expertise is Multimodal Stimulated Raman Microscopy. This chemical-specific imaging method requires no stains, but rather 'labels' molecules according to their natural structure. Although mostly used in Biophotonics and Medicine, we will apply enhanced Stimulated Raman Microscopy to "Geophotonics", specifically to mineralogy where real-time chemical-specific imaging will lead to greener, more efficient ore processing in Canada. The training of the next generation of scientists is another key aspect of this proposal. Ultrafast Molecular Sciences training promotes inclusive leadership by giving key roles to female and underrepresented members in the planning of experiments, in leadership of Roundtable discussions, and in resource allocation. With training in effective communication and high level technical training opportunities in laser and vacuum technologies, high speed electronics and microscopy/imaging, underrepresented trainees will learn firsthand that research excellence is recognized for its merit and not on the basis of active or unconscious biases. Ongoing collaborations with academic, private and public sector partners further prepare trainees for outstanding job opportunities in Canada. The applicant is an acknowledged world leader in ultrafast spectroscopy. His research contributions were recognized by the 2017 "Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics" of the American Physical Society, and the 2018 "John C. Polanyi Award" of the Canadian Society for Chemistry. In 2017, he was appointed Fellow of the Max-Planck-uOttawa Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics and, in 2019, Fellow of the NRC-uOttawa Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics. In 2020-21, he was elected Chair of the Division of Chemical Physics of the American Physical Society. In 2021, he was renewed as Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Photonics at the University of Ottawa.