Profile photo of Leah Dodson
Contact Info
Office: CHM 1504A
Phone: 301-405-1874
Leah Dodson
Assistant Professor

Education

  • B.S. 2010 Case Western Reserve University, Chemistry
  • Ph.D. 2016 California Institute of Technology, Chemistry, Mentor: Professor Mitchio Okumura

Postdoctoral Experience

2016-2019 NIST NRC Research Associateship Program Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor J. Mathias Weber, NIST/JILA/University of Colorado Boulder

Professional Experience

2019-present University of Maryland College Park, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Research Interests

The Dodson group focuses on developing experimental tools to investigate the chemistry of the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres. The reactivity of important astrochemical species, reaction mechanisms, and product yields proposed computationally will be tested experimentally using two different cold molecule laboratory techniques. Students who are interested in having the opportunity to build new instruments for laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and the cooling and control of molecules and ions are encouraged to contact Prof. Dodson directly.

Major Recognitions and Honors

  • ACS Petroleum Research Fund – Doctoral New Investigator Award, 2022
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology NRC Research Associateship Program Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2016-2018
  • Miller Prize Winner, 72nd International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, 2017
  • Sandia National Laboratories/California Institute of Technology Excellence in Engineering Research Program, Campus Executive Fellow, 2014-2016
  • Caltech Center for Diversity Dr. Helen McBride Outstanding Mentee Award, 2015
  • Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study, Awardee, 2011-2014

The Dodson group focuses on developing experimental tools to investigate the chemistry of the interstellar medium and planetary atmospheres. The reactivity of important astrochemical species, reaction mechanisms, and product yields proposed computationally will be tested experimentally using two different cold molecule laboratory techniques. Students who are interested in having the opportunity to build new instruments for laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and the cooling and control of molecules and ions are encouraged to contact Prof. Dodson directly.

Check out the group twitter account or Prof. Dodson’s Google Scholar profile.