Recognized among his peers for his significant contributions to both chemistry and physics, Professor Nesbitt seeks to understand the fundamental dynamics of chemical reactions from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. His particular research interests include laser spectroscopy, kinetics of fundamental molecular systems, intermolecular potentials, laser photofragmentation, and surface molecular dynamics at the quantum level. One of Professor Nesbitt’s current projects involves using a novel combination of near-field scanning optical, atomic force, and scanning tunneling microscopies to achieve laser imaging of nanostructures and biomolecules. Lauded for his seminal contributions to the fields of both chemistry and physics, Professor Nesbitt has received the American Chemical Society’s Nobel Laureate Signature Award, the Arthur S. Fleming Award for Government Service, the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s Edward Uhler Condon Award, the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, and an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship. Professor Nesbitt is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (where he received the Bourke Medal), the American Chemistry Society, and the American Physical Society.
