PChem Seminar Speaker: Dr. Kirill Gurdumov

About the event

Speaker: Dr. Kirill Gurdumov

Host: Dr. Ursula Mazur

Title: Physical Chemistry in Practice

Abstract:

Physical chemistry offers a robust framework for understanding and manipulating molecular-level processes that are essential to both basic science and applied technology. This seminar presents a career path beginning with graduate studies in physical chemistry, progressing through doctoral research, and continuing with current work at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Research highlights include employing surface-sensitive spectroscopic and ultrahigh-vacuum methods to study diffusion, growth, and phase transitions in supercooled water films. Further, the talk covers the application of physical chemistry concepts in designing deployable gas collection and purification systems for nuclear explosion detection. Focus areas include adsorption-based gas separations, pressure swing adsorption techniques, oxygen removal approaches, and argon purification processes that facilitate ultra-sensitive nuclear signature detection. Collectively, these examples demonstrate how fundamental investigations of molecular interactions can drive technological innovation, with applications ranging from scientific instrumentation and environmental monitoring to national security.