Brian Esselman

• B.S. 2000, UW-Madison (Chemistry)
• M.S. 2004, UW-Madison (Educational Psychology)
• M.S. 2009, UW-Madison (Chemistry)
• Ph.D. 2012, UW-Madison (Chemistry)

Research Description:

Rotational Spectroscopy

I am interested in the precise structure determination and millimeter-wave spectroscopy of small oxygen- and nitrogen-containing organic molecules of potential astrochemical relevance.  In parntership with Robert J. McMahon and R. Claude Woods, recent work includes the precise structure determination of hyrazoic acid (HN₃), pyrimidine (meta-C₄H₄N₂), and pyridazine (ortho-C₄H₄N₂) by combined millimeter-wave and coupled-cluster computational investigation.  Additional spectroscopic investigations of carbonyl diazide (OC(N₃)₂), formyl azide (HCON₃), and diketene (C₄H₄O₂) in the ground and excited states have been published.

Curriculum Development

I am interested in the incorporation of computational tools to support student learning in lecture and laboratory courses.  With Nicholas J. Hill, I have integrated computational chemistry into the undergraduate organic laboratory curriculum using WebMO.  The use of computational tools, in partnership with more traditional spectroscopic techniques, allows students a deeper understanding of their experimental results.  I’m further interested in exploring how a focus on molecular and atomic orbitals using WebMO can enhance student learning in my lecture courses.