Curriculum Vitae
 
PERSONAL
Married (to Abeba) with three Sons (Ephraim S. Bililign, Yishak S. Bililign, Beka S. Bililign) and a Daughter (Aster S. Bililign)
Mailing Address: 511 Shelby Dr.
Greensboro, NC 27409

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

1991 Ph.D.   University of Iowa, Atomic Molecular and Laser Physics.
1987 CERTIFICATE: International Center for Theoretical Physics; Trieste, Italy. 
1985 M.S.   Addis Ababa University   Surface Science.
1977 B.S.   Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)  Physics Education/with a minor in math.
 

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION

Experimental and Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics /and Chemical Physics

TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2004                           Fellow: National Institute of Aeronautics (NIA)

2003                            Professor

2003                         Visiting professor, Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry
                                    Facultes de St-Jerome 13397 MARSEILLE

2000-2001                   JILA visiting fellow

2001-2006             Chair, Department of Physics
2006-Present             Director, NOAA-ISET Center
1998- 2002  Associate Professor, Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University.
1993-1998   Assistant Professor: Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University. 
1997 spring   Acting Chairman: Department of Physics, North Carolina A&T State University. 
1996 (summer) and NRC/HBCU Faculty Fellow: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1997 (summer)  Chemical and Biological Physics Section
1995(summer)   Visiting Assistant Professor: University of Connecticut, Department of Physics, Storrs.
1995(summer)     AWU-DOE Faculty Fellow:   Los Alamos National Lab. 
1994(summer)    Visiting Assistant Professor  University of Utah, Department of Chemistry,
1991-1993  Post Doctoral Fellow: University of Utah, Chemistry Department, Salt Lake City, Utah 
1988-1991  Research Assistant:  University of Iowa, Department of Physics, and Iowa City, Iowa. 
1985-1987  Lecturer:  Addis Ababa University,  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 
1983-1985  Research Assistant: Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Experimental: Chemical Reaction Dynamics, Electronic energy transfer, Multiphoton Processes, Laser spectroscopy of molecules and clusters, laser-induced chemistry in clusters, nanotechnology.
Theoretical: Electronic structures calculations, Ab initio Quantum Chemistry, Chemical Dynamics.

Honors and awards

AWU/DOE Faculty research Fellowship award 1995.
NRC/HBCU Faculty research Fellowship Award, 1996, 1997.
Letter of appreciation by Head of the Biological and Chemical Physics, Section, Oak Ridge National lab.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, NCAMP (NSF) April 1998.
Faculty Award, National Honors, College of Arts and Sciences April 1998.
The National Science Foundation CAREER Award .
2000-2001: JILA Visiting Fellow
2002: Outstanding Senior Researcher Award.

RESEARCH

Previous Research

Spectroscopy of Transition State Dynamics ( 1988-1991)

The laser excitation of a reaction complex formed by colliding reactants (e.g. Na + H2) provides unique insight into the potential energy surfaces for chemical reaction in the region of the transition state between the reactant and product valleys. The probe laser is used for state selective detection of reactants. The theory of spectral line shapes is used to interpret the results. The Nd:YAG laser and pulsed dye lasers are used in this research.

State-to- State Photochemistry (1988-1991)

Nascent rotational and vibrational quantum state distribution of laser induced reactive collisions is determined using laser pump-probe technique.

Laser Spectroscopy and Photodynamics (1991-1993)

Excitation of atomic or molecular fluorescence using one or more tunable lasers is of particular interest in studies of atomic interactions and potential energy curves, obtained from spectroscopic data including accurate dissociation energies, long range interactions, spin changing energy transfer collisions (predissociation phenomena) in metal rare gas systems. Semi-classical theory is used to determine the predissociation life times. The experiment used Lumonics excimer laser and dye lasers, and a supersonic source.

Electronic Structure Calculations (1991-1993)

The main interest is to perform high level ab initio calculations of ground, excited valence and Rydberg states of metal-rare-gas potential energy curves to compare with a wealth of spectroscopic information already available and being accumulated. There is also an interest in ab initio calculations of metal -hydrogen potential energy surfaces to understand the experiments in part 1,2 and 3. There is also an on going research to develop simple analytical model potential functions to describe the metal-rare-gas van der Waals bonding in different electronic states of Al;, Mg, Zn, Cd and Hg.

Photodetachment of H-  (summer 1995)

With vacuum UV laser to study state-to-state detachment of negative H- with high photon flux VUV laser beam (100-200nm), and resolve the detached electron energies and determine the final states of the neutralized H atom and match spectral features. Participated in running the lasers (Nd:YAG and Lambda Physik  excimer lasers) and model experimental results. (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Photochemistry of H in solid H2.( University of Connecticut). Summer 1995 & 1996
 Used the tripled output of Alexandrite laser to generate stokes and anti-stokes lines using a Raman cell for the study of the photochemistry of H in solid H2, and for developing a device for Mercury Detection.

Study of the Photochemistry of Metal CVD (Photochemical Laser Deposition) precursors in cluster environment: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (Summer 1996, 1997)
The study involves using pico-second lasers in combination with mass spectrometry to ionize and characterize novel clusters of organometallic compounds and to investigate subsequent metal-ion chemistry with a variety of simple molecules.

Ultra-fast studies of wave packet dynamics: JILA (with Steve Leone)

CURRENT RESEARCH:

Spectroscopy of Transition State Dynamics

(1998-present)

The research includes the study of laser induced chemical reactions within molecules, and laser induced energy transfer collisions between atoms and molecules. Current studies include laser induced chemical reaction dynamics of LiH2, LiCH4 ZnH2 and ZnCH4 complexes in gas phase, and kinetic and dynamic studies of the quenching of excited states of Li by several alkane and alkene hydrocarbons, rare gases and nitrogen.

Nanoclusters and nanoalloys(2004-)

The current proposed research activities, which make use of the new RTOF-MS and a picosecond laser are the study of the synthesis structure and properties of metal-containing nanoclusters, study of metal-ion chemistry within clusters; and fabrication of nanoscale metallic clusters in different concentration ranges

 Funded Proposals
 

"Ab Initio Studies of Metal-Rare Gas and Metal-Hydrogen Interaction Potentials" 
NSF Program 1954: Quantum Calculations 
Award Period: 09/01/96- 08/31/99 Amount: $137,628.00 

Current Support: [ 1998 - Present ] 

Project/Proposal Title: 
"Effects of Electronic Orbital Alignment in Laser Induced Metal-H2 and Metal-CH4”
Source of Support:      NSF
Project Location:         North Carolina A&T State University
Total Award Amount:   $359,465
Starting Date               03/01/98
Ending Date                02/28/03

Note: A supplemental to Award # CHE-9733744 for an amount of $14,800 from NSF 

Project/Proposal Title: 
"ITR/ Computational Geometry for Structural Biology and Bioinformatics”
Source of Support:       NSF/Duke University
Project Location:         North Carolina A&T State University
Total Award Amount:   $524,874.
Starting Date                09/15/00
End Date                      08/31/05

Project/Proposal Title: 
Quenching of excited states of  lithium by H2,D2,N2 , and alkane and alkene hydrocarbons: Kinetics and Dynamics”
Source of Support:      NSF
Project Location:         North Carolina A&T State University
Total Award Amount:   $285,738
Starting Date               03/01/02
Ending Date                02/28/05

Project/proposal Title
"Interdisciplinary Fellowship Program for Graduate Training in Biotechnology, Genomics and Bioinformatics"
 Source of Support:     Department of Education (GAANN)
Project Location:         North Carolina A&T State University
Total Award Amount:   $640,000
Starting Date               09/15/00
Ending Date                 09/15/04

Project/proposal (Co-PI)
PI: Dr. Tang
Collaborative Research: Enhancing Diversity in Geosciences in North Carolina” 
Source of Support: NSF  
Total Award Amount:   $449,988
Award Period: 03/01/02-02/28/05

Project/proposal (PI)
Co PI's: L. Duffy (UNCG), J. HARP (NCA&T)
Acquisition of a multi-source reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer” 
Source of Support:  NSF 
Total Award Amount:   $447,635
Award Period:09/01/03-08/31/05  

Project PI

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WITH ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY (ETHIOPIA).”

Source of Support                     
NSF International Programs   $16,500.00

Sub Contract: NSF/PENN State : International  Partnership in Research and Education

“AfricaArray: Imaging the African Superplume, building African partnerships and enhancing diversity in the geosciences.”
Requested amount      $632,000

 

 The Sloan A&T Physics Scholars Program: Preparing undergraduates for a Ph.D. in the sciences.”
9/1/2005-8/31/2008,
Amount: $210,000, 9/05-9/11



           
          NOAA Proposal: PI- Center Director: S. Bililign, Co-PI: K. Schimmel  

              EPP 2006: NOAA Interdisciplinary Scientific Environmental
              Technology (ISET)
Cooperative Research and Education
              Center: 
              Requested amount : $12.5 Million
  Period: 9/1/06-8/31/11

                Partner (Subcontract) Minority Serving Institutions
: 

University of Alaska Southeast (UAS)

California State University-Fresno (CSU-Fresno)

City University of New York (CUNY)

Fisk University (FU)

University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) 
                Partner (Subcontract) Majority Serving Institution:

North Carolina State University (NCSU)

University of Minnesota (UM) 

 NSF proposal
IRES: International Research in Earth, Atmospheric and Space Sciences” Awarded amount: $ 149,914 for 3 years. 


OTHER SUBMITTED and DECLINED PROPOSALS

Study of the Photochemistry of Metal CVD (Photochemical Laser Deposition) Precursors in Cluster Environment" 
Research Corporation: (REVIWERS COMMENTS: 2 Outstanding, 1 Excellent and 1 Very Good)
 Requested amount $ 33,472.00. Request period: 06/01/98-08/31/99.

 A Proposal to Establish a Laser Facility for Materials Research at A&T 
 DOD Requested amount $399,376  Request period: 09/98-09/99.

A pre-Proposal entitled CENTER FOR ULTRA COLD PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY was submitted with the following participants, 1998.

University of Connecticut (Lead PI Institution)
Florida International University
North Carolina A&T State University
Iowa State University.
And several private industries in Connecticut.

The proposal is entitled “ SIZE DEPENDENT CHEMISTRY WITH NANOCLUTERS” was submitted , 1998

   Participating institutions are:
   University of Tennessee Knoxville (Lead PI Institution)
   Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
   North Carolina A&T State University (Physics)
 

Also a Co-PI in the Proposal submitted in collaboration with Morgan State and University of Wisconsin, Madison under the program “Collaborative to Integrate Research and Education, (CIRE)”

Title of the proposal is “ Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, and University of Wisconsin-Madison Collaborations for Free-Electron Laser Studies of Colossal Magnetoressistance Materials.”

Nanochemistry: Study of Chemical Reactions and Size Dependent Catalysis within Clusters.
 Department of Energy, 
 Requested amount: $621,001.00, Feb 2000

Enhancing The Capabilities of the Physics Laser Laboratory at North Carolina A&T State University.  DoD
Requested Amount: $ 278,658.00, 2001.
 
Nanochemistry: Study of Size Dependent Chemical Reactions Within Clusters
 DOE
Requested Amount: $519,972.00 2001.

Membership(s) in professional organizations

American Physical Society
American Optical Society
American Chemical Society
APS Division of Chemical Physics
APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Ethiopian Scientific Society.
National Society of Black Physicists