The Utz group employs surface science techniques in an ultra-high vacuum environment to investigate the molecular dynamics of gas-surface reactions in model systems. Our supersonic molecular beam-surface scattering chambers are equipped with several analytical instruments to investigate and quantify these microscopic details. This enables us to not only replicate the high energy environments of select model systems in controlled lab conditions but also systematically vary individual reaction parameters in order to understand the subsequent effects on reactivity. Our experiments directly test mechanistic hypotheses with the goal of better modeling existing processes as well as directing the rational design of new catalytic materials and deposition techniques.
Back: Jess, Middle: Matt, Laurin, Art. Front: Molly, Yuxuan
Group News
2024
JUL 2024 | The group attends the Molecular Interactions and Dynamics GRC at Stonehill College.
MAY 2024 | Yuxuan is selected for and participates in the Graduate Research Excellence At Tufts program.
JAN 2024 | Laurin successfully defends her thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Joseph!
2023
AUG 2023 | Molly is selected for and participates in the Graduate Research Excellence At Tufts program.
JUL 2023 | Matt and Jess are selected as the co-chairs for the 2025 Gordon Research Seminar for Dynamics at Surfaces. Congratulations!
JUL 2023 | The whole lab attends the Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference for Dynamics at Surfaces in Newport, RI. Four posters are presented.
JUL 2023 | An undergraduate student joins our lab. Welcome, Sheil!
MAR 2023 | Art attends the Spring 2023 ACS meeting in Indianapolis, IN.
2022
NOV 2022 | The group welcomes a first-year graduate student. Welcome, Jessica!
NOV 2022 | Laurin, Molly, Yuxuan, Matt, and Art attend the AVS 68th International Symposium & Exhibition in Pittsburgh, PA. Laurin and Molly present a poster.
JUL 2022 | Laurin, Molly, Yuxuan, Matt, and Art attend the Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference for Molecular Interactions and Dynamics in Easton, MA. Art gives a talk while the others present posters.
The same week, Daniel presents a poster at the Alpha Chi Sigma 56th Biennial Conclave in Blacksburg, VA.
JUN 2022 | Daniel successfully defends his thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Tinney!
MAY 2022 | Daniel is selected as a finalist for the PEC 2022 Nottingham Prize.
APR 2022 | Daniel is selected for the 2022 Alpha Chi Sigma Scholar Award.
2021
NOV 2021 | The group welcomes a first-year graduate student. Welcome, Matt!
NOV 2021 | Daniel is selected as a finalist for the AVS67 Heterogeneous Catalysis Focus Topic Graduate Student Presentation Award. He goes on to win the Gold Award!
AUG 2021 | Molly is selected for and participates in the Graduate Leadership in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (GLIDE) program.
JUNE 2021 | Laurin is selected for and participates in the Graduate Research Excellence At Tufts (GREAT) program.
FEB 2021 | We just launched our new website. Hooray!
2020
NOV 2020 | The group welcomes two new first-year graduate students. Welcome, Yuxuan and Molly!
OCT 2020 | The group attends a virtual AVS Symposium online!
JULY 2020 | Daniel attends the virtual Alpha Chi Sigma 55th Biennial Online Conclave hosted by Michigan State University’s chapter.
JUNE 2020 | We’re back! University labs open back up with rigid social distancing guidelines.
MAY 2020 | Sally graduates with her M.S. Congratulations, Sally Shepardson-Fungairino, M.S.!
MAR 2020 | All university research shuts down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019
NOV 2019 | Eric H. successfully defends his thesis. Congratulations, Dr. High!
OCT 2019 | Laurin, Daniel, and Eric H. receive the Graduate Student Travel Award and head to AVS 66th in Columbus, Ohio. Laurin presents a poster, and Dan and Eric H. give talks.
JULY 2019 | Sally has a baby! Welcome to the world, Eddy!
JULY 2019 | Laurin, Daniel, and Eric H. present posters at the GRC Dynamics at Surfaces conference in Newport, Rhode Island. Congrats to Eric H. for winning first place in a 3-way tie for Best Student Poster Presentation!
SPRING 2019 | The new main chamber for Chamber 2 arrives!
2018
NOV 2018 | The group welcomes a new first-year graduate student. Welcome, Laurin!
OCT 2018 | Eric H. goes to the AVS 65th International Symposium and earns the Morton M. Traum Surface Science Student Award for his presentation titled “Probing the effects of surface structure on the dissociative chemisorption of methane”. Congrats!
AUG 2018 | Eric P. successfully defends his thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Peterson!
JULY 2018 | Eric H. attends the PARADIM Summer School at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
2017
OCT 2017 | Eric H. gives a talk at AVS 64th International Symposium and Exhibition in Tampa, FL.
Eric H. gives a talk titled “State-resolved measurements of methane reactivity on metal single crystal catalysts” at the Condensed Matter Seminar for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
AUG 2017 | Eric D. successfully defends his thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Dombrowski!
JULY 2017 | Sally, Eric, and Dan receive the Graduate Student Travel Award to present their research at the Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference for Dynamics at Surfaces.
JUNE 2017 | Eric H. receives the Graduate Institute for Teaching (GIFT) Fellowship and presents a talk titled “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics: Wave-particle duality of light” at the GIFT Lecture Series.
SUMMER 2017 | Will and Alec, undergraduates from Stonehill College, join the lab for the summer to learn about our surface science experiments. Welcome!
2016
NOV 2016 | The group welcomes two new first-year graduate students. Welcome, Daniel and Sally!