May 19, 2011
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Alexandria, Va. - Physical Scientist Richard Massaro, ERDC Topographic Engineering Center, earned his doctorate from George Mason University in April. Massaro's successfully-defended dissertation, "Photoluminescent Organic Molecules from the Perspective of Density Functional Theory," also won the university's Computational Sciences and Informatics Dissertation Award.
Massaro's research focused on determining the electronic structure, vibrational spectra and transition states of methyl salicylate and dipicolinic acid isomers. These two molecules are of interest for remote sensing of chemical and biological hazards. Furthermore, the photoluminescence of methyl salicylate was accurately modeled using Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory and novel Franck-Condon vibronic overlap considerations.
Currently, Massaro is involved in Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) research which addresses tactical remote sensing using LIDAR and LIDAR foliage penetration.
Massaro earned a bachelor's in physics from James Madison University and a master's in astronomy from Boston University. In 2004, he joined TEC's Research Division (now the Geospatial Research and Engineering Division) as a physical scientist. The same year, he enrolled in GMU's Computational Science and Informatics doctoral program.
Massaro has also received recognition for his participation on the ERDC team that successfully conducted research in basic and applied remote sensing using fluorescence in novel sensor and detector designs and in exploratory research into labels and taggants for Battlespace applications. He also awarded for his team participation in the management, research, development, system engineering, deployment and operational support of the two BuckEye systems which were deployed to Iraq to support in country Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mapping and change detection requirements.