PhD (University of Wisconsin, Madison)
TJ is now working at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) near Oslo in Norway.
Research
TJ comes to Bristol from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There he worked with Professor Fleming Crim (currently devoting time and effort at the NSF), earning his PhD in condensed-phase reaction dynamics. Here at Bristol, TJ is honing his gas-phase dynamics skills. His current research efforts include imaging bimolecular reactions in the gas-phase, running quasi-classical reaction simulations, and bridging the great gas-liquid reaction dynamics divide.
Teaching and Service
TJ quickly stepped in to fill multiple roles within the group and the School of Chemistry. He helps organise seminars given by both Bristolians and visitors, and chairs a session at the annual Spectroscopy and Dynamics Group meeting (2013, 2014). He takes an active teaching role in several areas: leading tutorials for Chemistry 1X (Introductory Chemistry) and Chemistry 1Z (Chemistry for Physical Scientists), helping out in workshops for Advanced Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (with Prof. Orr-Ewing and Dr. Western), and providing guest lectures and general assistance in Chemistry 1M (Mathematical Skills for Chemists). He has served as mentor for first-year honours (UW), third-year undergraduate (UoB), fourth-year Master’s (UoB) and graduate (UW and UoB) research projects. TJ is also the postdoc representative to the School Postgraduate Staff-Student Consultative Committee (Chaired by Prof. Neil Allan).
Collaborators and Mentors:
François Amar (University of Maine)
Fleming Crim (UW-Madison)
Scott Kable (University of New South Wales)
Scott Reid (Marquette)
Saulo Vázquez (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela)
Education:
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Bachelor of Science (Highest Honors), University of Maine, USA
Interests:
Chemical reaction dynamics
Reactions influencing the environment
Chemistry education; the lab as a teaching tool
Vibrational relaxation and microsolvation of DF after F-atom reactions in polar solvents. G T. Dunning, D. R. Glowacki, T. J. Preston, S. J. Greaves, G. M. Greetham, I. P. Clark, M. Towrie, J. N. Harvey, and A. J. Orr-Ewing, Science, 347, 530 (2015).
Direct and Indirect Hydrogen Abstraction in Cl + Alkene Reactions. Thomas J. Preston, Greg T. Dunning, Andrew J. Orr-Ewing, and Saulo A. Vazquez, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 118, 5595 (2014).
Dynamics of photodissociation of XeF2 in organic solvents. Greg T. Dunning, Thomas J. Preston, Andrew J. Orr-Ewing, Stuart J. Greaves, Gregory M. Greetham, Ian P. Clark, and Michael Towrie, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16, 16095 (2014).
Photoisomerization of Photoinduced Reactions in Liquid CCl4 and CHCl3. Fawzi Abou-Chahine, Thomas J. Preston, Greg T. Dunning, Andrew J. Orr-Ewing, Gregory Greetham, Ian P. Clark, Mike Towrie, and Scott A. Reid, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 117, 13388 (2013).
Probing the Photoisomerization of CHBr3 and CHI3 in Solution with Transient Vibrational and Electronic Spectroscopy. Thomas J. Preston, Michael A. Shaloski, and F. Fleming Crim, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 117, 2899 (2013).
Formation and Relaxation Dynamics of iso-CH2Cl-I in Cryogenic Matrices. Thomas J. Preston, Maitreya Dutta, Brian J. Esselman, Aimable Kalume, Lisa George, Robert J. McMahon, Scott A. Reid, and F. Fleming Crim, Journal of Chemical Physics, 135, 114503 (2011).
Ultrafast Observation of Isomerization and Complexation in the Photolysis of Bromoform in Solution. Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, Maitreya Dutta, Andrew C. Crowther, and F. Fleming Crim, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 114, 1548 (2010).
Time-resolved Studies of the Reaction of CN Radical Complexes with Alkanes, Alcohols and Chloroalkanes. Andrew C. Crowther, Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, and F. Fleming Crim, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 113, 3758 (2009).
Time-resolved studies of CN Radical Reactions and the Role of Complexes in Solution. Andrew C. Crowther, Stacey L. Carrier, Thomas J. Preston, and F. Fleming Crim, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 112, 12081 (2008).
Simulating the Photoelectron Spectra of Rare-Gas Clusters. Francois G. Amar, James Smaby, and Thomas J. Preston, Journal of Physical Chemistry, 122, 244717 (2005).
