NEWS Per Persson, professor of chemistry at Umeå University, has earned the distinction of being named a visiting professor at Stanford University, United States. The fellowship includes an award amount of $23,000 (SEK 180,000).
Per Persson completed his PhD in 1990 and then continued his research career as a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. The funding from the Blaustein Visiting Professorship Fund of the School of Earth Sciences will allow him to return to Stanford to conduct research for a six-month period in 2011.
"I have been following Per Persson's career closely since he left Stanford to return to Sweden almost 20 years ago and I am certain that our geochemists and soil chemists would benefit from his presence at Stanford University and his active participation in our research and teaching programmes," says Gordon Brown, professor of mineralogy and geochemistry at Stanford University.
The main objective of Per Persson's research is to understand at molecular level the processes that influence the biogeochemical cycles of elements, particularly reactions to different kinds of surfaces. He is works with characterising these processes using advanced spectroscopic methods, and he is an acknowledged international expert on the applications of in situ infrared spectroscopy and synchrotron x-ray methods to the study of the interactions of environmental contaminants and nutrients with mineral surfaces. Stanford University states in their decision that they look forward to share in some of his expertise in these areas.
Per Persson, Professor of Chemistry with a focus on Molecular Geochemistry Phone: +46 090-786 55 73Mobile: +46 070-2663879
E-mail: per.persson@chem.umu.se
www.chemistry.umu.se/forskning/group-leaders/per-persson
Editor: Karin Wikman