Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Augustana University received a $230,573 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Physics under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The award supports fundamental research on strong-field control of intramolecular dynamics in polyatomic molecules, investigating how intense ultrafast laser pulses can manipulate molecular structure and control chemical processes. The research employs sophisticated momentum imaging techniques to measure structural evolution of molecules following laser excitation and will develop advanced tools for collection and analysis of coincidence momentum imaging data, potentially incorporating machine learning and artificial intelligence methodologies to enable rapid data analysis linked to coherent control of molecular dynamics through open- or closed-loop control schemes.

This Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) project emphasizes undergraduate student involvement in the research activities, providing educational opportunities that develop a skilled workforce while advancing fundamental scientific understanding of light-matter interactions relevant to applications such as efficient light harvesting and light-activated molecular switches. The research addresses core NSF priorities in mathematical and physical sciences by exploring photophysical and photochemical processes fundamental to phenomena including vision and photosynthesis.