Dr. Louis Allamandola, Senior Scientist in the Space Science
Division, is the founder and director
of The Astrophysics &
Astrochemistry Laboratory. After majoring in Chemistry
at St. Peter's College
in Jersey City, New Jersey he was trained in low temperature
spectroscopic techniques under the tutelage
of Professor
G. C. Pimentel at the University
of California at Berkeley, followed by postdoctoral research on
energy transfer at cryogenic temperatures with
Professor J. W. Nibler
at Oregon State University. In
1976 Lou went to work at
the Laboratory for
Astrophysics, directed by
Professor J. Mayo
Greenberg, at Leiden
University in The Netherlands where he and Dr. Fred Baas
developed the techniques required to prepare and study laboratory
analogs of ultracold interstellar/pre-cometary ice grains using
spectroscopic methods. At Leiden, from 1976 until 1983, he also
directed the research of six Ph.D. students with Professor Greenberg
and Dr. Fred Baas. In 1983 he came
to NASAAmes
Research Center to develop an Astrochemistry Laboratory.
He has over 35 years of experience in pioneering laboratory studies
on the chemistry, composition, and spectroscopy of interstellar matter
with emphasis on organics and interstellar and solar system ices. He
is one of the key proponents and spokesmen of the interstellar
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) model and has driven the
extensive Ames laboratory studies of PAHs under relevant interstellar
conditions. He has broad experience with low-temperature spectroscopy
and astronomical observation. Significant contributions made by the
The Astrophysics & Astrochemistry Laboratory include:
determining the mid- and far-infrared properties of over 800
PAHs in their neutral and charged forms under astrophysical conditions
and making this collection available to the community at large
(www.astrochem.org/pahdb),
the demonstration that biogenic organic molecules can be made
under the harsh, abiotic conditions in extraterrestrial ices implying
they are widespread throughout the Galaxy and cosmos,
the recognition that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ions
containing nitrogen are common in space, resolving long standing
astronomical mysteries associated with infrared emission bands and
optical absorption bands that are widespread throughout the
universe,
the identification of many of the known molecular species
frozen in interstellar/pre-cometary ices, and
the recognition that a significant fraction of the carbon in
the interstellar medium is carried by both microdiamonds and organic
materials.
He has over 200 publications in peer-reviewed major journals and
book chapters, and has edited two books with
Professor Xander
Tielens on Interstellar Dust.
Dr. Allamandola has served on many NASA advisory committees,
scientific meeting organizing committees and as proceedings editor
for several symposia. He received NASA-Ames' H. Julian Allen Award
for Best Scientific Paper from Ames in 1985 and again in 2006,. He
was awarded NASA's Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal in 1992
and was recognized as a NASA Ames Associate Fellow for 1996 and
1997. In 2006 he received The Presidential Rank Award and was
elected to Fellowship in the American Physical Society (APS) and the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ISI
lists Dr. Allamandola as one of the world's most highly cited
authors in the Space Sciences.
Lou is married to Mary Scott Allamandola. They have 4 children:
Monica, Pat, David, and Anthony
