N. J. Mason

I have an extensive international profile being recognized as one of the leading members of the international molecular physics research community with a portfolio of research that encompasses astrochemistry, environmental and atmospheric science, plasma physics and radiation chemistry. Although my research is interdisciplinary it is centred upon the study of fundamental interactions between electrons, photons and ions with molecular species and the study of the subsequent physical chemistry that such processes may induce in local media. Since 2002 a major part of my research has been to investigate the spectroscopy of ices on planetary surfaces and in the Interstellar Medium using IR and VUV spectroscopy. Several experiments have been designed to explore molecular synthesis in such ices through irradiation by photons, electrons and ions using international facilities such as synchrotrons (In Aarhus and Taiwan) and accelerators at Atomki in Debrecen Hungary. Recent work is extending this research to study of origins of life of Earth and search for life in the Solar system and on exoplanets. This work is being expanded to study effects of irradiation on materials that may be used in space engineering. This research is all part of the pan EU Europlanet consortium. I have been at the forefront of an extensive international research programme that has demonstrated the ability of low energy electrons to induce site selective dissociation within a molecule thus providing a controllable pathway for chemical reactions. The major scientific advances within this programme include the first demonstrations of selective electron induced molecular fragmentation in macromolecular and biomolecular targets (e.g. bromouracil and nitrouracil). We have developed one of only three international successful research programmes in the study of direct electron induced damage of DNA samples providing fundamental data for the study of radiation induced damage at the molecular level, a programme that is leading to the investigation of possible new radiosensitizers for cancer therapy. In plasma studies, in collaboration with Comenius University Bratislava, we have investigated the formation of ozone in plasma discharges with the aim of developing next generation of such devices for medical and industrial use. Our observations onthe effect of humidity on physical and chemical processes in such plasmas led to a fundamental re-valuation of such processes within such atmospheric pressure discharges. Similarly understanding the role of low energy electron interactions in plasmas is leading (in collaboration with international researchers) to development of new methodologies for the design and production of nanostructures within the semiconductor industry and development of new FEBID and FIBID for construction of nanostructures. My research on fundamental molecular spectroscopy is dedicated to proving a spectral atlas of photoabsorption data for environmental/atmospheric research from which we derive global warming potentials and ozone depletion potentials, our data (referenced on approved data bases) is now routinely used as the standard data by climate modeling community. Although my research is essentially experimental it is necessary to combine such work with theory. Since 2010 a close collaboration has been developed nawith MBN Research Centre in Germany which has developed multiscale modelling to study many discrete processes, Recent work includes study of the radiosensitizing properties of nanoparticles for development of new cancer therapies and the design of crystal based gamma ray light sources part of the TECHNO-CLS consortium. Since 2009 I have been integral to the establishment of large scale atomic and molecular data assembly, curation, validation and dissemination programmes through EU Framework programme and with the IAEA. These programmes aim to provide the roadmap for validation of atomic and molecular data (both spectroscopic and collisional) datasets for exploitation by user communities and aim to define peer review and data curation procedures over the next decade.