Jonathan Connor

Biography

1966,67,69 B.A. (Chemistry, 1st class honours), B.Sc., M.A., University of Oxford, UK. 1969 D.Phil., University of Oxford, UK. Supervisor: M.S. Child. 1969-71 Postdoctoral research associate, University of Illinois, Urbana, USA with R.A. Marcus (Nobel Laureate). 1971-78 Lecturer in Theoretical Chemistry, University of Manchester. 1978-91 Reader in Chemistry, University of Manchester. 1979 Visiting Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. 1983 Visiting Associate, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA. 1991-2011 Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Manchester. 1994 Short-term Visitor, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, USA. 1999 Short-term Visitor, Center for Theoretical Study of Physical Systems, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, USA. 2005 Short-term Visitor, Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, University of Bristol, UK. 2012-to date Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Manchester.

Research Interest

In order to understand chemical reactivity and physical rate processes from a fundamental molecular point of view, it is essential to understand the dynamical motion of the colliding atoms and molecules. Theoretical research in this area is of basic importance for interpreting (and predicting) a growing body of experimental data obtained by the most sophisticated laser and molecular beam experiments. There are also many important applications including: atmospheric and combustion processes, laser isotope separation, and molecular processes in astronomy. A broad range of research is carried out using quantum, classical and semiclassical theories and ranges from purely analytical work to extensive computational studies on state-of-the-art supercomputers and workstations. The emphasis is on the development of new theories and their application to realistic problems. The research has strong international links (USA, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Austria); it has been consistently supported by the EPSRC and has been recognized by the award of three medals, a Tilden Lectureship from the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship.