Alan A. Jones
Encyclopedia
Alan Anthony Jones was an American
professor of chemistry
at Clark University
in Worcester, Massachusetts
. During his more than thirty years at Clark he served as a mentor and advisor to hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. He was a leading researcher in the field of
NMR and polymer physics . His research focused on solid state NMR spectroscopy
of polymer systems. This work was supported for many years through grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation
, Petroleum Research Fund and the Army Research Office.
He attended Colgate University
and received his B.A.
in 1966. He earned a Ph.D.
in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1972 and worked at Clark after working as a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College
under
Walter H. Stockmayer
from 1972-74. At Clark, Jones and fellow professor Paul Inglefield built a NMR facility at the university and wrote over 100 research papers . Some of Jones' ideas led to new ideas for the use of NMR in studying polymer systems, such as his highly cited 1977 paper: Models for spin relaxation in dilute solutions of randomly coiled polymers .
As a professor at Clark Dr. Jones was noted as one of the best professors and he received the institution’s Outstanding
Teacher Award in 1988 . He attracted many undergraduates to do research in his laboratory, many of whom went into graduate school after graduating from Clark . During his tenure he directed more than twenty Ph.D. candidates to the successful completion of their theses . He also served Clark at the highest levels in the administration, being Acting Provost 1987–88 and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research 1993–95 .
Jones died unexpectedly on May 23, 2006. Before his death, Jones had been researching synthetic polymer
s that would be suitable membranes for use in chemical separations, fuel cell
s and solid electrolytes. He used PFG NMR to follow the diffusion of small molecules or ions and determine their self-diffusion coefficient. Diffusion in these systems was observed to be enhanced by up to an order of magnitude by the addition of nanoparticle
s and the mechanism for this enhancement was under investigation at the time of his death. After he died, his students continued his research.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. During his more than thirty years at Clark he served as a mentor and advisor to hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. He was a leading researcher in the field of
NMR and polymer physics . His research focused on solid state NMR spectroscopy
NMR spectroscopy
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy, is a research technique that exploits the magnetic properties of certain atomic nuclei to determine physical and chemical properties of atoms or the molecules in which they are contained...
of polymer systems. This work was supported for many years through grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, Petroleum Research Fund and the Army Research Office.
He attended Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
and received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1966. He earned a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1972 and worked at Clark after working as a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
under
Walter H. Stockmayer
Walter H. Stockmayer
Walter Hugo Stockmayer was an internationally known chemist and university teacher. A former member of the National Academy of Sciences, he was recognized as one of the twentieth century pioneers of polymer science...
from 1972-74. At Clark, Jones and fellow professor Paul Inglefield built a NMR facility at the university and wrote over 100 research papers . Some of Jones' ideas led to new ideas for the use of NMR in studying polymer systems, such as his highly cited 1977 paper: Models for spin relaxation in dilute solutions of randomly coiled polymers .
As a professor at Clark Dr. Jones was noted as one of the best professors and he received the institution’s Outstanding
Teacher Award in 1988 . He attracted many undergraduates to do research in his laboratory, many of whom went into graduate school after graduating from Clark . During his tenure he directed more than twenty Ph.D. candidates to the successful completion of their theses . He also served Clark at the highest levels in the administration, being Acting Provost 1987–88 and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research 1993–95 .
Jones died unexpectedly on May 23, 2006. Before his death, Jones had been researching synthetic polymer
Synthetic polymer
Synthetic polymers are often referred to as "plastics", such as the well-known polyethylene and nylon. However, most of them can be classified in at least three main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers....
s that would be suitable membranes for use in chemical separations, fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
s and solid electrolytes. He used PFG NMR to follow the diffusion of small molecules or ions and determine their self-diffusion coefficient. Diffusion in these systems was observed to be enhanced by up to an order of magnitude by the addition of nanoparticle
Nanoparticle
In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit in terms of its transport and properties. Particles are further classified according to size : in terms of diameter, coarse particles cover a range between 10,000 and 2,500 nanometers. Fine particles are sized...
s and the mechanism for this enhancement was under investigation at the time of his death. After he died, his students continued his research.
Recent Notable Publications
- Guoxing Lin and Alan A. Jones, “A Lattice Model for the Simulation of One and Two Dimensional 129Xe Line Shape Collapse by Translational Diffusion,” Solid State NMR 2004, 26, 87-98..
- Jinghui Zhang 1, Marcus V. Giotto, Wen-Yang Wen, Alan A. Jones, “An NMR Study of the State of Ions and Diffusion in Perfluorosulfonate Ionomer,” Journal of Membrane Science 269, 118 (2006).
- Ernest Krygier, Guoxing Lin, Jessica Mendes, Gatambwa Mukandela, David Azar and Alan A. Jones, Jai A. Pathak , Ralph H. Colby Sanat K. Kumar , George Floudas , R. Krishnamoorti, “Segmental Dynamics of Head-to-Head Polypropylene and Polyisobutylene in their Blend and Pure Components,” Macromolecules 38, 7721 (2005).
- Haihui Cao, Guoxing Lin, Alan A. Jones “Deuterium Solid Echo Line Shape Study of Poly(ethylene oxide) Dynamics in a Blend with Poly(methyl methacrylate),” Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Physics Edition 43, 2433 (2005).
- Junyan Zhong, Wen-Yang Wen and Alan A. Jones, “Translational and Rotational Motion of Cyclohexane in an Ultrapermeable Nanocomposite Membrane of Poly(2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene) and Fumed Silica,” Macromolecules.
- Jones, A.A.; Stockmayer, W.H. "Models for spin relaxation in dilute solutions of randomly coiled polymers" J Polym Sci Polym Phys Ed 1977, B15, 847 http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/104059526/ABSTRACT).