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Fred Grieman is an experimental physical chemist whose current research involves the laboratory study of the kinetics (speed) and thermodynamics (energy and entropy) of radical reactions important in the Earth’s atmosphere. Through collaboration with the Sander group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Grieman (via several NASA fellowships) and his undergraduate research students use lasers to investigate the chemistry of peroxy radicals (e.g., HO₂) that play an important role in tropospheric oxidation chemistry that determines the concentration of ozone, a serious pollutant. Most recent work details the reactions of HO₂ with acetone (an anthropogenic and natural pollutant emitted to the atmosphere) and acetonylperoxy (a radical species produced from tropospheric acetone). Results from this research are applied to the modeling of the Earth’s atmosphere which ultimately affects policy decisions related to pollution.

Another line of research comprises the gas-phase spectroscopy of neutral and ionic molecules, particularly transition metal compounds, via electron impact and laser excitation of free-jet expansions. Recent projects have included the discovery and analysis of vibronic spectra of dimethylzinc cation, dimethylcadmium cation, and their deuterated counterparts which adds insight to the bonding between a metal and a carbon atom.

In addition to teaching general and physical chemistry, Grieman’s course in atmospheric chemistry includes exploration at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where students observe the latest hot topics in space exploration.