Clifford Dykstra
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry
Clifford E. Dykstra received B.S. degrees in chemistry and in physics from the University of Illinois in 1973. He received his PhD in 1976 from the University of California at Berkeley. He then joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry at Illinois. He was at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis from 1990 to 2006, where he served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs for four years and where he was named Chancellor's Professor in 2001. He was Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Illinois State University from 2006 until retiring from the position in late 2009. He then returned to the University of Illinois. He served on the Editorial Board of Chemical Physics Letters for 21 years, and has been Editor of the Journal of Molecular Structure-Theochem since 1993.
Research
Research interests have been in electronic structure theory, molecular properties, and weak interaction phenomena. We have pursued several thrusts including electron correlation methods, interstellar molecules, weakly bound molecular complexes, modeling of polymer nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, external electrical influence on conformation, hydrogen molecule clustering, and vibrational dynamics on "slippery" potential surfaces. A long-term, general objective that ties these thrusts together has been to find the simplest physical basis for connecting isolated molecule and cluster behavior.
Publications
H. M. Jaeger, H. F. Schaefer, and C. E. Dykstra, J. Molecular Structure-Theochem 895, 168-171 (2009); The N2-Benzene Tethered Top
H. M. Jaeger, D. W. H. Swenson and C. E. Dykstra, J. Phys. Chem. A 110, 6399-6407 (2006) [cover article]; Remarkable Features in the Interactions of Quadrupolar Molecules
D. W. H. Swenson, H. M. Jaeger and C. E. Dykstra, Chem. Phys. 326, 329-334 (2006); Clustering of Molecular Hydrogen around Benzene
K. Chenoweth and C. E. Dykstra, Chem. Phys. Lett. 402, 329-334 (2005); Selecting Weak Bonding Sites: Effect of a Methyl Group in the Acetylene-Polyyne Interaction
C. E. Dykstra, Adv. Chem. Phys. 126, 1-40 (2003); Intermolecular Interaction: From Properties to Potentials and Back
Awards
- Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award, 2005
- Glenn Irwin Research Scholar Award, 2003
- Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (Indiana University), 1998
- IUPUI School of Science Research Award, 1996
- School of Chemical Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1982, 1998
- Beckman Associate, Center for Advanced Study (Urbana), 1986
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 1979-1981
- University of Illinois Bronze Tablet, 1973
