People
Alfred A. Scala
Professor
Faculty Listing
Office: Goddard Hall, 103D
Phone: +1-508-831-5456
Fax: +1-508-831-5933
aascala@wpi.edu
Educational Background
- B.S., Brooklyn College, 1957
- M.A., 1961
- Ph.D., Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 1965
- Postdoct, National Research Council - National Bureau of Standards, 1964-66
Research & Teaching Interests
Vacuum UV photochemistry; radiation chemistry; ion-molecule reactions; mass spectrometry; instrumental analysis; kinetics and reaction mechanisms; organic photoreactions on solid surfaces; adsorption of heavy metal ions and organics on pillared clays and other adsorbents for environmental remediation
Research
Professor Scala’s interests are in fundamental reaction dynamics. He is interested and working in the areas of reaction kinetics and mechanisms, and how concepts such as Hammond’s Postulate derive from and relate to Transition State Theory . The topic of most immediate interest is the relationship between, thermodynamic and kinetic control of reaction products, and fundamental Transition State Theory This work requires extensive literature survey and theoretical calculations of transition states.
Years of Service at WPI
- Assistant Professor, 1966-70
- Associate Professor, 1970-75
- Professor, 1975-
- Department Head, 1977-1980