Curriculum Vitae Dennis K. Nicks Jr.
PO Box 83302
Fairbanks, AK 99708
(907) 474-6914
[email protected]
Education:

1996-present Ph.D. candidate in atmospheric chemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Expected date of completion June 1999. Concurrent education in business administration.

1994-1996 Graduate student in atmospheric chemistry, The University of Alaska Fairbanks. Advanced to Ph.D. candidacy August 1996.

1989-1993 Bachelors of Science in chemistry, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

Professional Experience:
Research Assistant		 1996-present
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Conduct preliminary studies on basic chemical systems for use in novel analytical techniques and chemical sensors.
  • Develop and test new chemical instrumentation for measuring trace atmospheric gases and aerosols.
  • Setup and develop instrumentation for remote field deployment. Handle remote site management and logistics.
  • Develop specialized software and hardware solutions for instrumentation control, signal processing and data analysis using LabView development software.
  • Integrate control systems and instrumentation using new technology such as TCP/IP and novel programming techniques to simplify remote operations.
  • Evaluate and suggest purchase of new technology, materials and electronic components for use in instrument development laboratory.
  • Maintain, repair and upgrade laboratory and office PCs including a small network with multiple services.
Technical Administrator		 1995- present
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Maintain, calibrate and operate an automated Dobson Spectrometer and complete data acquisition/instrument control system as part of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) total ozone monitoring program.
Teaching Assistant		 1994-1998
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Supervised and tutored undergraduate students in chemistry laboratory exercises.
  • Prepared lectures and demonstrations ranging from general to advanced topics.
Technical Consultant		 1995
NOAA, AIR RESOURCES LABORATORY Idaho Falls, Idaho
  • Instrumentation and support scientist for rocket exhaust dispersion model validation program at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Florida.
  • Install, repair and operate sensitive SF6 tracer gas detectors in mobile sampling platforms equipped with communications and global positioning equipment.
Research and Editorial Assistant		 1993-1994
EUROMONEY CAPITAL MARKETS London, England
  • Researched financial derivative products based on equities, bonds, commodities, foreign currency and various hybrids thereof.
  • Consulted with and interviewed Lead Managers of new derivative products from global financial institutions.
  • Compiled information on new derivative products for weekly publication in an international financial journal.
Quality Control Chemist		 1992-1993
BROWN AND HALEY Tacoma, Washington
  • Certified chemical and physical specifications of raw materials and finished product for confectionary manufacturer.
Research Group Co-Leader		 1991-1993
THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE Olympia, Washington
  • Developed novel analytical techniques for sampling and measuring chemical properties of aquatic ecosystems.
  • Worked in conjunction with local government agencies to assess the impact of an abandoned landfill on an unpolluted watershed.
Professional Affiliations:
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Institute of Chemists
Honors and Awards:
1998 Recognized for a distinuished contribution to the 1998 BFGoodrich Collegiate Inventors Program national competition.
1998 American Institute of Chemists, Outstanding Graduate Student Award.
1997 Center for Global Change and Arctic System Research Grant.
1995 James Crooks Memorial Fund Scholarship.
1993 National Science Foundation Research for Undergraduates Fellow.
1993 Evergreen Foundation Research Grant.
1993 Research Grant form Department of Health and Water Quality, Mason County Washington.
Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications:
Benner, R.L., J. Wu, and D.K. Nicks Jr., Development and evaluation of the diffusion denuder - sulfur chemiluminescence detector for atmospheric SO2 measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 16,287-16,291, 1997.

Nicks, D. K. Jr., W.L. Bamesberger R.L. Benner, D.R. Crosley, S.O. Farwell, P.D. Goldan, D.L. MacTaggart, Results of the Gas-Phase Sulfur Intercomparison Exeriment Phase 2 (GASIE2), submitted for publication 9/1998.

Nicks, Jr. Dennis K and R. L. Benner, A fully automated, Internet controlled, remote sampling trace gas calibration system for field deployment, currently in preparation.

Nicks, Jr. Dennis K and R. L. Benner, The Continuous Sulfur Dioxide Detector (CSD), currently in preparation.

 
Published Abstracts:
Nicks, D. K. Jr., W.L. Bamesberger R.L. Benner, D.R. Crosley, S.O. Farwell, P.D. Goldan, D.L. MacTaggart, Summary of Experimental Setup, Results and Conclusions from the Gas-Phase Sulfur Intercomparison Experiment Phase II (GASIEII), EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 78, pp F91, Nov, 18, 1997.

R.L. Benner, C.S. Benson, N. South, D.K. Nicks Jr., Dynamics and fate of contaminants in the arctic snowpack, EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 78, pp. F275, Nov, 18, 1997.

Benner, R.L., J. Wu, D.K. Nicks, Jr., "The diffusion denuder/sulfur chemiluminescence detector (DD/SCD) for ppt level SO2 measurements in the atmosphere", EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Oct. 28, 1996.

References provided upon request.