Rate My Professor Bob Jones

Robert R. Jones Jr., known as Bob Jones, serves as the Francis H. Smith Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics at the University of Virginia. He received his B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1985, graduating first in his class of approximately 1400 students, and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Virginia in 1990 under the supervision of Professor T. F. Gallagher. Following a postdoctoral research appointment at the University of Michigan with Professor P. H. Bucksbaum from 1991 to 1993, Jones joined the UVA faculty as Assistant Professor of Physics in 1993. He advanced to Associate Professor in 1998, Professor in 2002, and was appointed Francis H. Smith Professor in 2006. He served as Associate Chairman for Graduate Studies from 1998 to 2001 and as Chair of the Department of Physics from 2018 to 2021. Jones received the All-University Teaching Award from the University of Virginia in 2008.

The research of Jones and his group investigates the interaction of atoms, molecules, and nano-structured materials with strong external fields and ultrashort electromagnetic pulses. They use ultrafast lasers to cool and trap atoms, align and orient molecules, and drive controlled electron motion within atoms and molecules. Specific projects include the control and observation of time-dependent electron-electron interactions within atoms; manipulation of dipole-dipole and few-body interactions in cold Rydberg gases; laser-induced field-free alignment and orientation of molecules; controlled dissociation and ionization of molecules in strong asymmetric laser fields; attosecond electron wavepackets as probes of molecular potentials; high-harmonic generation from molecules; and the interaction of intense ultrashort THz and laser pulses with nanostructures. Jones has published extensively in leading journals, with key works including “Molecular Modes of Attosecond Charge Migration” (Physical Review Letters, 2021), “Probing Electronic Binding Potentials with Attosecond Photoelectron Wavepackets” (Nature Physics, 2018), “High-Energy Electron Emission from Metallic Nano-tips Driven by Intense Single-Cycle THz Pulses” (Nature Communications, 2016), “THz Induced Field-Free Orientation of Rotationally Excited Molecules” (Physical Review Letters, 2014), and “2-Electron Dynamics of an Atom” (Science, 2004). His honors include Fellowship in the American Physical Society (2008), the inaugural American Physical Society Outstanding Referee award (2008), David and Lucile Packard Fellowship (1996-2001), Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award (1994-1997), and Oak Ridge Associated Universities Physical Science Award (1996). Jones has contributed to the field through extensive service, including as Vice Chair of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (2015), member of the National Research Council Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science (2013-2015), and numerous other APS committees, conference chairs, and site reviews.