EDUCATION

1985-90

studied at the Physics Department of the University of Latvia

1990

graduated with honors from the University of Latvia, M.Sc. degree in Physics. Thesis title: "X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) in Tungsten Oxides and Barium-Tungsten-Phosphate Glasses".

1992

Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of Latvia. Thesis title: "Study of 4d and 5d Transition Metals Oxide Compounds by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)"

02.1993-04.1993

attended the Higher European Research Course for Users of Large Experimental Systems "HERCULES-1993"

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1986-89

Engineer and Research Associate, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia

1990-92

Junior Researcher, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia

1993-2001

Researcher, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia

2001- present

Senior Researcher, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia

RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Head of the Latvian Government Grant (2001-2004) "Reconstruction of Nanocrystals Structure from X-ray Absorption Spectra using Ab Initio Theoretical Methods".
2. Head of the EC FP5 TARI Project (2001-2004) "Magnons in diluted antiferromagnetic materials (MIDAM)" at LNF INFN, Italy.
3. Head of the EC FP6 TARI Project (2004-2005) "Effect of dilution on infra-red absorption in antiferromagnetic materials (EDAAM)" at LNF INFN, Italy.
4. Participating in the European COST Action D18 (1999-2006) "Lanthanide Chemistry for Diagnosis and Therapy", (Head: J. Purans).
5. Participating in the Latvian Government Grant (2001-2004) "The Magnetic Ions Exchange Interaction in the Antiferromagnetic Oxides ", (Head: N. Mironova-Ulmane).
6. Participating in the EC FP5 Project (2001-2004) on "In-situ X-ray Absorption Study of Transition Metal Oxides" within the framework of the Excellence Centre of Advanced Material Research and Technology (CAMART) at the Institute of Solid State Physics (Head: J. Purans).
7. Participating in the EC FP6 Specific Targeted Research Project (2004-2007) on "Nano-scale chemical mapping and surface structural modification by joined use of X-ray microbeams and tip assisted local detection (X-TIP)" (Head: F. Comin).
8. Head of the Latvian Government Grant (2005-2008) "Advanced Spectroscopic Approach to the Study of Nanomaterials Structure".
9. Head of the Latvian Government Grant (2009) "Study of Local Dynamics and Structure in Nano-Oxide Materials".
10. Principal Investigator in the ESF project (2009-2012) "Nanomaterials for perspective energy effective solutions" (No. 2009/0202/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/141).

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

1. Course "Structure and Description of Nanomaterials" at the Latvian University (Course: Fizi5028).
2. Course "Structure of Solids" at the Latvian University (Course: Fizi7009).
3. Course "Structural Methods in Solid State Analysis" at the Latvian University (Course: Fizi5344).
4. Course "Introduction to Cluster Computing" at the Latvian University (Course: DatZ3024).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, FELLOWSHIPS

1991-1992

Visiting Scientist, Physics Dept., University of Trento, Italy

05.92

Visiting Scientist, Physics Dept., Rostock University, Germany

06.92-07.92

Visiting Scientist, INFN, LNF, Frascati, Italy

1993-2009

Visiting Scientist, CNR-ITC, CeFSA, Trento, Italy

1993

"Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei" Fellowship at the University of Trento, Italy

1995

NATO Guest Fellowship, CNR-ITC, CeFSA, Trento, Italy

1999

Visiting Scientist, JINR, Dubna, Russia

2001-2006

Visiting Scientist, GPEC, University of Marseille (Aix-Marseille II), EGIDE Fellowship

2008-2010

Member of the Programme Advisory Committee for Condensed Matter Physics at Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna, Russia)

AWARDS AND INVITED TALKS

1996

Academia Europaea Baltic Prize

1999

Invited talk at Symposium Scientia Europaea N4, Bischoffsheim, France

2001

Invited talk at International Workshop on "Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis", Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Science, Warshaw, Poland

2005

Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences

2010

Invited talk at HERCULES XX symposium, March 25-26, Grenoble, France.

MEMBERSHIP

• European Synchrotron Radiation Society (ESRS)
• International XAFS Society (IXS)
• Latvian Synchrotron Radiation Society (LSRS)

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

My recent scientific interests are concerned with physics of oxide compounds containing transition metal and rare-earth ions (crystals, nanomaterials, amorphous and crystalline thin films, glasses, solutions). In particular, the main research topics are related to phase transitions, local structural distortions, vibrational dynamics and localization processes in electrochromic materials, diluted antiferromagnets and oxide glass matrices doped with rare-earth ions. The complex investigation of physical and chemical properties in above mentioned systems requires the use of different experimental techniques. In particular, I am involved in studies by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), confocal spectromicroscopy (Raman and luminescence), atomic force microscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction.

Besides, I am developing new methods of x-ray absorption spectra data analysis, based on reverse Monte-Carlo and Molecular Dynamics simulations. Presently, I am also involved in the development of new experimental technique – nano-XAS, based on the combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy and AFM/STM/SNOM microscopies.

I am the author of the original x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) data analysis software package "EDA" and the original approximated method for performing the MS calculations of XAFS. Recently, I have constructed a high-performance computing cluster LASC, rated at the 184 place in ClustersTop500 in May 2003. The LASC cluster is currently used for parallel quantum chemical calculations and simulations of x-ray absorption spectra of nanoparticles, molecules and crystals.

I has been a Scientific Advisor of

• Jurij Terentjev, "X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the short-range order and the local electronic structure in phosphate glasses containing MoO₃ and WO₃", B.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 1995,
• Dmitrijs Bocharovs, "Quantum chemical interpretation of x-ray absorption spectra", B.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2004.
• Nikolajs Lashkovs, "X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of local atomic structure in oxide materials. In-situ study of dehydration process of tungsten trioxide hydrate WO₃.H₂O", B.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2005.
• Dmitrijs Bocharovs, "Quantum chemical interpretation of x-ray absorption spectra in perovskite-type compounds", M.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2006.
• Janis Timoshenko, "Application of wavelet transform to EXAFS spectra analysis", B.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2008.
• Pavels Nazarovs, "Raman spectroscopy of ZnWO₄-NiWO₄ system", B.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2008.
• Alberts Nurgalejevs, "X-ray absorption spectra data analysis using NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing technology", M.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2009.
• Janis Timoshenko, "Lattice dynamics in crystalline germanium: isotopic effect", M.Sc. Thesis, Latvian University, Riga, 2010.

I am the author and co-author of more than 130 publications in scientific journals. My h-index is 17, according to ISI WEB of Science Database as of March 28, 2010.