Our Team
Our staff includes six scientists with advanced degrees in chemistry, physics, and engineering:
Alan Stanton
President
Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering), Stanford University, 1978
M.S. (Mechanical Engineering), The University of New Mexico, 1973
B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), The University of New Mexico, 1972
Contact:
astanton@swsciences.com
Dr. Stanton is the president and co-founder (with Dr. Joel Silver) of Southwest Sciences, Inc. The original business plan for Southwest Sciences, in 1985, emphasized research and development in the field of laser-based spectroscopic analysis of gases, with applications in atmospheric science, combustion, and other fields. Nearly 40 years later, this original plan remains at the core of the company’s business.
Dr. Stanton believes that in order to nurture and maintain a culture of science and innovation, Southwest Sciences must be managed by scientists. His accomplishments in science and business include
- Development of diode laser-based instrumentation for measurement of trace gases, with applications in atmospheric science, combustion science, and materials science;
- Spectroscopic measurement of infrared absorption cross sections of gas phase radicals, including atomic fluorine and chlorine, hydroperoxyl (HO2), and formyl (HCO):
- Development of laser-based in situ diagnostics for measurement of reactive intermediates in plasma etching and chemical vapor deposition;
- Modeling of radiative transport processes in clouds, and of vibrational energy transfer kinetics in molecular gas lasers;
- Building a successful R&D business from the ground up, with a strong reputation for excellence in research;
- Developing and implementing a strategy of licensing Southwest Sciences’ inventions to commercial partners, who are developing and marketing products in diverse industries that include semiconductors, atmospheric and environmental research, natural gas distribution, foods and pharmaceuticals, and medicine.
Dr. Stanton is an author of 33 publications and holds 4 patents.
Joel Silver
Executive Vice President
Ph.D. (Chemistry), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1976
B.S. (Chemistry), State University of New York at Stony Brook,1971
Contact:
jsilver@swsciences.com
Dr. Silver is Executive Vice President and co-founder of Southwest Sciences. His principal field of research involves the development of sensitive laser and optical techniques for measuring trace gas species, with applications in atmospheric sciences, combustion, and industrial monitoring. Recent research interests include
Dr. Silver’s interests include:
- Airborne sensing (balloons, airplanes, UAVs) of environmentally important gases.
- Optical cells for industrial monitoring.
- Gas sensors for planetary instruments.
- Barbeque
- Combustion diagnostics for hypersonic wind tunnels
- Environmental gas analyzer for the International Space Station.
- Improved spectroscopic analysis techniques.
Dr. Silver is an author of 62 publications, and inventor on 19 U.S. patents and 3 foreign patents.
Kristen Peterson
Vice President, Business Development
Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry), Stanford University, 1989
B.S. (Chemistry), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1983, with Highest Honors
Contact:
peterson@swsciences.com
Dr. Peterson joined the staff of Southwest Sciences as a Senior Research Scientist in 1997. She was promoted to Principal Research Scientist in 2003, to Director of Business Development in 2008, and to Vice President, Business Development in 2010. From 1995 to 1997 she was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at New Mexico State University. She previously held post-doctoral research positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory and at the Stanford Picosecond Free-electron Laser Center.
Dr. Peterson is a physical chemist whose earlier areas of research concerned the development and application of time-resolved and nonlinear spectroscopic techniques in the study of condensed phase, macromolecular and biomolecular materials, including polymers, organometallic materials, and proteins. At Southwest Sciences, she is developing new imaging techniques and laser-based analytical and diagnostic methods.
Dr. Peterson is an author of 59 publications and has 5 issued patents.
Mark Paige
Principal Research Scientist
Ph.D. (Chemistry) University of California, Berkeley, 1990
B.S. (Chemistry) Yale University, 1983
Dr. Paige is a physical chemist who joined Southwest Sciences in 1992. His research involves the application of diode laser spectroscopy to gas measurements. A focus of this work has been making diode laser systems competitive in the commercial sensor marketplace in terms of cost and physical specifications. In this pursuit, Dr. Paige has developed an inexpensive, battery powered electronics system for diode laser sensors. Also, he has been very active in the use of low cost vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) for performing spectroscopic sensing. Instruments developed by Dr. Paige include the ‘46 Hawk, a commercial natural gas leak detector which won an R&D100 award in 2007, the VCSEL hygrometer being flown on the National Center for Atmospheric Research Gulfstream-V research jet, and a nonintrusive headspace gas analyzer for bottled products. Other projects Dr. Paige has been involved in include oxygen sensing in supersonic rocket engines for the Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation program, diode laser weather balloon hygrometers, and diode laser photoacoustic spectroscopy.
Dr. Paige is an author of 17 publications and holds 3 patents.
Chris Hovde
Principal Research Scientist Emeritus
Ph.D. (Chemistry) University of California, Berkeley, 1990
B.S. (Chemistry) Yale University, 1983
Contact:
dchovde@swsciences.com
Dr. Hovde joined the staff of Southwest Sciences in 1990 and opened the Ohio Operations office in 1996. His research has involved the development of sensitive laser techniques for measuring trace species in the atmosphere and for characterizing molecular ions and radicals. Recent research interests include
- Precision magnetometry (collaborating with the Budker group at Berkeley) based on nonlinear spectroscopy of alkali atoms,
- Flux measurements of trace gases (methane, ammonia) using diode laser detection of trace gas concentration combined with eddy covariance methods,
- Isotope ratio measurements using digital processing to enhance the precision of laser spectroscopy measurements,
- Active gas imaging using micro-mirror arrays,
- Developing novel cavity ring-down techniques,
- Signal processing for reducing spectral backgrounds.
Dr. Hovde is an author of 20 publications and holds 7 patents.
Adriana Reyes-Newell
Senior Research Scientist
M.S. (Physics) University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2003
B.S. (Physics) University of Arizona, 1995
Laser Safety Officer (Kentek) 2019
Ms. Reyes-Newell joined Southwest Sciences in April, 2022 as a Senior Research Scientist. Her research and field of interest involves highly sensitive laser techniques for various applications such as volumetric holography, LIBS, Raman spectroscopy, WMS, FMS LIF, etc. She has extensive experience with flight instrumentation/testing including planetary exploration instruments such as SuperCam and ChemCam. Currently developing tunable laser instruments targeting trace gas sensing in agricultural environments, the International Space Station, and beyond to the surface of our moon.
Ms. Reyes-Newell is a dedicated outreach mentor promoting and supporting girls’ interests in STEM fields.
Ms. Reyes-Newell is recipient of an R&D 100 Award for the development of OrganiCam. She is co-author of 39 conference and journal publications.
Patrick Opsahl
Senior Research Technician
Diploma in Laser Electro-Optic Technology
Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (1985)
Contact:
popsahl@swsciences.com
Patrick has over 30 years of experience in electro-optic technology, including with R&D teams designing prototypes, assembly, testing and analysis. Extensive experience in field service, technical support, manufacturing and product documentation. His expertise includes micro-machining, high energy lasers, diode-pumped solid state lasers, and precision assembly and testing of custom electro-optic devices. Patrick rejoined Southwest Sciences in 2017.
Administrative Staff
Mary Silver, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
Mary is a certified public accountant who practices in Santa Fe, NM.