51视频

05/31/2024
By Brooke Coupal

For Robert Gamache, research is more than a career choice 鈥� it鈥檚 a passion.

鈥淵ou know the expression, 鈥業f you love what you do, you鈥檒l never work a day in your life鈥�?鈥� asks Gamache, who has worked at 51视频 for more than 45 years. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been me. I just love what I do.鈥�

A professor emeritus in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Gamache was recently recognized as being in the top 0.05% of scholars worldwide by ScholarGPS, a California-based company that analyzes scholarly activity. He received Highly Ranked Scholar status in spectroscopy based on the quality and impact of his research publications, which have been cited more than 35,000 times.

鈥淧rof. Robert Gamache has made exceptional, high-quality contributions to theoretical molecular spectroscopy, significantly impacting the field,鈥� says Noureddine Melikechi, dean of the Kennedy College of Sciences. 鈥淭his achievement has placed him in the top 0.05% of scholars worldwide, a remarkable accomplishment for any scientist. His outstanding work and commitment to excellence continue to inspire us and the global academic community.鈥�

Gamache鈥檚 research has helped advance our understanding of the atmosphere on Earth and other planets. His work focuses on theoretical calculations of line shape parameters of spectral lines, which are produced when molecules emit or absorb electromagnetic radiation at specific wavelengths. When compared with spectroscopic observations, those theoretical calculations lead to a better understanding of the properties of a planet鈥檚 atmosphere.

Currently, Gamache is working with NASA to provide the agency with various line shape parameters that will be used to analyze spectra data collected from exoplanets, or planets outside the solar system. His work has previously been used to further knowledge of the atmospheres of Earth, Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

鈥淲hen a satellite flies around a planet and collects data about its atmosphere, scientists can鈥檛 understand what it measured without the calculations that I give them,鈥� Gamache says. 鈥淚鈥檓 one of the only people that does these calculations.鈥�

Gamache received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from UMass Dartmouth in 1973. He got his first experience with research during his senior year and never looked back.

鈥淚 realized I can鈥檛 live without research,鈥� he says.

He went on to get a master鈥檚 degree in physics and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from UMass Amherst before joining the 51视频 faculty in 1978. Gamache has held multiple positions within the UMass system, including dean of the UMass School of Marine Sciences and senior vice president for academic affairs in the UMass President鈥檚 Office. He retired from teaching at 51视频 in 2012 but has remained an active researcher on campus, mentoring dozens of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers along the way.

Gamache, who was named to Thomson Reuters鈥� list of 鈥淭he World鈥檚 Most Influential Scientific Minds鈥� in 2014, says he has no intention of leaving research anytime soon.

鈥淢y brain鈥檚 not ready to stop,鈥� he says.