Associate Professor Education Education: Ph.D. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas B.S. University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida Research Research Areas: Physical Chemistry Environmental/Atmospheric Chemistry Research Interests: The Rotavera group focuses on the discovery of reaction mechanisms of advanced biofuels. One of the goals of our research program is to uncover the links between the molecular structure motifs of biofuels to reaction mechanisms that are relevant to combustion and atmospheric chemistry. Understanding the sequence of chain-reactions involved in ignition and reaction pathways leading to pollutant formation accelerate the development of sustainable transportation energy technologies. Gas-phase experiments are conducted using thermally initiated flow reactor experiments with GC/MS and absorption spectroscopy, and computationally using quantum chemistry and chemical kinetics modeling. Learn more at rotavera.uga.edu. Selected Publications Selected Publications: O2-Dependence of Reactions of 1,2-Dimethoxyethanyl and 1,2-Dimethoxyethanylperoxy IsomersN. S. Dewey, K. De Ras, R. Van de Vijver, S. W. Hartness, A. W. Hill, J. W. Thybaut, K. M. Van Geem, L. Sheps, B. RotaveraCombustion and FlamePublication year: 2024 Probing O2-Dependence of Cyclopentyl Reactions via Isomer-Resolved SpeciationA. W. Hill, D. A. Moore, N. S. Dewey, S. W. Hartness, B. RotaveraProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2024 Stereoisomer-Dependent Rates and Reaction Mechanisms of 2-Ethyloxetanylperoxy RadicalsA. C. Doner, J. Zádor, B. RotaveraProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2024 Low-Temperature Ignition and Oxidation Mechanisms of TetrahydropyranS. Hartness, M. Saab, M. Preussker, N. S. Dewey, A. W. Hill, R. Mazzotta, G. Vanhove, Y. Fenard, K. A. Heufer, B. RotaveraProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2024 Evaluating the Importance of Conformers for Understanding the Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectra of Oxiranes: Experiment and TheoryI. T. Beck, E. C. Mitchell, A. W. Hill, J. M. Turney, B. Rotavera, H. F. Schaefer IIIJournal of Physical Chemistry A (Special Issue – Rodney J. Bartlett Festschrift)Publication year: 2024 Effects of Octane Boosters on the Formation of Oxygenated Primary Organic Aerosol in Low-Temperature CombustionO. El Hajj, A. G. Conroy, Chase K. Glenn, B. Rotavera, R. SalehAerosol Science and TechnologyPublication year: 2024 Alkylperoxy Radicals are Responsible for the Formation of Oxygenated Primary Organic AerosolO. El Hajj, S. W. Hartness, G. W. Vandergrift, Y. Park, C. K. Glenn, A. Anosike, A. R. Webb, N. S. Dewey, A. C. Doner, Z. Cheng, G. S. Jatana, M. Moses-DeBusk, S. China, B. Rotavera, R. SalehScience AdvancesPublication year: 2023 Unimolecular Reactions of 2-Methyloxetanyl and 2-Methyloxetanylperoxy RadicalsA. C. Doner, N. S. Dewey, B. RotaveraJournal of Physical Chemistry A (Marsha Lester Festschrift)Publication year: 2023 Reaction Mechanisms of Alkyloxiranes for Combustion ModelingN. S. Dewey, B. RotaveraCombustion and FlamePublication year: 2023 Unimolecular Reactions of 2,4-Dimethyloxetanyl RadicalsA. C. Doner, J. Zádor, B. RotaveraJournal of Physical Chemistry A (Special Issue: Combustion in a Sustainable World)Publication year: 2023 Probing O2-Dependence of Tetrahydrofuranyl Reactions via Isomer-Resolved SpeciationA. L. Koritzke, N. S. Dewey, M. G. Christianson, S. Hartness, A. C. Doner, A. R. Webb, B. RotaveraCombustion and Flame (Special Issue in Honor of Jim Miller)Publication year: 2023 Simulation of the VUV Absorption Spectra of Oxygenates and Hydrocarbons: A Joint Theoretical–Experimental StudyA. K. Bralick, E. C. Mitchell, A. C. Doner, A. R. Webb, M. G. Christianson, J. M. Turney, B. Rotavera, H. F. Schaefer IIIJournal of Physical Chemistry A (Krishnan Raghavachari Festschrift)Publication year: 2023 Probing O2-Dependence of Hydroperoxy-Butyl Reactions via Isomer-Resolved SpeciationS. W. Hartness, N. S. Dewey, M. G. Christianson, A. L. Koritzke, A. C. Doner, A. R. Webb, B. RotaveraProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2022 Methanol Oxidation up to 100 atm in a Supercritical Pressure Jet-Stirred ReactorZ. Wang, H. Zhao, C. Yan, Y. Lin, A. D. Lele, W. Xu, B. Rotavera, A. W. Jasper, S. J. Klippenstein, Y. JuProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2022 Machine Learning Models for Binary Molecular Classification using VUV Absorption SpectraA. C. Doner, H. A. Moran, A. R. Webb, M. G. Christianson, A. L. Koritzke, N. S. Dewey, S. W. Hartness, B. RotaveraJournal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative TransferPublication year: 2022 Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Cross-Sections of Functionalized Four-Carbon SpeciesA. C. Doner, A. R. Webb, N. S. Dewey, S. W. Hartness, M. G. Christianson, A. L. Koritzke, A. Larsson, K. M. Frandsen, B. RotaveraJournal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative TransferPublication year: 2022 Synthesis of a Combustion-Relevant δ-Ketohydroperoxide through Sulfonylhydrazine SubstitutionY-T. Ke, B. Gall, N. S. Dewey, B. Rotavera, E. M. FerreiraChemistry – A European JournalPublication year: 2022 Formation of Organic Acids and Carbonyl Compounds in n-Butane Oxidation via γ-Ketohydroperoxide DecompositionD. M. Popolan-Vaida, A. J. Eskola, B. Rotavera, J. F. Lockyear, Z. Wang, S. M. Sarathy, R. Caravan, J. Zádor, L. Sheps, A. Lucassen, K. Moshammer, P. Dagaut, D. L. Osborn, N. Hansen, S. R. Leone, C. A. TaatjesAngewandte ChemiePublication year: 2022 Stereoisomer-Dependent Unimolecular Reactions of 2,4-Dimethyl-Peroxy RadicalsA. C. Doner, J. Zádor, B. RotaveraFaraday DiscussionsPublication year: 2022 Influence of Functional Groups on Low-Temperature Combustion Chemistry of BiofuelsB. Rotavera, C. A. TaatjesProgress in Energy and Combustion SciencePublication year: 2021 Dependence of Biofuel Ignition Chemistry on OH-Initiated Branching FractionsS. W. Hartness, B. RotaveraFrontiersPublication year: 2021 Two-Stage Aerosol Formation in Low-Temperature CombustionO. El Hajj, K. Atwi, Z. Cheng, A. L. Koritzke, M. G. Christianson, N. S. Dewey, B. Rotavera, R. SalehFuelPublication year: 2021 Isomer-Dependent Reaction Mechanisms of Cyclic Ether Intermediates: cis-2,3-Dimethyloxirane and trans-2,3-DimethyloxiraneA. C. Doner, M. M. Davis, A. L. Koritzke, M. G. Christianson, J. M. Turney, H. F. Schaefer III, L. Sheps, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, B. RotaveraInternational Journal of Chemical KineticsPublication year: 2020 Reaction Mechanisms of a Cyclic Ether Intermediate: EthyloxiraneM. G. Christianson, A. C. Doner, M. M. Davis, A. L. Koritzke, J. M. Turney, H. F. Schaefer III, L. Sheps, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, B. RotaveraInternational Journal of Chemical KineticsPublication year: 2020 Fragmentation Mechanisms from Electron-Impact Ionization of Complex Cyclic Ethers Formed in CombustionA. L. Koritzke, K. M. Frandsen, M. G. Christianson, J. C. Davis, A. C. Doner, A. Larsson, J. Breda-Nixon, B. RotaveraInternational Journal of Mass SpectrometryPublication year: 2020 Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Cross-Sections of Functionalized Cyclic Hydrocarbons: Five-Membered RingsM. G. Christianson, A. C. Doner, A. L. Koritzke, A. Larsson, K. M. Frandsen, B. RotaveraJournal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative TransferPublication year: 2020 Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption Cross-Sections of Functionalized Cyclic Hydrocarbons: Six-Membered RingsA. C. Doner, M. G. Christianson, J. C. Davis, A. L. Koritzke, A. Larsson, K. Frandsen, B. RotaveraJournal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative TransferPublication year: 2019 Influence of Ether Functional Group on Ketohydroperoxide Formation in Cyclic Hydrocarbons: Tetrahydropyran and CyclohexaneJ. C. Davis, A. L. Koritzke, R. L. Caravan, I. O. Antonov, M. G. Christianson, A. C. Doner, D. L. Osborn, L. Sheps, C. A. Taatjes, B. RotaveraJournal of Physical Chemistry APublication year: 2019 Experimental and Computational Studies of Criegee Intermediate Reactions with NH3 and CH3NH2R. Chhantyal-Pun, R. Shannon, D. P. Tew, R. L. Caravan, M. Duchi, C. Wong, A. Ingham, C. Feldman, M. R. McGillen, M. A. H. Khan, I. O. Antonov, B. Rotavera, K. Ramasesha, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, C. Percival, D. E. Shallcross, A. Orr-EwingPhysical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsPublication year: 2019 QOOH-Mediated Reactions in Cyclohexene OxidationA. L. Koritzke, J. C. Davis, R. L. Caravan, M. G. Christianson, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, B. RotaveraProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2018 Direct Measurement of OH and HO2 Formation in R + O2 Reactions of Cyclohexane and TetrahydropyranM.-W. Chen, B. Rotavera, W. Chao, J. Zádor, C. A. TaatjesPhysical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsPublication year: 2018 The Reaction of OH with CH3OO is Not a Major Source of Atmospheric MethanolR. L. Caravan, M. A. H. Khan, J. Zádor, L. Sheps, I. O. Antonov, B. Rotavera, K. Ramasesha, K. Au, M.-W. Chen, D. Rösch, D. L. Osborn, C. Fittschen, C. Schoemaecker, M. Duncianu, A. Grira, Sebastien Dusanter, A. Tomas, C. J. Percival, D. E. Shallcross, C. A. TaatjesNature CommunicationsPublication year: 2018 Criegee Intermediate Reactions with Carboxylic Acids: A Potential Source of Secondary Organic Aerosol in the AtmosphereR. Chhantyal-Pun, B. Rotavera, M. R. McGillen, M. A. H. Khan, A. J. Eskola, R. L. Caravan, L. Blacker, D. P. Tew, D. L. Osborn, C. J. Percival, C. A. Taatjes, D. E. Shallcross, A. J. Orr-EwingACS Earth and Space ChemistryPublication year: 2018 Direct Kinetic Study of CH2OO + Methyl Vinyl Ketone and CH2OO + Methacrolein Reactions and an Upper Limit Determination for CH2OO + CO ReactionA. J. Eskola, M. Döntgen, B. Rotavera, R. L. Caravan, O. Welz, J. D. Savee, D. L. Osborn, D. E. Shallcross, C. J. Percival, C. A. TaatjesPhysical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsPublication year: 2018 Influence of Oxygenation in Cyclic Hydrocarbons on Chain-Termination Reactions from R + O2: Tetrahydropyran and CyclohexaneB. Rotavera, J. D. Savee, I. O. Antonov, R. Caravan L. Sheps, D. L. Osborn, J. Zádor, C. A. TaatjesProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2017 The Reaction of Criegee Intermediate CH2OO with Water Dimer: Primary Products and Atmospheric ImpactL. Sheps, B. Rotavera, A. J. Eskola, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, K. Au, D. E. Shallcross, M. A. H. Khan, C. PercivalPhysical Chemistry Chemical PhysicsPublication year: 2017 Subsequent R + O2 Chemistry of Intermediates Formed in Low-Temperature R + O2 Reactions: Potential Importance in Modeling Autoignition BehaviorB. Rotavera, R. L. Caravan, C. A. TaatjesSAND Report 2017-9099, Sandia National LaboratoriesPublication year: 2017 Products of Criegee Intermediate Reactions with NO2: Experimental Measurements and Tropospheric ImplicationsR. L. Caravan, M. A. H. Khan, B. Rotavera, E. Papajak, I. O. Antonov, M.-W. Chen, K. Au, W. Chao, D. L. Osborn, J. J.-M. Lin, C. J. Percival, D. E. Shallcross, C. A. TaatjesFaraday DiscussionsPublication year: 2017 Hydroxyacetone Production From C3 Criegee IntermediatesC. A. Taatjes, F. Liu, B. Rotavera, M. Kumar, R. L. Caravan, D. L. Osborn, W. H. Thompson, M. I. LesterJournal of Physical Chemistry APublication year: 2017 Direct Measurements of Unimolecular and Bimolecular Reaction Kinetics of the Criegee Intermediate (CH3)2COOR. Chhantyal-Pun, O. Welz, J. D. Savee, A. J. Eskola, E. P. F. Lee, L. Blacker, H. R. Hill, M. Ashcroft, M. A. H. Khan, G. C. Lloyd-Jones, L. Evans, D. Y. Sasaki, B. Rotavera, H. Huang, A. M. Scheer, D. L. Osborn, D. K. W. Mok, J. M. Dyke, D. E. Shallcross, C. J. Percival, A. J. Orr-Ewing, C. A. TaatjesJournal of Physical Chemistry APublication year: 2017 Pressure-Dependent Competition Among Reaction Pathways from First- and Second-O2 Additions in the Low-Temperature Oxidation of TetrahydrofuranI. O. Antonov, J. Zádor, B. Rotavera, E. Papajak, D. L. Osborn, C. A. Taatjes, and L. ShepsJournal of Physical Chemistry APublication year: 2016 Direct Observation and Kinetics of a Hydroperoxyalkyl Radical (QOOH)J. D. Savee, E. Papajak, B. Rotavera, H. Huang, A. J. Eskola, O. Welz, L. Sheps, C. A. Taatjes, J. Zádor, D. L. OsbornSciencePublication year: 2015 Influence of Temperature and Resonance-Stabilization on the ortho- Effect in Cymene OxidationB. Rotavera, A. M. Scheer, H. Huang, D. L. Osborn, C. A. TaatjesProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2015 Photoionization Mass Spectrometric Measurements of Initial Reaction Pathways in Low-Temperature Oxidation of 2,5-DimethylhexaneB. Rotavera, J. Zádor, O. Welz, L. Sheps, A. M. Scheer, J. D. Savee, M. A. Ali, T. S. Lee, B. A. Simmons, D. L. Osborn, A. Violi, C. A. TaatjesJournal of Physical Chemistry APublication year: 2014 Rate Coefficients of C1 and C2 Criegee Intermediate Reactions with Formic and Acetic Acid Near the Collision Limit: Direct Kinetics Measurements and Atmospheric ImplicationsO. Welz, A. J. Eskola, L. Sheps, B. Rotavera, J. D. Savee, A. M. Scheer, D. L. Osborn, D. Lowe, A. M. Booth, P. Xiao, M. A. H. Khan, C. J. Percival, D. E. Shallcross, C. A. TaatjesAngewandte ChemiePublication year: 2014 Chemical Kinetics Modeling of n-Nonane Oxidation in Oxygen/Argon using Excited-State Species Time HistoriesB. Rotavera, P. Dagaut, E. L. PetersenCombustion and FlamePublication year: 2014 Blending Effects on Ignition Delay Times of Methyl Octanoate/n-Nonane/MethylcyclohexaneB. Rotavera, E. L. PetersenFuelPublication year: 2014 Model Predictions of Higher-Order Normal Alkane Ignition from Dilute Shock-Tube ExperimentsB. Rotavera, E. L. PetersenShock Waves (Invited Article)Publication year: 2013 Direct Measurements of Conformer-Dependent Reactivity of the Criegee Intermediate CH3CHOOC. A. Taatjes, O. Welz, A. J. Eskola, J. D. Savee, A. M. Scheer, D. E. Shallcross, B. Rotavera, E. P. F. Lee, J. M. Dyke, D. M. K. Mok, D. L. Osborn, C. J. PercivalSciencePublication year: 2013 Ignition Behavior of Pure and Blended Methyl Octanoate, n-Nonane, and MethylcyclohexaneB. Rotavera, E. L. PetersenProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2013 Kinetics of n-Nonane Combustion: Measurements and Modeling of Ignition Delay Times and Product ConcentrationsB. Rotavera, C. Togbé, P. Diévart, P. Dagaut, E. L. PetersenProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2011 Effect of Ceria Nanoparticles on Soot Inception and Growth in Toluene-Oxygen-Argon MixturesB. Rotavera, A. Kumar, S. Seal, E. L. PetersenProceedings of the Combustion InstitutePublication year: 2009
