Eli Stavitski
Lead Beamline Scientist, Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline, Spectroscopy Program, National Synchrotron Light Source II

Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 743, Room 3L128
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-8641
istavitski@bnl.gov
Eli Stavitski serves as the lead beamline scientist for the Inner Shell Spectroscopy (ISS) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II. He earned his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, in 2007, in the field of electron paramagnetic resonance in artificial photosynthesis systems. He than joined the Prof. Bert Weckhuysen's group at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he led the effort to develop multi-technique characterization methods to study heterogeneous catalysts under in situ and operand conditions. In 2017, Eli was honored with the prestigious VENI award from the Dutch Research Council to investigate catalytic processes at single catalytic sites using advanced optical microscopy. In 2010, Eli joined the NSLS infrared micro-spectroscopy team, where he supported user operations at the U2B and U10B beamlines and developed an innovative multi-beam full-field infrared microscope. After a brief tenure at the Canadian Light Source as an industrial staff scientist, he returned to NSLS-II. There, Eli played a pivotal role in the design and construction of the ISS beamline and later in developing and supporting its user program. Under his leadership, several high-energy-resolution X-ray spectrometers were successfully commissioned at ISS. His research interests are in the field of synchrotron operando characterization method and instrumentation development, with a focus on heterogeneous catalysis and nanoporous materials, and data-driven material discovery.
Education | Appointments | Publications | Highlights
Education
Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, Physical Chemistry, 2006
M.Sc. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, Physical Chemistry, 2001
B. Sc. Novosibirsk State University, Russia, Chemistry, 1998
Professional Appointments
2018/12-present, Lead Beamline Scientist, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory
2016/10-2018/11 Physicist, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory
2013/11-2016/9 Associate physicist, NSLS-II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA
2012/10-2013/10 Industrial staff scientist, Canadian Light Source, Canada
2010/09-2012/09 Research assistant/beamline scientist, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory,
2008/08-2010/08 Netherlands Science Foundation fellow, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Selected Publications
- Stavitski E, de Groot FMF (2010) The CTM4XAS program for EELS and XAS spectral shape analysis of transition metal L edges. Micron 41:687–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2010.06.005
- Jiang K, Siahrostami S, Zheng T, et al (2018) Isolated Ni single atoms in graphene nanosheets for high-performance CO2 reduction. Energy & Environmental Science 11:893–903. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7ee03245e
- Chu C, Zhu Q, Pan Z, et al (2020) Spatially separating redox centers on 2D carbon nitride with cobalt single atom for photocatalytic H2O2 production. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117:6376–6382. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1913403117
- Stavitski E, Pidko EA, Couck S, et al (2011) Complexity behind CO2 Capture on NH2-MIL-53(Al). Langmuir 27:3970–3976. https://doi.org/10.1021/la1045207
- Wu X, Nazemi M, Gupta S, et al (2023) Contrasting Capability of Single Atom Palladium for Thermocatalytic versus Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction. ACS Catalysis 13:6804–6812. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.3c01285
- Tayal A, Coburn DS, Abel D, et al (2024) Five-analyzer Johann spectrometer for hard X-ray photon-in/photon-out spectroscopy at the Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline at NSLS-II: design, alignment and data acquisition. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 31:1609–1621. https://doi.org/10.1107/s1600577524009342
- Leshchev D, Rakitin M, Luvizotto B, et al (2022) The Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline at NSLS-II: a facility for in situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy for materials research. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 29:1095–1106. https://doi.org/10.1107/s160057752200460x
Research Highlights
Finding the Catalyst for a More Sustainable Future
Watch and Learn How Nanostructured Thin Films Grow
Following the Data Trail to Accelerated Discovery
Scientists Design Promising New Cathode for Sodium-based Batteries

Brookhaven National Laboratory
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Bldg. 743, Room 3L128
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
(631) 344-8641
istavitski@bnl.gov