My research group focuses on the rational design, deterministic assembly, and detailed investigation of the physical phenomena emerging from quantum confinement effects in graphene nanomaterials. We pursue a highly integrated multidisciplinary program, founded on synthetic bottom-up approaches toward functional materials with precisely defined structure, their assembly into hierarchically ordered architectures, and the investigation of their … Continued
Microbes constitute the majority of life on Earth. Recent advances in DNA sequencing present an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the microbial world and its intersections with human health. However, the capacity to generate sequencing data has vastly outpaced the ability to understand and manipulate the biological functions it encodes. My research will enable rapid linking … Continued
A grand challenge of chemistry is to understand how the properties of molecules emerge from the complex correlations of their quantum states. We have developed high-dimensionality and highly nonlinear optical methods to map the correlations between quantum states in condensed-phase chemical and biological systems ranging from conjugated organic molecules, semiconductor nanostructures, and pigment-protein complexes. Our … Continued
My research group specializes in time-resolving energy flow and structural dynamics using a class of techniques called ultrafast 2D spectroscopies and microscopies. For example, we are studying the mechanism by which proteins form amyloid fibrils using 2D Infrared spectroscopy and are investigating exciton dynamics in photovoltaics using 2D Electronic spectroscopy. We have contributed many technological … Continued
We are developing ultrafast multiple-dimensional vibrational spectroscopic methods to determine molecular structures in condensed phases, and vibrational energy transfer methods to investigate transient short-range molecular distances <1nm.
Our group pioneered the development and application of single-molecule and super-resolution imaging methods for the studies of biological systems. We invented a super-resolution imaging method, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), and discovered novel cellular structures using STORM. We invented a single-cell transcriptome imaging method, multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH), and have applied this … Continued
I study electrons at interfaces, and under far-from-equilibrium conditions, in order to controllably interconvert energy among various forms. One of my research group’s primary model systems is the semiconductor quantum dot (QD). The strong confinement of a QD’s electrons leads to bright, narrow light emission, but also limits QDs’ applications. We have shown that certain … Continued
The central research goal in our group is to discover and apply tools for measuring and understanding functional behaviors of complex inorganic supramolecular and nanoscale materials. We build and utilize new analytical separation methodologies to separate, purify and study magnetic nanoparticles and nanoparticle heterostructures. We aim to demonstrate solutions to the critical problems of quantitative … Continued
I am interested in the development of methods and strategies for the synthesis of natural products, as well as the specific application of photochemical, thermal, and enzyme-mediated cyclization reactions with control of stereochemistry.
I develop and apply theoretical and computational methods to study problems involving the structure and dynamics of complex condense phase systems, including proteins, membranes, liquids, and materials. For example, I have developed a method known as “multiscale coarse-graining” in which the resolution of the molecular-scale entities is reduced into simpler structures, but key information on … Continued