After 14 years as a professor of chemistry, astronomy, and physics working on a combination of laboratory spectroscopy of molecular ions and astronomical observations of interstellar molecules, I have switched fields to focus on sustainability. This switch was motivated by my growing awareness of the critical challenges facing humanity in what one might call the … Continued
My research focuses on the development of novel theoretical approaches for simulating the quantum dynamics of condensed phase processes. My group has developed the first fully quantum mechanical methodology for calculating the evolution of a quantum system in a dissipative environment by performing an iterative decomposition of Feynman’s path integral expression. Applications have led to … Continued
I am a theoretical chemist developing and applying new methods that predict and explain how atoms move in molecules. These methods are used both to design new molecules and to understand the behavior of those that already exist. My research group studies the response of molecules to light (photochemistry) and external force (mechanochemistry). Photochemistry is … Continued
My group utilizes laser spectroscopy techniques to investigate the dynamics of charge carriers (electrons and holes) within semiconductor nanomaterials and of bimolecular chemical reactions. While these directions may appear drastically diverse, the unifying theme is to characterize the energetics and dynamics of these systems at the most basic level in order to develop better understandings … Continued
A wide variety of diseases are results of deficient or abnormal protein-lipid interactions. The elucidation of the interactions between specific proteins and lipids and the ability to examine and manipulate biomembranes that mimic real-life systems hold the key to a better understanding of these diseases. Using model membrane systems, along with various microscopy, x-ray, and … Continued
Enzymes control reaction selectivity via substrate binding to enable biosynthetic sequences in a cellular environment. The range of substrates and reactions compatible with known enzymes, however, is limited relative to those developed by chemists. It is as if enzymes act as hands to link molecules together like Lego bricks, but only certain bricks and linkages … Continued
My group has demonstrated and developed femtosecond two dimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy as the optical analog of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. This technique has provided new windows into vibrational motions, electronic motions, and their coupling. Our group currently uses two-dimensional spectroscopy to study the fast electronic and vibrational motions required for efficient electronic processes in … Continued
My research group focuses on three main areas of materials chemistry: 1) The development of conducting polymer nanofibers with applications in sensors, flash welding, actuators and membrane separations; 2) New synthetic routes to carbon-based materials focusing on energy storage including supercapacitors; and 3) Solid-state routes to refractory materials with an emphasis on superhard metal borides.
Our most significant research accomplishments have involved using resonance Raman spectroscopy to learn about the structure and dynamics of molecular excited electronic states. This includes experimental methods for measuring absolute resonance Raman cross-sections as well as computational methods for carrying out efficient simulations of resonance Raman and associated spectroscopic observables using a time-domain formulation of … Continued
The goal of my research program is to develop a microscopic understanding of how coupled electronic, vibrational, and solvent/bath degrees of freedom optimize charge and energy transfer pathways in molecular photochemistry. The direct time-dependent visualization of charge delocalization is a crucial first step in understanding charge and energy transfer and subsequently designing molecules and materials … Continued