RESEARCH DESCRIPTION
Performing measurements on individual molecules, single-molecule spectroscopy, opens a profoundly informative window into the behavior and properties of chemical systems by revealing heterogeneity in molecular properties and critical unsynchronized dynamics that are obscured in ensemble measurements. We aim to develop new single-molecule techniques and apply them to outstanding and socially relevant problems in chemistry, materials science, and biophysics. Research targets will include novel mechanistic studies of homogeneous catalysts, investigation of electronic properties of conjugated polymers relevant for organic photovoltaic devices, and analysis of protein conformational dynamics. Our efforts will employ creative combinations of fluorescence microscopy, nanophotonics, and chemical synthesis to find the best means of studying our chemical systems of interest.