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Faculty Research Interests

 
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Analytical)
Atmospheric aerosols, pulmonary surfactant, and interfacial electric fields are investigated by surface spectroscopy and imaging methods to reveal the driving forces of molecular organization that then impact atmospheric chemistry and lung function. Advanced surface spectroscopic methods are also being developed.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Lipids & Membranes
  • Environmental Science
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division
My group focuses on developing novel synthetic hosts for trapping molecules and promoting chemical reactions.
  • Physical Organic Chemistry
  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division
Challenges in chemical detection; new mass spectrometry methods; diagnosis of disease, detection of illicit drugs, and discovery of biomarkers. Novel analytical platforms that enable the use of charged micro-droplets as reaction vessels. Top-down proteomics.
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Catalysis
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division (Inorganic, Physical)
Ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy, Catalysis for energy conversion and storage, CO2 reduction, Water oxidation, Interfacial charge transfer, Nanoparticle catalysis
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Catalysis
  • Surfaces & Interfaces
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division (Biochemistry)
We design and synthesize polymer, peptide, lipid and nucleic acid constructs to  achieve controlled chemical delivery in vivo. Research efforts begin with chemistry and trace a path through biophysical, biochemical and cell culture studies.
  • Chemical Biology
  • Drug Delivery
  • Biomaterials
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
We are developing authentic research experiences for introductory biology labs. In one project, students isolate a bacteriophage from soil samples, then work in small groups to annotate a phage genome. In another class, students isolate novel fungal endophytes and look for secreted enzymes.
  • Molecular Biology
  • Chemical Education
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Analytical, Biochemistry)
Our research program focuses on protein dynamics (enzymes, regulatory and intrinsically disordered proteins) in relationship to function using NMR and long MD simulations. It also covers Metabolomics of complex biological samples to uncover the metabolic response to health and disease.
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • NMR
  • Theory & Computation
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division (Inorganic, Physical)
Electrochemistry.  Electrocatalysis.  Materials for energy storage.  Kinetics and Mechanism.  Surface and interfaces.  In-situ methods for real-time measurements of electrochemical processes.
  • Electrochemistry
  • Batteries
  • Surfaces & Interfaces
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Analytical)
The Coe Group develops applications of plasmonics, records infrared spectra of single inhalable dust particles, and is developing an infrared probe for detecting cancer.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Environmental Science
  • Cancer
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division (Biochemistry)
Project areas include cellular biosynthesis and trafficking of complex metal cofactors, design and study of catalytic metallodrugs, metallopeptide and metallosugar chemistry, and the role of metal ions in various aspects of neuroscience, by use of chemical, physical, and molecular biology tools.
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • Protein Structure & Folding
  • Chemical Biology
Ross Dalbey
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
My lab discovered YidC, which is essential for insertion of proteins into membranes in bacteria.  Our research is starting to use a range of biophysical approaches, i.e., fluorescence spectroscopy, sophisticated electron paramagnetic resonance spin labeling, and single molecule approaches to examine the dynamics and structural relationships of membrane insertion events. We are elucidating the functional interactions in the YidC/Sec holo-insertase complex with and without substrate.  Another objective is to identify the substrate features of multispanning membrane proteins that determine selection of YidC and SecYEG translocase pathways in E. coli.
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymes
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division
Microporous materials synthesis; photochemistry in microporous materials; harsh environment sensors; toxicity of mineral fibers
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
  • Microporous & Mesoporous Materials
  • Photochemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division
Synthesis of complex, biologically active organic molecules based upon natural product templates; enabling synthetic methods; selective protein serine-threonine inhibition; mechanism of action of the phorboxazole, thyrsiferyl, and apratoxin natural products
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Natural Products
  • Chemical Biology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division (Physical)
Protein and nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) structure and dynamics; gene regulation; allostery; DNA recombination; riboswitches; transcription; enzyme dynamics; oligomeric assemblies; NMR spectroscopy; calorimetry; modeling; drug discovery.
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • NMR
  • RNA
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
We design new materials for next-generation electronics and devices, catalysis, and medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Our lab is multidisciplinary, combining synthetic organic, inorganic, and solid-state chemistry, with insight and measurements from the condensed-matter physics, materials science, and biomedical communities.
  • Inorganic Materials
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Solid State Chemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
(i) RNase P as a model system to uncover mechanisms of protein-aided RNA catalysis. (ii) Metabolism of Amadori compounds by Salmonella.
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymes
  • RNA
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Physical)
Our research interests focus on the use of magnetic resonance to probe dynamics and structure in non-crystalline solids and energy-related materials.   Motivated by the challenges of such difficult-to-characterize materials we have developed numerous magnetic resonance methodologies, theories, and analyses over the years.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • NMR
  • Inorganic Materials
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division
The primary focus of our research efforts is the elucidation of the structure and dynamics of photo-generated transient species.  We use a variety of time-resolved spectroscopies to probe energy and electron transfer in chemical and biological systems.
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
  • Photochemistry
Christopher Hadad
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Organic Division (Biochemistry, Physical)
Biochemical applications in which organic transformations occur in an enzyme's active site; reactive oxygen species and reactive intermediates in biochemical, atmospheric (environmental) and combustion environments; catalysts for improved conversion of chemical feedstocks
  • Physical Organic Chemistry
  • Computational Chemistry
  • Energy & Fuels
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division
Electronic structure theory and molecular quantum mechanics, especially for condensed-phase systems and excited states; development of quantum chemistry software.
  • Theory & Computation
  • Chemical Information & Modeling
  • Photochemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division
Mass spectrometry and proteomics.
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
The Jackman lab uses enzyme kinetics, model organism genetics, and RNA biochemistry to uncover the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of tRNA processing and modification enzymes that catalyze critical reactions in biology.
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymes
  • RNA
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Analytical, Biochemistry)
Development of multidimensional solid-state NMR methods and their  applications to structural and dynamic analysis of large biomacromolehummocular protein-protein and protein-DNA assemblies, including amyloids and chromatin.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • NMR
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Biochemistry, Inorganic)
Femtosecond spectroscopy of biomolecules and nanomaterials for solar energy conversion and photocatalysis; photoinduced proton-coupled electron transfer in molecular and nanoscale systems; exciton and carrier dynamics in earth-abundant metal oxides.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Solar Energy Conversion
  • DNA & Chromatin
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
We investigate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in metastasis of human tumors and in immune response. Additionally, we study modes of toxicity of bacterial toxins and mechanisms employed by human immune peptides to intercept bacterial and viral infections.
  • Enzymes
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Molecular Basis of Disease
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Biochemistry)
Simulations of biomolecules, computational protein structure prediction from sparse experimental data, and computer-aided drug discovery
  • Theory & Computation
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Protein Structure & Folding
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division (Organic)
Combinatorial and statistical approaches to protein stability, structure and function; protein folding; protein engineering; protein therapeutics
  • Chemical Biology
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Protein Structure & Folding
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division (Inorganic)
Research in the McGrier group focuses on utilizing novel synthetic methods to create functional porous and polymeric materials that can be useful for environmental safety, device applications, and clean energy technologies.
  • Organic Materials
  • Microporous & Mesoporous Materials
  • Photochemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
Structure and function of RNA-protein interactions critical for assembly of HIV-1 and other retroviruses; Quality control by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and related trans-editing enzymes.
  • Chemical Biology
  • RNA
  • Enzymes
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division
Developing multi-faceted approaches for selective C-H and C-O activation, using combinations of radical (1e-) and closed shell (2e-) processes.
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Catalysis
  • C-H Activation
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which nucleic acids regulate basic cellular processes such as gene expression.
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • RNA
  • Molecular Biology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division
Our research involves new materials to enhance analytical separation science.   Recent areas of research include studies of biologically relevant compounds and improvements in chromatographic efficiency and ionization efficiency in surface assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) using nanoparticle and nanofiber arrays and devices.
  • Separation Science
  • Mass Spectrometry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
Synthetic protein chemistry; expressed protein ligation; solid phase chemical ligation; histone post-translational modification; nucleosome structure and dynamics
  • Chemical Biology
  • Protein Structure & Folding
  • DNA & Chromatin
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division
Our research revolves around the theme of organic nanotechnology. We focus on the synthesis and assembly of organic nanomaterials that function as catalysts, optoelectronics, biomedical materials and drug delivery vectors.
  • Organic Materials
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Catalysis
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division (Organic)
Discovery and delivery of macrocyclic compounds as chemical probes and therapeutics against protein-protein interactions; delivery of proteins and nucleic acids into mammalian cells
  • Chemical Biology
  • Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
  • Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division
Major areas of our research are in the development new catalytic enantioselective methods  for C-C, C-H and C-N bond formations using readily available organic precursors and catalysts, and, applications of the newly developed methods for the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules.
  • Organic Synthesis
  • C-C Coupling
  • Catalysis
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division (Biochemistry, Physical)
Research in the Schultz Lab, focuses on developing chemical measurement tools relevant to biomedical diagnostics and materials characterization.  We are investigating questions in metabolomics, protein receptor signaling, and active plasmonics.
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Molecular Basis of Disease
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Organic Division (Analytical, Inorganic)
Our research targets the development of new strategies for safe, sustainable, and scalable organic synthesis and energy storage that exist at the interface of homogeneous catalysis and electrochemistry.
  • Organic Synthesis
  • Catalysis
  • Energy & Fuels
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division (Biochemistry, Inorganic)
Combining metalloprotein engineering, spectroscopy, inorganic chemistry, electro- and photochemistry, and computational methods to investigate mechanisms of bioinorganic systems with relevance to energy conversion and disease.
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Enzymes
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division
Our group develops theory for condensed phases: liquids, solids, and aerosol droplets.  Recent interest, which relates to nanotechnology, explores how electric fields can direct fluid flow in small channels.  We have also developed a successful theory for transitions among the many phases of ice.  Our interests also extend to the properties of amyloid fibrils.
  • Theory & Computation
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Surfaces & Interfaces
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Physical Division
Research in the Sokolov group aims to develop new theoretical methods for the simulations of light-induced and non-equilibrium processes in chemical systems with complex electronic structure.
  • Theory & Computation
  • Physical Inorganic Chemistry
  • Photochemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division (Physical)
We use experimental and computational tools to discover structure-function relationships in macromolecular complexes involved in mechanotransduction and selective cellular adhesion.
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Theory & Computation
  • Neuroscience
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division
Regulation of flavin cofactor redox chemistry; cofactor/protein interactions; macromolecular structure/function; protein engineering
  • Enzymes
  • Protein Structure & Folding
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
Synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry; design of sustainable catalysts featuring metal-metal bonds and non-innocent ligand platforms; spectroscopic and computational studies of inorganic and organometallic complexes.
  • Inorganic Synthesis
  • Catalysis
  • Physical Inorganic Chemistry
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
The use of light to initiate chemical reactions with applications in solar energy conversion and to release therapeutic agents; understanding the fundamental processes that take place after molecules absorb a photon using ultrafast spectroscopy.
  • Physical Inorganic Chemistry
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • Solar Energy Conversion
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
Synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry; synthesis and applications of metal-organic frameworks; design and study of new homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts;
  • Inorganic Synthesis
  • Catalysis
  • Microporous & Mesoporous Materials
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
Our research efforts seek to understand existing functional materials and discover new ones.  We are currently developing nontoxic, solution processable materials for use solar cells and LEDs. We are also striving to understand the magnetism of oxides containing 5d transition metal ions.
  • Inorganic Materials
  • Solid State Chemistry
  • Solar Energy Conversion
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division (Analytical, Organic, Physical)
Wu group has been working at the interface of synthetic molecular chemistry, solid state materials chemistry, and (photo)electrochemistry. Our current focuses are dye-sensitized solar cells, metal-air batteries, and (photo)electrocatalysts for solar fuels. We utilize knowledge, concepts and techniques from chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering to create new materials, explore new sciences, and enable new applications.
  • Inorganic Materials
  • Batteries
  • Catalysis
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Biochemistry Division (Physical)
My research interests are mainly focused on using biochemical and biophysical techniques to investigate the structure and functional dynamics of biomolecules and their interaction which are important for their biological functions.
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Chemical Biology
  • Cancer
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Physical Division
Our focus is aerosol science: experiments and simulations that investigate the formation, growth and structure of nanodroplets, as well as phase transitions that occur within nanodrops. We also explore biomedical applications of aerosol science.
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Environmental Science
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Analytical Division (Biochemistry)
We develop surface-induced dissociation ion mobility/high resolution MS for large non-covalent protein and nucleoprotein complexes, define peptide fragment structures with IR action spectroscopy, and perform metabolomics and proteomics research.
  • Analytical Spectroscopy & Spectrometry
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Inorganic Division
Biomimetic catalysts, Homogeneous catalysts for solar-to-fuel conversion, Organic radical batteries, Methane oxidation, Halogen photoelimination, Electrochemical energy storage.
  • Inorganic synthesis
  • Bioinorganic chemistry
  • Batteries
Department of Physics
Physical Division (Biochemistry)
Femtobiology; biomolecular interactions; protein dynamics
  • Experimental Physical Chemistry & Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Biophysics & Structural Biology
  • Protein Structure & Folding