Research
Optical spectroscopic techniques, such as UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, and light scattering are three of the most widely used methods in chemistry, biology, and material sciences. The primary focus of our research group focuses on the development and improvement of optical spectroscopic techniques. To date, we have developed numerous optical spectroscopic measurement techniques and models for improved material characterization. Our research focuses on numerous techniques, including linearly-polarized resonance spectroscopy (also known as polarized resonance synchronous spectroscopy), integrating-sphere assisted resonance spectroscopy, integrating-sphere-assisted UV-vis spectroscopy, UV-Vis extinction, Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Feel free to check out the "Tutorials" page for more information on the applicability and usefulness of our developed measurement techniques.
The applicability of our developed techniques covers a broad field of applications, including Biology, Agriculture, Food Science, Environment Science, Nanomaterials, and more!
Current achievements by students in the lab include:
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4 - 12 first-authored publications as a PhD student
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National conference poster awards yearly
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Department-, college-, and university-wide research awards
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ACS Fellowship Award
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Participating in NSF- and NIH-funded projects
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Professional networking through collaborations
​The group is currently being funded by NSF Grant CHE 2203571 and NIH Grant # P20 GM103646, with numerous grants being submitted yearly.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about collaboration, research, or possibly joining the lab!
Instrumentation
Multi-track CCD-equipped spectrometer
Custom-made spectrometer equipped with top-of-the-line ANDOR CCD allows for multichannel spectral acquisition at a millisecond time-scale. This highly sensitive spectrometer is commonly utilized with 3D-printed, custom-made sample holders to obtain a broad range of differing spectra.
Raman spectrometer
Raman spectrometer equipped with a microscope and CCD for high-precision and accuracy Raman spectral aquisition.
Integrating-sphere assisted resonance synchronous spectra
The spectrofluorometer is also used to obtain integrating-sphere assisted resonance synchronous spectra to quantitatively decouple double-beam absorption and scattering in complex samples.
Linearly-polarized resonance spectra
The spectrofluorometer is used to obtain fluorescence spectra, resonance-synchronous spectra, total-luminescence spectra, and linear-polarized resonance spectra (a technique we developed). Our spectrofluorometer is also equipped with a temperature controller and auto-titrator.
UV-Vis Extinction
Double-beam UV-Vis spectrometer allows for double-beam UV-Vis, temperature controlled UV-Vis, and integrating sphere-assisted UV-Vis.
