Summary

Light is an attractive stimulus for molecular reactions. Light can be delivered remotely with high spatio-temporal control simply by turning on and off a light switch. Photoactive compounds are molecules that respond to light by undergoing chemical or photophysical changes. Combined with light stimulation, photoactive compounds can be used to generate fluorescence signals, deliver chemical reagents such as proton and electron, and catalyze chemical and biochemical reactions. 

In our laboratory, we design, synthesize and study novel photoactive compounds targeting chemical and biological applications. With the help of analytical techniques and theoretical calculations, we understand the mechanistic underpinnings of the activation and deactivation of excited states by competing chemical reactions and intermolecular interactions. We harness this understanding to design and develop new and better photoactive compounds for further applications with improved outcomes.   

Our projects are highly multidisciplinary. Students from various STEM fields work on these projects. Students remain involved in every aspect of the projects: starting from molecular modeling, multi-step organic synthesis, designing and conducting chemical and biochemical experiments, analyzing data, and communicating work through publications and presentations at conferences and symposiums.