Faculty

Website: Nesmelov Lab Biological molecular motors. We study myosin molecular motor. Myosin interacts with two ligands, ATP and actin, thus performing cyclic conformational change and producing force. We are interested in microscopic mechanism of myosin function, and regulation of myosin and actomyosin kinetics. In our work we combine protein mutagenesis, labeling, and different methods of […]

Website: Nesmelova Lab Structure-function-dynamics of proteins, protein-protein interactions, translational diffusion of proteins, and protein-stabilized metal nanoclusters. Experimental biophysics at the nanoscale. We investigate how structure, dynamics, and interactions with binding partners define the function of a protein. The goal is to use this information for protein engineering and design of therapeutic compounds. We use a […]

Website: Poler Research Group Studies of supramolecular systems “mechanically wrapping” about nanotubes, nanoparticles, and quantum dots. Elucidating energy and charge transfer mechanisms. Manufacturing nanomachines, nanosensors, nanotransducers and nanoparticle based composites for energy storage applications. Most of our research interests are toward the fundamental studies of complex systems at the nanoscale with regard to applications of […]

Website: Schmedake Research Group Synthesis of novel silicon containing compounds and materials, especially compounds or complexes in which silicon is used as a substitute for a carbon atom or a transition metal. Specific focus areas include redox-active hexacoordinate silicon complexes, silicon heterocycles, and silicon-based conducting polymers. Our research group is interested in the development of […]

Website: Troutman Research Group Bacterial sugar polymer biosynthesis; functional studies of membrane bound proteins; development of probes to study biological systems. We utilize techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, enzymology and organic synthesis to develop bioactive materials and understand the natural pathways responsible for them.

Website: V-Lab Group Design and synthesis of novel hybrid inorganic-organic materials for a wide variety of applications, predominantly in biomedicine, renewable energy, and catalysis. Our vision is that by combining basic science understanding with material science, some of the most relevant problems (cancer and other diseases, energy, and environmental issues) of our time will be […]

Website: Walter Research Group Synthesis and integration of organic conjugated polymers and dye molecules for solar energy conversion applications. Our work involves applications related to photocatalysis, materials for photovoltaic or solar fuel applications. Our work spans materials research, organic synthesis, hybrid organic/inorganic systems, and nanoscience. We are particularly interested in enhancing the light harvesting and […]

Website: Xu Group Synthesis of novel low-dimensional nanomaterials and exploration of their unique properties. The Xu Group is interested in synthesizing one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials with a focus on boron-based materials, studying mechanical properties of individual 1D nanostructures, exploring thermoelectric properties of boron-based 1D nanostructures, and developing functional nanocomposities.

Website: Zhang Group Synthesis and characterization of thin films and nanostructures of functional materials; Electrical and optical measurements; Device fabrication for electronic and photonic applications. Our research objective is to study functional materials in forms of thin films and nanostructures for electronic and photonic applications, ranging from material synthesis and characterization, property measurement, to device […]

Website: Zhang Research Group Novel materials (nanostructures, alloys, inorganic-organic hybrids) and device architectures for energy and related applications (photovoltaics, solid-state-lighting, photo-detector); Fundamental sciences in solid state physics and electrical engineering; Optical spectroscopy; Large scale first-principles and empirical electronic structure modeling.