Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

Research in theoretical and experimental physical chemistry includes ultrafast study of reaction dynamics, photoacoustics, applications of chemical physics to medical imaging, novel spectroscopic methods, computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, and molecular interaction in liquids. The heart of Brown’s experimental research in physical chemistry is the use of multiple ultrashort-pulsed laser systems, allowing ultrafast time-resolved methods for electron diffraction, spectroscopy, and x-ray absorption.

Associated Faculty

Yusong Bai

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest

  • Ultrafast spectroscopy
  • Optical microscopy
  • Excitons
  • Quantum materials

Christoph G. Rose-Petruck

Professor of Chemistry

Areas of Interest

  • Ultrafast x-ray science
  • Ultrafast spectroscopy of chemical reactions
  • Medical x-ray and ultrasound imaging
  • X-ray microscopy
Dr. Brenda Rubenstein

Brenda M. Rubenstein

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Areas of Interest

  • Theoretical quantum chemistry and physics
  • Stochastic methods for electronic structure theory
  • Strongly correlated and relativistic materials
  • Alternative computing including: Quantum, molecular, neuromorphic, and biological computing
  • Equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics
  • Computational biophysics
Emily Sprague-Klein

Emily Sprague-Klein

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Areas of Interest

  • Photo-electrochemistry & Catalysis
  • Single Nanoparticle Optical Spectroscopy
  • Vibrational Spectroscopy
  • Optical/X-ray Transient Absorption Spectroscopy
  • Surface Science and Soft Nanomaterials

Richard M. Stratt

Newport Rogers Professor of ChemistryProfessor of Physics

Areas of Interest

  • Theoretical chemistry
  • Molecular dynamics in liquids
  • Ultrafast spectroscopy

Lai-Sheng Wang

Jesse H. and Louisa D. Sharpe Metcalf Professor of ChemistryChair, Department of Chemistry

Areas of Interest

  • Experimental Physical Chemistry
  • Nanoclusters and Nanomaterials
  • Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Photoelectron Imaging
  • Electrospray Ionization and Cryogenic Ion Traps
  • Boron Clusters and Transition Metal Clusters
  • Multiply-Charged Anions and Dipole-Bound States
Peter Weber

Peter M. Weber

Jesse Houghton Metcalf Professor of Chemistry

Areas of Interest

  • chemical reaction dynamics
  • ultrafast laser spectroscopy
  • molecular beam spectroscopy
  • multi-photon processes
  • photoionization
  • photoelectron spectroscopy