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.
Physical & Theoretical Chemistry
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

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
- Quantum computing
- Actinide structure and transport
- Molecular computing
- Computational biophysics

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 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