Our work centers on the study of basic light-induced phenomena in DNA nanostructures, organic macromolecules, and in nanoscale organic-inorganic hybrid materials. We are particularly interested in studying new materials that are designed to achieve a particular photophysical response that may be useful for photonics-based applications. Currently our group is applying the methods of structural DNA nanotechnology to design, synthesize, and characterize chromophore networks organized by DNA scaffolds for artificial light harvesting, biosensing, and nanophotonics applications. We are also interested in the physical mechanisms by which such supramolecular antennae funnel photoexcitations to a specific site, where they may then actuate another process (such as an electron transfer) with another nanostructure. We use a variety of static and time-dependent spectroscopic techniques, as well as single molecule spectroscopy methods in our studies. Our laser facility includes a regeneratively amplified titanium sapphire laser system, optical parametric amplifiers, a picosecond dye laser system, a time-correlated photon counting system, spectrometers for fluorescence and broadband transient pump-probe spectroscopy, and a confocal microscope system for single molecule detection.

 

key words

DNA nanostructures; Photonics; Energy transfer; Photophysics; Single molecule spectroscopy;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants