research
|by division
|physical Division
The concepts of physical chemistry are central to all of molecular science: from the laws describing the properties and reactivities of molecules and clusters in the gas phase, to the principles that govern the structure and dynamics of molecular assemblies in the condensed phase and at interfaces; to the design of new materials and devices. Physical chemistry underpins all other branches of chemistry. For example, the theory and practice of NMR spectroscopy as it is known today had its origins in the fundamental research of many pioneering physical chemists and their research groups. Paul Lauterbur, a Ph.D. graduate of this Department and a world-renowned physical chemist, received the 2003 Nobel Prize in medicine for the development of magnetic resonance imaging. Physical chemistry also plays an important role in many other fields, including environmental science, materials science, biology, and engineering. Members of our Physical Chemistry Group are involved in a range of collaborative, multidisciplinary research projects with researchers in other parts of the University including Physics, the Medical School and the School of Engineering, as well as at other Universities, National Laboratories, and Industry. Here, we briefly describe ongoing research activities in physical chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. |
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FACULTY MEMBERS ENGAGED IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
Faculty |
Research Interests |
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Protein folding, binding and catalysis Computational chemistry Tumor suppressor p53 is a medically important system that we study with the goal of linking malfunctions at the molecular level to clinical data. |
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Nanostructured and Nanoporous Materials Computationally designed nanoporous zeolite structure. |
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Rosi Group: Nanomaterials, Self-Assembly, Porous Materials, Nanoparticle Assemblies Bio-inspired assembly of molecular and nanoparticle building blocks |
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 Sandy Asher |
Collidal Particles Protein Folding Nanomaterials Intelligent Polymerized Crystalline Colloidal Array (IPCCA) |
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 Rob Coalson |
Biological Ion Channels Collodial Particles Computational Chemistry The Coalson group works on structure and function of ion channels, with special emphasis on calculating the rates of ion permeation through an open channel pore. |
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 Michael Golde |
Atmospheric Chemistry |
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 Joe Grabowski |
Ion-Molecule Reactions Trace Detection of VOCs Reactive Intermediates Innovation in Education Computed potential energy surface that allowed us to explain our observations of curved kinetic behavior for deprotonated furan reacting with carbon tetrachloride |
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 Ken Jordan |
Nanomaterials Computational Chemistry Hydrogen-bonding Electron Initiated Chemistry
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 Hrvoje Petek |
Nanomaterials Ultrafast Dynamics The calculated structure (left) and electronic distribution of partially hydrated electron states (white, right) of 1.0 ML H2O and 0.5 ML H covered TiO2 surface |
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 David Pratt |
Molecular Clusters Electronic Spectroscopy Biomolecules in the Gas Phase Nucleation and Crystallization Science for non-Scientists
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 Sunil Saxena |
Dynamics of Biomolecules FT-ESR 2D ESR spectra of spin-labeled macromolecules reveal molecular dynamics in "real time" |
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 Peter Siska |
Penning Ionization Molecular Reaction Dynamics Crossed molecular beam electron spectrometer of the Siska group |
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 Megan Spence |
NMR Spectroscopy Membrane Structure Structural studies of ion channel inhibitors isolated from tarantula venom |
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 Alex Star |
Nanomaterials Biological Sensors Schematic of a carbon nanotube-based sensor for aromatic hydrocarbons |
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 Dave Waldeck |
Solvent Dynamics Charge Transfer Processes Molecular Motion
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 John T. Yates, Jr. |
Nanomaterials Surface Science Photo-kinetic detection of hole-traps in TiO2 |
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