Assistant Professor
Degrees and Appointments
- Ph.D. (moved with advisor during completion)
- 2019 - 2021, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 2021 - 2023, Purdue University
- Postdoctoral Fellow, 2024 - Present, Leiden University
Awards and Honors
- National Institute of Justice Graduate Student Fellowship, 2021 - 2023
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2025 - Present
When we think of chemistry, we often picture beakers, test tubes, and flasks. In reality, some of the most interesting chemistry happens in the tiniest corners of the universe, for example, in/on cellular compartments, aerosols, and interstellar dust. Our lab explores microenvironments—places where different phases meet to drive extraordinary reactions. We design innovative measurement techniques to probe these complex spaces, looking for chemistry that does not happen in bulk, continuous systems.
From uncovering how nature drives fundamental transformations—such as catalyzing biochemical reactions in cell-sized volumes—to leveraging emulsions for directed syntheses in electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis, our overarching goal is to understand and control reactivity in tailored environments. Vital to our explorations is electrochemistry. Its principles inform our physical models, and its techniques provide remarkably sensitive information on physicochemical processes at interfaces.
Looking beyond the lab, electrochemistry offers a practical advantage: it's low-cost, portable, and simple — ideal for real-world applications (consider the glucometer!). One urgent application is addressing the opioid crisis. As potent drugs like fentanyl become more widespread and street drugs are increasingly contaminated, overdose deaths have surged—reaching approximately 80,000 per year in the U.S. alone. Our group is developing fast, reliable sensors to detect illegal substances in powders, saliva, and even breath. We're focused not only on creating new detection methods but also on ensuring these smart, affordable tools reach the hands of people who need them.
In our lab, students will gain a deep understanding of electrochemistry—from fundamental electrocatalysis on single-crystal electrodes to advanced nanoelectroanalytical methods like single-entity collision experiments. They will also develop expertise in surface characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electrochemical microscopy. Along the way, they will become confident with nanofabrication, electronics and simulation software—creating nano- and microelectrodes, building simple circuit boards and using finite element modeling.