Michael Wasielewski, Northwestern University
Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Michael Wasielewski, Northwestern University
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar
Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity in Electron Donor-Acceptor Systems
by Michael Wasielewski, Northwestern University
Abstract: The role of chirality in determining the spin dynamics of photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor molecules leading to radical pairs that can function as spin qubit pairs remains an open question. While chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS) has been demonstrated in molecules bound to metal or semiconductor substrates, until now there was no experimental information about whether the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling of the substrate influences the spin dynamics within the molecules themselves. Here we use time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that CISS strongly influences the spin dynamics of isolated covalent donor-chiral bridge-acceptor (D-Bc-A) molecules in which selective photoexcitation of…
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, November 17, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Libai Huang, Purdue University
Materials Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Libai Huang, Purdue University
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar
Imaging Exciton Transport and Quantum Interactions with Ultrafast Microscopy
by Libai Huang, Purdue University
Abstract: At the most fundamental level, transport of energy carriers (such as electrons and excitons) in the solid state is determined by their wavefunctions and the interactions with the lattices and the environment. Wave properties of these particles have profound consequences in their transport. The key difficulties in probing transport in the quantum regime in real materials lie in the fast (picosecond or shorter) dephasing processes and the nanoscale localization lengths. Thus, to image the motion of excitons in their natural (quantum) time and length scales, experimental approaches combining spatial and temporal resolutions are necessary.
To address this challenge, my research group has developed the combined use of optical microscopy and ultrafast…
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, November 20, 2025, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Tucker Carrington, Queen's University
Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Tucker Carrington, Queen's University
Exceptionally accurate ro-vibrational energy levels and tunnelling splittings of water dimer
by Tucker Carrington, Queen's University
Abstract: We have used (contracted) basis functions that incorporate coupling between inter-molecular coordinates and coupling between intra-molecular coordinates and an iterative eigensolver to compute many energy levels of water dimer (a 12-D problem). The water monomers are completely flexible. We solve the full problem in a basis of products of intramolecular and inter-molecular functions. Intra-molecular coordinates specify the shape of the monomers and intermolecular coordinates specify the relative orientation of the two monomers and distance between them. We are able, for the first time, to compute many monomer-excited states water dimer. To solve the intra-molecular and inter-molecular problems we use the Lanczos algorithm, exploiting the product structure of the primitive basis.…
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, December 1, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Shannon Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Shannon Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison
TBBC 4630 (4th floor Thatcher)
Title: TBA
by Shannon Stahl, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract: TBA
Host: Chem SAC.
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Ann Wuttig, University of Chicago
Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ann Wuttig, University of Chicago
In-person seminar
4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher
Electrocatalytic Synthesis with Interfacial Control
by Ann Wuttig, University of Chicago
Abstract: Chemical synthesis driven by electricity offers a scalable, decentralized, and energy-efficient route to furnish value-added products – from fuels to complex molecules. Maximizing reaction efficiency and durability requires immobilized catalytic active sites on electrodes, resulting in dispersed and non-uniform sites. This heterogeneity challenges iterative optimization of reactivity through traditional catalyst modifications, which rely on uniform, singular active sites. This lecture will focus on our research developing synthetic tools and concepts to predictively control interfacial structures at heterogeneous and reusable electrodes at the molecular level. Surface-sensitive techniques and mechanisms will be highlighted throughout the talk. Applications of our…
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Monday, December 8, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
David Nagib, Ohio State University
Organic Seminar at the University of Utah
with David Nagib, Ohio State University
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar
Harnessing Radical and Carbene Polarity in Organic Synthesis
by David Nagib, Ohio State University
Abstract: Radical and carbene chemistry can afford opposite or orthogonal reactivity to classic two-electron pathways. By developing radical chaperone strategies that merge open (1e-) and closed shell (2e-) processes, we have harnessed this complementary reactivity (and polarity) to impart new types of chemo-, regio-, and stereo- selectivity for remote, double, or reversed C-H and C-O functionalizations of alcohols, amines, and carbonyls. These carbene and radical chaperone strategies are continually being developed to streamline the synthesis of complex, medicinally relevant molecules and heterocycles. This seminar will highlight our newest, most exciting chemistry and the mosaic of champions behind these discoveries.
Host: Qilei Zhu.
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, December 11, 2025, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Robert Baker, Ohio State University
Physical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Robert Baker, Ohio State University
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In person seminar
Elucidating Charge, Spin, and Solvation Dynamics at Catalytic Interfaces
by Robert Baker, Ohio State University
Abstract: At the heart of many energy conversion and information processing technologies is the need to control charge and spin transport in systems that are far from equilibrium. This can never be accomplished without the ability to probe these dynamics on the relevant scales of time and space. High harmonic generation enables the production of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light with femtosecond to attosecond pulse durations. Like X-ray absorption, XUV spectroscopy is element specific, providing chemical details such as oxidation state, spin state, and coordination environment of individual elements in complex materials. To extend this technique to study electron dynamics at surfaces and interfaces, we have pioneered XUV transient reflection to serve as a…
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Andrew McNally, Colorado State University
Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University
In-person seminar
4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher
Title: TBA
with Andrew McNally, Colorado State University
Abstract: TBA
Host: Qilei Zhu.
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago
Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago
TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-person seminar
Title: TBA
by Guangbin Dong, University of Chicago
Abstract: TBA
Host: Qilei Zhu.
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.
Jun Ohata, North Carolina State University
Organic Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Jun Ohata, North Carolina State University
4630 TBBC
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar
Title: TBA
by Jun Ohata, North Carolina State University
Abstract: TBA
Host: Andrew Roberts.
Event Categories: Seminars. Campus Locations: Thatcher Chemistry Building (TBBC). Campus Wide Event: Yes.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM.