My research uses computers to solve rigorous mathematical equations that explain how electrons move throughout and between chemical systems. Solving these equations helps us understand chemical processes that are either too fast or too small to measure using current experimental methods! However, solving these equations for molecules of interest takes a very long time (weeks to months). Thus, I’m interested in evaluating approximate mathematical models and improving their rigor while maintaining simplicity.

A focus of my research is to understand the fluorescence of polymeric carbon dots. These molecules have been observed to glow in various colors with possible exciting applications in LEDs and bioimaging, but the reason for fluorescence is unknown due to the complex structure of the molecule. Thus, I hope to bring insight into the nature of the fluorescence of these materials.