The Physical Chemistry graduate program at the University of Colorado at Boulder ranked 8th nationally (2023 US News & World Report) and has strong connections to JILA, a joint institute with NIST, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and CIRES. Researchers here can often synthesize methods and viewpoints from academically distinct disciplines. The division has an excellent history and tradition in both theory and experiment and is rapidly developing its unique strengths in new research directions. Research efforts span a large variety of current questions in physical chemistry, from the structure and reactivity of gas-phase molecules and clusters to processes on surfaces and interfaces to ion solvation and ultrafast dynamics in photochemistry and biomolecules, often with a focus on interdisciplinary work involving research in biophysical chemistry, nanoscience or renewable energy. Faculty members use state-of-the-art experimental techniques e.g., mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, ultrafast spectroscopy, and high-resolution microscopy. A strong group of faculty members working in various areas of theoretical chemistry seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the physical principles underlying chemistry and to obtain theoretical methods with high predictive power, explaining current experiments and guiding future studies.
Research spans the gamut from fundamental questions about reactivity and dynamics on surfaces, in gas and liquid phases, to more applied topics in materials and nanoscience, climate science, biophysical chemistry, and renewable energy. Experimental groups use and design state of the art techniques, from high-resolution microscopy to ultrafast laser spectroscopy. Theoretical groups develop both computational and analytical methods to answer complex problems that often complement experimental studies.
Faculty in this area:
Veronica Bierbaum: Physical Chemistry, Reaction Dynamics, Kinetics/Thermochemistry, Atmospheric/Astrochemistry, Trace Gases & Radicals *no longer accepting graduate students
Jordy Bouwman: Interstellar (prebiotic) hydrocarbons, physical chemistry, (laser) spectroscopy, quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry, threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy, quantum chemical computations.
Steven Brown: Atmospheric nitrogen oxides, nighttime tropospheric chemistry, and high sensitivity optical instrumentation
Tanja Cuk: Physical Chemistry, Heterogeneous Catalysis/Reaction Dynamics, Material Surfaces, and Renewable Energy
Niels Damrauer: Photochemical Reactions & Multi-electron Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Photochemistry, Reaction Dynamics
Gordana Dukovic: Physical Chemistry; Nanotechnology/Materials; and Renewable Energy
Joel Eaves: Biophysics; Chemical Physics; Nanotechnology/Materials; Physical Chemistry; and Theoretical Chemistry
Steven George: Surface Chemistry, Nanotechnology/Materials, Physical Chemistry, Renewable Energy
James Hynes: Biomolecules; Catalytic Reactions related to Solar Energy; Dynamics of Chemical Reactions and Energy Flow in Solution; and Theoretical Chemistry *no longer accepting graduate students
Ralph Jimenez: Biophysics, Chemical Dynamics, Fluorescence Imaging, Photophysics
David Jonas: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Renewable Energy, Biophysics, Reaction Dynamics, Nanotechnology/Materials
Carl Lineberger: Reaction Dynamics,*no longer accepting graduate students
Josef Michl: Inorganic, Physical, Photochemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Organic, Physical Organic
Andres Montoya-Castillo: Physical, Materials/Nanoscience
David Nesbitt: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Spectroscopy, Atmospheric Chemistry, Astrochemistry, Biophysics, Interfaces, Nanomaterials
Arthur Nozik: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology/Materials, *no longer accepting graduate students
Jihye Park: Inorganic; Nanotechnology/Materials; Photochemical Reactions & Multi-electron Chemistry; Physical Organic Chemistry; Renewable Energy
Robert Parson: Reaction Dynamics, Theoretical Chemistry
Garry Rumbles: Photochemistry, Kinetics/Thermochemistry, Physical, Renewable Energy
Sandeep Sharma: Physical Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, Metalloenzymes, Gas phase Kinetics
Rex Skodje: Renewable Energy, Reaction Dynamics, Surface Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry *no longer accepting graduate students
Veronica Vaida: Environmental Chemistry, Aerosols & Clouds, Trace Gases & Radicals, Renewable Energy, Atmospheric/Astrochemistry *no longer accepting graduate students
J. Mathias Weber: Chemical Physics, Photochemistry, Reaction Dynamics, Nanotechnology/Materials, Renewable Energy
Wei Zhang: Organic, Nanotechnology/Materials, Renewable Energy