Caltech Postdocs Launch – November 8, 2024

Lunch will be served for the regular attendees.

Dr. Zhe (Jake) Guang

From Fundamentals in Ultrafast Optical Measurements to Potential Biomedical Imaging Applications

This talk explores the fundamentals of ultrafast optical measurement techniques and their potential applications in biomedical imaging. Ultrafast optical technologies, such as femtosecond lasers and time-resolved spectroscopy, provide unparalleled temporal resolution, enabling the capture of rapid biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels. Further, fundamental physics phenomena such as pulse propagation in optical fibers and nonlinear material interaction can be studied with ultrafast optics. By linking the principles of ultrafast optics to real-time medical imaging advancements, the talk highlights potential breakthroughs in disease detection, functional imaging, and enhanced resolution for complex biological systems.

Dr. Stephen DiLuzio

Uncovering Ir(III) Photocatalyst Structure-Activity Relationships with Data-Driven Methods

Photocatalysts drive sustainable chemical transformations by absorbing light and storing its energy in the form of chemical bonds. For inorganic transition metal photocatalysts, the observed reactivity often depends on the molecular structure of the ligands around the transition metal center. Uncovering which features of molecular structure ultimately controls photocatalyst reactivity is crucial to unlock highly active light driven systems. This works centers on using high-throughput synthesis and experimentation to generate large libraries of structurally diverse Ir(III) photocatalysts to uncover robust structure-activity relationships for photophysical dynamics and photocatalytic activity in solar energy conversion systems.