Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Sep 2017 - Present

Project A: Investigation of excited state photophysics for energy conversion (1) Designed and synthesized open-shell organic radicals with structural variations (2) Probed the impact of radical structures to excited state photophysics with steady-state and transient optical spectroscopy (collaboration with Prof. Tianquan Lian, Emory University) Project B: Discovery and developments of new polymerization methods (1) Explored new photoredox catalysts with variable optical/electronic properties (2) Established polymerization protocols for multiple acrylic monomers with potential industrial applications (3) Elucidated the mechanisms of the photocatalytic living radical polymerization Other responsibilities:(1) Mentored graduate/undergraduate students in research projects and technical instructions (2) Conducted routine inspections as the lab safety personnel (3) Contributed to obtaining NSF grants of $800,000 in research funding (CHE-1710225/1821863)

Postdoctoral Fellow

• Nov 2015 - Aug 2017

Achieved near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging of targeted cancer cells (1) Prepared polymers with incremental structural changes and measured optical properties (2) Optimized polymer nanoparticles for imaging folate-receptor (+) cells in NIR region (collaboration with Prof. Georgia Chen) (3) Prepared antitumor prodrugs for stimulated release in drug delivery studies Additional Responsibilities: (1) Mentored graduate/undergraduate students in research projects and technical instructions (2) Conducted routine inspections as the lab safety personnel (3) Launched and updated group website on WordPress platform (4) Managed stock for bulk chemicals and lab supplies

Research Assistant

• Jan 2010 - Oct 2015

Research topic: Interfacial charge transfer of surface-active dye assemblies (1) Designed and synthesized molecular assemblies of organic dyes, optimized reaction conditions (2) Characterized the product by NMR, MS, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy (3) Studied electrochemical and ultrafast optical properties of molecular assemblies in solution (4) Obtained self-assembled monolayers of the dyads by adsorption onto the transparent conductive oxides (5) Examined charge separation of surface-bound dyads with attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and surface electrochemistry Additional Responsibilities: (1) Outsourced research supplies and bulk chemicals for the research group (2) Mentored undergraduate students on research projects

Teaching Assistant

• Aug 2009 - May 2015

Undergraduate Research Assistant

• Mar 2008 - Jun 2009

Hydrothermal preparation of metal oxide nanocrystals and characterizations by SEM and XRD