Synthesizes and characterizes molecular magnets and metal-organic frameworks, using spectroscopy and electronic structure methods to design molecular spin qubits for quantum information science.

Develops balloon-borne and ground-based cosmic microwave background instrumentation (e.g., SPIDER, BICEP-family experiments) to search for inflationary gravitational-wave signatures.

Studies tidal disruption events and other optical transients from supermassive black holes using time-domain spectroscopic and photometric surveys.

Uses X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) with XANES spectroscopy at synchrotron light sources to map crystal orientation and amorphous-to-crystalline transitions at ~10 nm resolution in biominerals (coral skeletons, sea urchin spines, mollusk nacre, tooth enamel).

Uses single-molecule fluorescence microscopy in live bacteria to study stochastic gene expression, chromosome organization, and cell-to-cell variability.

Studies experimental quantum optics and atomic physics, including quantum light-matter interfaces, quantum memories, and single-photon sources based on atom-like emitters in solids, for applications in long-distance quantum communication and quantum networking.

Develops all-glass optical microresonator (microtoroid) platforms for label-free single-molecule and single-particle spectroscopy, extending single-molecule methods beyond fluorescent labels to study catalysis, protein folding, and photovoltaic materials.

Studies active galactic nuclei and supermassive black holes using reverberation-mapping and time-domain spectroscopy (e.g., SDSS).

Studies surface and interface chemistry of diamond and other materials, including the chemical functionalization and stabilization of near-surface NV and silicon-vacancy color centers used in diamond-based quantum sensors, in collaboration with the Choy group.

Develops microfluidics and imaging-based spatial-omics technologies for high-resolution, high-throughput assays and modeling of complex biological systems, including bottom-up construction of synthetic cells.