Uses ultrafast multidimensional spectroscopy to study structural dynamics of biomolecules. Directions: (1) 2D IR spectroscopy of protein folding, water dynamics, and membrane systems with sub-100-fs time resolution; (2) single-molecule FRET for resolving conformational heterogeneity in proteins and nucleic acids; (3) development of ultrafast mid-IR laser sources and pulse shaping for 2D spectroscopy. Resolves dynamics inaccessible to other methods.

Develops multidimensional coherent spectroscopy methods, including label-free multidimensional optical imaging/contrast techniques applied to cancerous tissue and nanoscale heterostructures.

Develops multidimensional (2D IR/visible) ultrafast spectroscopy and new ultrafast optical microscopies, applying temporally- and spatially-resolved coherent spectroscopy to protein structure/dynamics and label-free tissue imaging.