I am interested in elucidating the electronic structure of curcumin, an extract from turmeric. Curcumin has been tested in hundreds of drug trials. Ultimately, the electronic structure determines how a drug interacts with proteins. Our lab is also interested in the photostability of indigo, the most common dyeing agent. The study of indigo's photostabiilty pairs well with our lab's interest in the origins of life. The canonical nucleobases, which life chose to use as our genetic material, also have high photostability and interesting excited state dynamics.
I am also a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Reserves, as a combat engineer.