Developing the Next Generation of EPR Spectroscopy

Do you want to build new spectroscopic tools that reveal chemistry as it happens? Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is a powerful, non-destructive technique that can detect short-lived reactive intermediates, track electron transfer, and determine the electronic structure of catalytic, biological, and functional materials. Advances in instrumentation and experiment design are rapidly expanding the scope of EPR, creating exciting opportunities at the interface of chemistry, physics, and engineering.

This project focuses on developing next-generation EPR and magnetic resonance methods. Research areas include in situ and operando EPR spectroelectrochemistry, transient EPR of photoinduced states, and emerging approaches that combine electric fields with magnetic resonance. Opportunities also exist in the design and simulation of microwave resonators and bridge components for advanced instrumentation. Projects can be aligned with collaborative research programs spanning catalysis and energy conversion (Yin and Liu groups), molecular and quantum materials (Chilton group), and biological and biomolecular spectroscopy (Huber group).

A complementary research direction uses Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy to investigate highly spin-orbit-mixed electronic states relevant to catalysis, energy conversion, molecular magnetism, and advanced materials. Emerging applications include quantum sensing, operando studies of functioning devices, and the development of new spectroscopic tools for probing electronic structure and spin dynamics. These projects combine spectroscopy, instrumentation, modelling, and fundamental chemistry, offering opportunities to help shape the future of magnetic resonance science.