Welcome 2024-25 First Year Graduate Students!
The Therien Lab at Duke University is home to graduate and undergraduate students in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as Post Doctoral Scholars. Students and Post-docs are encouraged to explore a broad range of interests and develop both theoretical and experimental skills. Undergraduates, Graduate Students, and Post-Docs interested in joining the Therien Group are encouraged to please navigate this site to learn more information. Reach out to any graduate student, we’d love to share our work with you!
Therien Lab News
Feburary 2025 – New Published Journal Paper
“De Novo Design of Proteins That Bind Naphthalenediimides, Powerful Photooxidants with Tunable Photophysical Properties” has been published in Journal of the American Chemistry Society. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c18151
December 2024 – Welcome New Lab Members!
Sontee Irvin, Sangwon Nam, Jianan Yang and Xin-Yi Ye have joined the Therien group!
November 2024 – New Group Photo
New group picture taken as we celebrated Jiaqi’s defense!
November 15, 2024 – Doctoral Defense
Jiaqi Zhu successfully defended his doctoral dissertation “Manipulating Spin States, Spin Transmission, and Charge Transfer Using Optical and Electrical Fields”. Congratulations Dr. Zhu!
November 2024 – New Published Journal Paper
“Efficiency Limits of Energy Conversion by Light-Driven Redox Chains” has been published in Journal of the American Chemistry Society. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c13345
November 4, 2024 – Doctoral Defense
Jamie Alatis successfully defended his doctoral dissertation “Mechanisms of Charge Transfer Reactions in Rylene-Based Polymer-Wrapped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Superstructures”. Congratulations Dr. Alatis!
October 2024 – New Published Journal Paper
“Fluence-Dependent Photoinduced Charge Transfer Dynamics in Polymer-Wrapped Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” has been published in Journal of the American Chemistry Society. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c11118
October 2024 – New Published Journal Paper
“Coherence in Chemistry: Foundations and Frontiers” has been published in Chemical Reviews. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00643
August 2024- Farewell Ethan!
We celebrated the last day Ethan the selfie king with us.
July 2024- Farewell Nat and John!
We celebrated the last day high schoolers, Nat and John, were with us. We are very grateful for Ethan’s .5 selfie skills.
July 2024- Farewell Rui!
We celebrated Rui’s last day and all of his contributions to the lab throughout these years. All the best at DKU, Professor Liu!
July 2024 – Farewell Minting!
We celebrated the last day Minting with us before she returned to Hong Kong.
April 10, 2024 – Doctoral Defense
Jarrett Mansergh successfully defended his doctoral dissertation “Underpinning Biological Energy Transduction via Naphthalene Diimide Molecular and de novo Protein Constructs.” Congratulations Dr. Mansergh!
March 2024 – New Published Journal Paper
“Band gap opening of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes via noncovalent symmetry breaking” has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2317078121
November 2023 – New Published Journal Paper
“Electron Spin Polarization and Rectification Driven by Chiral Perylene Diimide-Based Nanodonuts” has been published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02722
August 2023 – Gordon Research Conference!
Several members of the Therien lab traveled to New England to collaborate with top innovators in photochemistry and chiral spin filtering.
Jiaqi, Victoria, and Erin (former lab member-now Postdoc at MIT) at GRC Photochemistry
Lindsay, Jamie, and their new friend Thalia (UCLA) on a hike during GRC Electron Spin Interactions with Chiral Molecules and Materials.
Riley and Jamie eating their lobster (a GRC tradition) on the last night!
July 2023 – New [summer] Lab Members!
Welcome to the lab Ethan and John! Ethan and John are two high school students who are helping Jamie and Riley purify commercial carbon nanotubes to yield samples highly enriched in a single allotrope of carbon nanotubes.
May 11, 2023 – Farewell Zach!
We celebrated Zach and all of his contributions to the lab on his last day with us 🙁 Best of luck in Chicago!
May 11, 2023 – Farewell Fran!
We celebrated one last time with Francesco at El Corral (a group favorite!) before he heads out to Portland. We’ll miss you Francesco!!
April 24, 2023 – Duke’s Visible Thinking
Xander Wilcox presented his poster on photoinduced charge transfer in polymer wrapped SWNTs at Visible Thinking, an annual event that celebrates the achievements of undergraduate researchers who received grants from the URS Office. Congratulations on all your hard work Xander!
April 10, 2023 – New PhD Candidates
Lindsay Pederson and Riley Stephenson both passed their preliminary exams on the same day! A lot to celebrate in the Therien Lab!! Congratulations Lindsay and Riley!
April 4, 2023 – Doctoral Defense
Zachary Widel successfully defended his doctoral dissertation “Modulating the Dynamics of Charged and Photoexcited-States in Molecular and Nanoscale Systems.” Congratulations Dr. Widel!
March 31, 2023 – Doctoral Defense
Francesco Mastrocinque successfully defended his doctoral dissertation “Engineering Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Assemblies for Chiro-Optic Applications.” Congratulations Dr. Mastrocinque!
January 2023 – New Publication
Congrats to Rui, Jiaqi, Lindsay, Victoria, and Jarrett on their paper “Synthesis and Functionalization of Electron-deficient Perfluoroalkyl Porphyrin Building Blocks for Supermolecular Systems.”
November 2022 – New Published Journal Paper
“Ionic dielectrics for fully printed carbon nanotube transistors: impact of composition and induced stresses” has been published in Nanoscale. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR04206A
August 2022 – New Published Journal Paper
“Regulating Singlet–Triplet Energy Gaps through Substituent-Driven Modulation of the Exchange and Coulomb Interactions” has been accepted in J. Am. Chem. Soc. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c06713
May 2022 – Farewell to Ms. Meikle
We wish Hope the best in her next position!
April 2022 – Farewell to Dr. Peterson
We thank Dr. Peterson for all their contributions to the lab and wish the best for their postdoctoral research at MIT!
March 2022 – Master’s Defense
Congratulation to Hope Meikle for her master’s defense!
March 2022 – Doctoral Defense
Erin Peterson successfully defends their doctoral degree. Congratulations to Dr. Peterson!
March 2022 – New Group Picture
New group picture taken as we celebrated Erin’s defense!
February 2022 – New Published Journal Paper
“Twisted molecular wires polarize spin currents at room temperature” has been accepted in PNAS.https://www.pnas.org/content/119/6/e2116180119
December 2021 – Welcome New Lab Members!
Lindsay Pederson and Riley Stephenson have joined the Therien group!
October 2021 – New Published Journal Paper
“Spinning Molecules, Spinning Spins: Modulation of an Electron Spin Exchange Interaction in a Highly Anisotropic Hyperfine Field” has been accepted in ACS Omega. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c03490
September 2021 – New Published Journal Paper
“Excited-State Dynamics and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Hyperpolarizable Chromophores Based on Conjugated Bis(terpyridyl)Ru(II) and Palladium and Platinum Porphyrinic Components: Impact of Heavy Metals upon Supermolecular Electro-Optic Properties” has been accepted in Inorganic Chemistry. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02041
August 2021 – Farewell to Dr. Ko
Thank you Dr. Ko for all your contributions. We know you will strive in your next position. Go! Go! Dr. Ko
July 2021 – Farewell to Dr. Nayak
We hope that Dr. Animesh Nayak will have a bright, successful future in his next position as an Assistant Professor at Shiv Nadar University.
June 2021 – Group Dinner Time
Although 2020 was a remarkably difficult year, it looks like things are starting to look up. We are now able to gather outside, and we had a great time celebrating each other at Namu!
June 2021 – Doctoral Defense
Chih-Hung Ko successfully defends his doctoral degree. Congratulations to Dr. Ko!
June 2021 – New Published Journal Paper
“EPR of Photoexcited Triplet-State Acceptor Porphyrins” has been accepted in J. Phys. Chem. C. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c03278
May 2021 – New Published Journal Paper
“Printable and recyclable carbon electronics using crystalline nanocellulose dielectrics” has been accepted in Nature Electronics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-021-00574-0
April 2021 – New Group Picture
We have new group picture with our newest lab members. To comply with Duke’s Covid-19 policies, everyone’s picture was taken individually.
April 2021 – Farewell to Dr. Bullard
We thank Dr. George Bullard for his contributions to the lab.
April 2021 – Welcomes New Lab Member!
Victoria Cinnater has joined the Therien group.
February 2021 – New Published Journal Paper
“De Novo Design, Solution Characterization, and Crystallographic Structure of an Abiological Mn–Porphyrin-Binding Protein Capable of Stabilizing a Mn(V) Species” has been accepted in JACS. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c10136
February 2021 – New Logo
New Year and New Logo. We thank Dr. George Bullard for our new design at the top of this page!
November 2020 – Doctoral Defense
George Bullard successfully defends his doctoral degree. Congratulations to Dr. Bullard!
October 2020 – Welcomes New Lab Member!
Hope Meikle, a first year student in the Materials Science and Engineering Masters Program, has joined the Therien group.
August 2020 – New published Journal Paper
“Driving high quantum yield NIR emission through proquinoidal linkage motifs in conjugated supermolecular arrays” has been accepted in Chemical Science. DOI: doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03446K
August 2020 – New Published Journal Paper
“Topology, Distance, and Orbital Symmetry Effects on Electronic Spin–Spin Couplings in Rigid Molecular Systems: Implications for Long Distance Spin-Spin Interactions” has been accepted in JPCA. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c06112
August 2020 – New Published Journal Paper
“Electronic structure and photophysics of a supermolecular iron complex having a long MLCT-state lifetime and panchromatic absorption” has been accepted in PNAS. DOI: doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2009996117
January 2020 – Welcomes New First Years!
Jamie Alatis, Jarrett Mansergh and Jiaqi Zhu have joined the Therien group.
January 2020 – New Coffee Machine
While the molecules are being synthesized in the hood, coffee is being brewed in the office. We love our new KEURIG machine!
January 2020 – Group Dinner Time
Former lab member Dr. Yusong Bai visited Therien group on Friday. We had a great night with him at Namu.
November 2019 – New Published Journal Paper
“Orientational Dependence of Cofacial Porphyrin-Quinone Electronic Interactions within the Strong Coupling Regime” has been accepted in JPCB. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b07627
August 2019 – New Published Journal Paper
“Low-Resistance Molecular Wires Propagate Spin Polarized Currents” has been accepted in JACS. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b06142
August 2019 – New Published Journal Paper
“Excitation energy-dependent photocurrent switching in a single-molecule photodiode” has been published in PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907118116
August 2019 – New Published Journal Paper
“Mapping hole hopping escape routes in proteins” has been published in PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906394116
June 2019 – Welcomes New Lab Member!
Postdoc Rui Liu has joined the Therien group.
June 2019 – New Published Journal Paper
“Engineering opposite electronic polarization of singlet and triplet states increases the yield of high-energy photoproducts” has been published in PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1901752116
January 2019 – New Group Picture
January 2019 – Welcomes New Lab Members!
Francesco Mastrocinque has joined the Therien group.
October 2018 – New Published Journal Paper
“Quantitative Evaluation of Optical Free Carrier Generation in Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” has been published in JACS. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b05598
July 2018 – New Published Journal Paper
“Solvent- and Wavelength-Dependent Photoluminescence Relaxation Dynamics of Carbon Nanotube sp3 Defect States” has been published in ACS Nano. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b02909
August 2018 – Welcomes New Lab Members!
Postdoc Dr. Animesh Nayak has joined the Therien group.
June 2018 – Farewell to Dr. Bai
We had a great night at El Corral!
January 2018 – Welcomes New First Years!
Erin Viere has joined the Therien group.
January 2018 – New Published Journal Paper
“Dynamics of charged excitons in electronically and morphologically homogeneous single-walled carbon nanotubes” has been published in PNAS. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1712971115
November 2017 – Doctoral Defense
Ting Jiang and Yusong Bai successfully defend their doctoral degree. Congratulation to Dr. Jiang and Dr. Bai!
November 2017 – New Published Journal Paper
“Molecular Road Map to Tuning Ground State Absorption and Excited State Dynamics of Long-Wavelength Absorbers” has been published in JACS. DOI:10.1021/jacs.7b09982
August 2017 – New Published Journal Paper
“NIR-emissive PEG-b-TCL Micelles for Breast Tumor Imaging and Minimally Invasive Pharmacokinetic Analysis” has been published in Nanoscale. DOI:10.1039/C7NR02363D
June 2017 – New Published Journal Paper
“Engineering High-Potential Photo-oxidants with Panchromatic Absorption” has been published in JACS. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b04400
June 2017 – New Published Journal Paper
“Alkyne-Bridged Multi[Copper(II) Porphyrin] Structures: Nuances of Orbital Symmetry in Long-Range, Through-Bond Mediated, Iso-tropic Spin Exchange Interactions” has been published in JACS. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b03252
May 2017 – Doctoral Defense
Ruobing Wang successfully defends his doctoral degree. Congratulation to Dr. Wang!
April 2017 – New Published Journal Paper
“On the Importance of Electronic Symmetry for Triplet State Delocalization” has been published in JACS.
March 2017 – New Group Picture!
Group picture and current members have been updated.
January 2017 – Welcomes New First Years!
Chih-Hung Ko and Zachary Widel have joined the Therien group.
March 2015 – Doctoral Defense
Congratulations to Dr. Chrissy Hofmann on a successful defense!
January 2015 – Doctoral Defense
Congratulations to Dr. Josh Stecher on a successful defense!
January 2015 – Welcomes New First Years!
George Bullard has joined the Therien group.
November 2014 – Doctoral Defense
Congratulations to Dr. Jeff Rawson on a successful defense!
May 2014 – Welcomes Undergraduate Researchers!
Welcome to undergraduate researchers Rachel Carpenter and Sam Drajesk who will be joining our lab this summer as part of the MRSEC-REU program.
March 2014 – Welcomes New Lab Members!
Welcome to our new post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Melanie O’Sullivan.
November 2013 – Doctoral Defense
Congratulations to Dr. Ian Stanton on a successful defense!
July 2013 – Doctoral Defense
Congratulations to Dr. Jaehong Park on a successful defense!
May 2013 – Welcomes Undergraduate Researchers!
Welcome to undergraduate researcher Amanda Marsh who will be joining our lab this summer as part of the NSF-REU program.
