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Posted: Thursday, November 8, 2012

Fall 2012 Chemistry/Physics seminar

David McCamant, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Rochester, will present his research talk "Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy to Study UV Damage of DNA and the Photochemistry of Solar Energy" at 12:30 p.m. today, Thursday, November 8, in Science Building 272. An abstract of his talk appears below.

Before his presentation, from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., McCamant will converse with undergraduate and graduate students at Buffalo State regarding the graduate program at the University of Rochester. This private conversation will be held in Science Building 271C.

This seminar is sponsored by the Auxiliary Services Grant Allocation Committee, the Vice President for Student Affairs Office, and the Faculty-Student Association.

Abstract
Physical chemistry can make important contributions toward solving current challenges in the fields of biophysics and renewable energy. In particular, photochemistry provides a deep understanding of issues such as the damage to DNA imparted by ultraviolet light and the molecular mechanisms of solar energy conversion.

The McCamant lab uses ultrafast lasers with pulse durations on the order of a ten-millionth of a millionth of a second (10-13 s = 100 fs) to study these processes and thereby provides new fundamental understanding of the molecular dynamics that drive them. Our studies of DNA photochemistry have contributed to our understanding of the complex electronic structure of photo-excited DNA oligomers. Our femtosecond transient absorption studies of molecules used for solar hydrogen production reveal important mechanisms of energy and electron transfer in these systems. This talk will present this work as well as an overview of opportunities for research in graduate school at the University of Rochester.

Submitted by: Jinseok Heo
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