Welcome to the DWJ Group

   Our lab works in the area of synthetic and materials chemistry studying physical organic chemistry, environmental chemistry, sustainability, and molecular recognition. We are well known for our work in “supramolecular” materials and physical organic chemistry, where we rigorously investigate emerging weak intermolecular interactions that lead to the organization of molecules and assemblies in solution and condensed phases. We take inspiration in challenges affecting human health and environmental sustainability, including: discovering greener routes to fabricate metal oxide films for electronic devices and as replacements for “forever chemicals” (PFAS); designing efficient “self-assembly” routes to complex organic cage compounds that may serve as self-healing materials or high-value polymers for devices and electronics; and designing materials that can “sense” and report on small molecules and anions. The research in the group spans a diverse range of disciplines: organic synthesis of ligands and receptors; inorganic chemistry of supramolecular coordination complexes and inorganic clusters; computer modeling and ligand design; physical organic chemistry of host-guest and metal-ligand complexes; and materials science of supramolecular assemblies. The characterization of these nanoscale molecules requires investigation by X-ray crystallography, calorimetry, multidimensional NMR techniques, and other spectroscopic methods.

     While fundamental science is the basis of and fuels our research program, the DWJ-Lab also actively pursues applications stemming from our research. Many students in the lab perform internships at national labs, startup companies, and/or industry to pursue applied science. We partner with UO’s graduate internship programs to provide experiential learning opportunities for Masters and PhD students. In addition, we work with UO's Materials Science Institute to participate in a "Lens of the Market (LoM)" professional development program. LoM is administered by ecosVC and provides professional development in innovation and entrepreneurship to graduate students to translate research into commercial innovations. As one specific example, former DWJ graduate student Alex Rosen just launched AlChemy Coatings out of his PhD research and is now funded by a National Science Foundation STTR grant to grow the startup company.