A broad spectrum of experimental and theoretical research projects is available for advanced study in physical chemistry. Emphasis in experimental physical chemistry includes the energetics, structures, intermolecular interactions, chemical kinetics, reaction dynamics, optical and electronic properties of neutral molecules, and ions in the gas phase and condensed phases.
A variety of experimental techniques such as femtosecond spectroscopy, ion cyclotron resonance (ICR), laser spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are utilized. The emphasis in theoretical chemistry is on ab initio quantum chemistry, molecular modeling, and molecular dynamics simulation. In addition to making new breakthroughs in basic understanding, the research in physical chemistry has applications in a number of areas such as the design of super-functional molecular assembly, solvation of ionic clusters in electrolytes, peptide mass mapping, protein structure and folding, and the optical and electronic properties of a wide variety of materials including DNA-lanthanide complexes, nanoparticles, self-assembled aggregates, semiconductor quantum dots, and super-functional molecular assembly.
The research in physical chemistry also offers exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary research through collaborations with other faculty in Chemistry Department as well as the Department of Life Sciences, Physics, Materials, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Many faculty members are members of campus organizations and programs that promote these interdisciplinary projects such as the Basic Science Research Institute, the Center for Integrated Molecular Systems, and the Bio-nanotechnology Center.

Taiha Joo, Kwang Soo Kim, Hee Cheon Lee, Seung Koo Shin, Sungjee Kim, Ji Hoon Shim, Young Min Rhee