Grp photo 2025 Fall

Our research focus can be summarized as analytical surface-science. Nearly all of our research is based on measurements of chemical interactions with surfaces, and most of our instrumentation is specifically designed to examine interfacial phenomena. If you've ever wondered why oil spreading on water looks like a rainbow, why you can only make sand castles with wet sand, or how Rain-X® keeps your windshield so clean, you might be interested in our work. We use precice measurements of chemical behaviors to create new, fundamental understanding of these types of questions to address important challenges in environmental remediation, materials development, and energy science. 

Detailed descriptions of our research projects and some laboratory pictures can be found within this website.  If you have questions, feel free to send us an email or arrange a visit to our lab.  Follow us on Twitter @shawschem (group) or @shawchem (Prof Shaw)

Research for All

The Shaw group accepts that scientific advancement suffers without participation from all varied communities. We proactively engage all people regardless of status or ability. We acknowledge institutional challenges within the sciences, both for and against, certain groups of people. To counter this and provide clearer pathways to success, we work to create an inviting and enjoyable environment to do, and share, good science for all. Through formal training and informal interactions, we continuously strive to improve ourselves while advocating for each others’ success. We hope our efforts will support positive changes within our field.

 

Event and news feeds

Departmental Events

P-Chem & Environmental Seminar- Toyin Abidemi Sunday (Margulis group)

Monday, March 23, 2026 12:30pm
Chemistry Building

Excess Electrons in Ionic Liquids

Physical & Environmental Chemistry Seminar- Toyin Sunday (Margulis Group)

Monday, March 23, 2026 12:30pm
Chemistry Building

"Excess Electrons in Ionic Liquids"

Organic Seminar- Anusha Manganahalli (Williams group)

Thursday, March 26, 2026 12:30pm
Chemistry Building
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University Professional Development Events

Departmental Brown Bag: Aspen Holm and Kien Hyun promotional image

Departmental Brown Bag: Aspen Holm and Kien Hyun

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Psychological and Brain Sciences Building

Brown Bag events feature presentations by Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate students from the Cognitive and Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience training areas.

Aspen Holm is a Graduate Student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Aspen is in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience training area and is a member of the LaLumiere Lab.

Kien Hyun is a Graduate Student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Kien is in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience traini...

Beyond ESG: How Environmental Governance Actually Works Inside Companies promotional image

Beyond ESG: How Environmental Governance Actually Works Inside Companies

Monday, March 30, 2026 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Boyd Law Building

Join the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Vanderbilt Law School’s Private Climate Governance Lab, and the Tippie Social Impact Community for the fourth and final program in the Private Sector and the Planet series. We are pleased to welcome Jessica Hinman, Director of Sustainability & CSR at Krause Group.

In her talk, “Beyond ESG: How Environmental Governance Actually Works Inside Companies,” Jessica will move beyond the public-facing conversation about Environmental, Social, and Governance...

Departmental Brown Bag: Woo-Tek Lee promotional image

Departmental Brown Bag: Woo-Tek Lee

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Psychological and Brain Sciences Building

Brown Bag events feature presentations by Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate students from the Cognitive and Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience training areas.

Woo-Tek Lee is a Graduate Student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Woo-Tek is in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience training area and is a member of the Jiang Lab.

Title and abstract to come

Protecting Water, Protecting Community: Short Films & Dialogue on Indigenous Land and Water Defense

Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:30pm to 7:15pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)

Join us for an evening of short films and community conversation exploring movements to protect water, land, and community.

The program will feature a curated selection of short films highlighting water protection movements in the Midwest, and beyond. Following the screenings, Dakota elder and historian Tim Mentz Sr. and Sikowis Nobiss, Cree-Saulteaux of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and the founder and executive director of the Great Plains Action Society, will participate in a...

Departmental Brown Bag: Kaitlyn Jones and Johnny Peters promotional image

Departmental Brown Bag: Kaitlyn Jones and Johnny Peters

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Psychological and Brain Sciences Building

Brown Bag events feature presentations by Psychological and Brain Sciences graduate students from the Cognitive and Behavioral Cognitive Neuroscience training areas.

Kaitlyn Jones is a Graduate Student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Kaitlyn is in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience training area and is a member of the LaLumiere Lab.

Johnny Peters is a Graduate Student in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Johnny is in the Behavioral & Cognitive...

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