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

Analytical Chemistry Seminar- Dr. Matt Zart

Thursday, April 2, 2026 12:30pm
North Hall

Organic Chemistry Seminar- Justin Mohr of UI-Chicago

Thursday, April 2, 2026 12:30pm
Chemistry Building

"Regio- and Stereocontrol with Anions and Radicals"

Abstract: Dienolates and their synthetic equivalents provide a versatile platform for regioselective functionalization reactions owing to their ambident reactivity, although factors influencing site selective vary widely. We have extensively explored radical additions to neutral polarized dienes as a potential solution to the problem of regiocontrolled γ-functionalization of cyclic ketones and related congeners. Integral to these studies are the...

Final Thesis Defense- Vidumini Samarasiri (Forbes Group)

Friday, April 3, 2026 9:00am
Blank Honors Center

"From Adsorption to Stability: Water behavior in Metal Organic Nanotubes"

Colloquium- Niri Govind

Friday, April 3, 2026 3:30pm to 4:20pm
Pappajohn Business Building

Niri Govind- Physicist at PNNL

https://www.pnnl.gov/people/niri-govind

"Shining Light and Making Molecules Dance: Theoretical Explorations in X-ray Spectroscopies and Ultrafast Dynamics"

Abstract: Understanding how charge and nuclear motion evolve within a molecule following photoexcitation is central to unraveling the fundamental principles that govern photoinduced processes in chemistry and materials. X-rays, with their element-specific sensitivity, provide a unique window into these ultrafast...

Three Month Seminar- Janeshta Fernando (Stone Group)

Monday, April 6, 2026 8:00am
Chemistry Building

"Wet deposition of bioaerosol tracers”

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University Professional Development Events

Reluctant Leadership/Management for Mid-Career Librarians promotional image

Reluctant Leadership/Management for Mid-Career Librarians

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Virtual

Kellee E. Warren is Associate Professor and Special Collections Librarian for University of Illinois Chicago, where her current research is on teaching with Chicago design collections and Black representation in nineteenth century children’s literature in the U.S.. In this presentation, she will facilitate a candid discussion on the benefits and challenges of advancement into management and leadership for both early and mid-career librarians. While some early career librarians have the curiosity...

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

Tippie College of Business Coffee Time, Graduate Programs for UIHC Employees promotional image

Tippie College of Business Coffee Time, Graduate Programs for UIHC Employees

Thursday, April 9, 2026 9:00am to 12:00pm
UI Hospital
Tabling event with free coffee and swag for all UIHC employees!
Protecting Water, Protecting Community: Short Films & Dialogue on Indigenous Land and Water Defense promotional image

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

Thursday, April 9, 2026 5:00pm to 7:00pm
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, a Plains Cree/Saulteaux citizen of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and the founder and executive director of the Great Plains Action Society, will...

Iowa Law Virtual Panel: “What I Wish I Knew as a New Lawyer”

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual

Virtual Panel: “What I Wish I Knew as a New Lawyer”

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Noon-1 p.m.

Zoom event

What I Wish I Knew as a New Lawyer is a virtual conversation designed for recent Iowa Law graduates navigating the transition from law school to practice. Alumni panelists will share candid reflections on their first years as lawyers—what surprised them, what they learned the hard way, and what they wish they had known sooner. From managing expectations and workplace dynamics to career pivots...

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