Title: "Gaining orbital control in f-element chemistry: informed design of new quantum systems"

Abstract: The chemistry of f-element based system is fundamentally distinct from that of metals in other regions of the Periodic table. Defined by valence electrons in f-orbitals—often considered core-like—f-elements have long been described within an ionic bonding framework. Recent advances in the synthesis of novel f-element compounds challenge this paradigm, revealing new opportunities for precise chemical control. My research program builds upon this emerging perspective, spanning length scales from discrete molecules to extended materials. We have developed ligand platforms that promote covalency in f-element complexes and investigated electronically driven phase transitions in f-element based materials. By harnessing extreme pressures—equivalent to the interiors of planets—we achieve orbital-specific tuning of electronic structures. This approach offers a path toward controlling electron and spin states in these systems, with far-reaching implications for critical materials separations, nuclear waste remediation, and quantum information science.