Physical Organic, Organometallic, & Bioinorganic Chemistry.
​The Kuo lab uses physical methods to study transition metal compounds. These compounds model important catalytic processes -- reactions of industrial importance and/or reactions that occur within enzymatic active sites. We then consider how to apply that information towards the catalysis of chemical transformations. Our research interests span the traditional disciplines of inorganic, organic, and to a lesser extent biological and materials chemistry.

Group News


  • August 21, 2026: Seth Wade successfully defended his M.S.! He's off to D.C. to do forensics!
  • August 14, 2026: The group was awarded an NSF CAREER award administered by MPS - CHE - CMFP!
  • August 13, 2026: Jonathan was invited to participate in the Organic Synthesis Young Investigator Workshop. Grateful for the opportunity!
  • August 8, 2026: Nisha has successfully defended her Ph. D.! Dr. Nisha will be joining LG/Honda in Ohio! 
  • July 12, 2026: Karli Sipps has successfully defended her Ph. D.! Dr. Sipps is off to Argonne National Lab! 
  • June 23, 2026: Jonathan presents at the Telluride Conference in Small Molecule Activation
  • May 28, 2026: The group participates in PSU's Bioinorganic Workshop. Go Team NMR!\
  • April 22, 2026: Seth Wade passes his comprehensive exam!
  • April 2, 2026: Isaac Jonker passes his comprehensive exam!
  • December 15, 2025: Jonathan presents two talks at Pacifichem!
  • November 8, 2025: Four members of the group attended Ohio Inorganic Weekend at Kent State. Shannon Leahy received a prize for best poster presentation! Congratulations!
  • November 5, 2025: Ethan successfully passes his comprehensive exam!
  • October 23, 2025: Nisha has received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Research. Congratulations!
  • December 4, 2024: Alisha Wang has joined the group as a first year student, Welcome!
  • March 3, 2024: Jonathan delivers a seminar at Binghamton University, Department of Chemistry.
  • December 4, 2023: Seth Wade, Arkopal Nandy, Ethan Kang, and Isaac Jonker have joined the lab as first year students! Welcome!
  • December 1, 2023: The group celebrates a "Post-Comps Smackdown" ft. newly minted Ph.D. candidates Karli, Nisha, and Shannon! 
  • October 23, 2023: Jonathan delivers a seminar at Millersville University.
  • January 29, 2023: Nathan Imgrund has joined the group as a graduate student researcher. Welcome!
  • December 1, 2022: Alex Arnette has joined the group as a graduate student researcher. Welcome!
  • October 14, 2022: Undergraduate Ryan Lai received the second place in the Physical Division of the Eberly College of Science Poster Competition. 
  • July 10, 2022: The group welcomes Dr. Saeed Fosshat, who is joining us as a postdoctoral scholar. 
  • June 27, 2022: The group welcomes visiting scholar Prof. Wan-Yi (Amy) Chu, who is joining us from Mills College. Welcome!
  • June 16, 2022: The group has been awarded an ACS PRF grant through the Doctoral New Investigator program
  • March 25, 2022: Undergraduates Ashley Driesbach and Ryan Lai have both received Benkovic Summer Undergraduate Awards! Congratulations!
  • January 3, 2022: Undergraduate Ashley Driesbach has joined the group.
  • December 1, 2021: First year graduate students Karli Sipps, Nisha Nisha, and Shannon Leahy have joined the group! Welcome!
  • September 1, 2021: Undergraduate Ryan Lai has joined the group
  • August 1, 2021: Our lab doors have opened.
  • May 13, 2021: Jonathan has accepted the invitation to join Penn State Chemistry. Go Nittany Lions!
  • March 28, 2021: Jonathan is assembling a website -- it's a dream come true!