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 chemistry.

Group News


  • November 8, 2025: Four members of the group attended Ohio Inorganic Weekent at Kent State. Shannon Leahy received a prize for best poster presentation! Congratulations!
  • 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!