Faculty
Melanie Chiu, Assistant Professor
A.B. Dartmouth College (2004)
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley (2009)
Postdoctoral Researcher, ETH Zürich (2009–2011)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Stanford University (2012–2014)
669 Chemistry
Phone: (631) 632-9548
Email: melanie.chiu@stonybrook.edu
Research Interests
The Chiu research group utilizes the tools of physical organic chemistry to address fundamental problems in polymer and supramolecular synthesis. Three ongoing projects in the group focus on: 1) using light to control polymer dispersity; 2) using external stimuli to control copolymer sequence; and 3) developing new methods for synthesizing macrocycles and supramolecular cages. Our goal is to enable a better understanding of how macromolecular structure affects materials properties, like thermal stability or viscosity. This knowledge is critical in advancing broad-ranging applications, ranging from commodity adhesives and coatings to self-regenerating materials.
Selected Publications
"Synthesis strategies for non-symmetric photochromic diarylethenes." Sponza, A. D.; Liu, D.; Chen, E. P.; Shaw, A.; Diawara, L.; Chiu, M. Org. Biomol. Chem.2020. Featured in the 2020 HOT Paper Collection. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0OB01556C
'Modulating polymer dispersity using light: cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers using photochromic initiators." Liu, D.; Sponza, A. D.; Yang, D.; Chiu, M. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2019, 58, 16210. Selected as a Hot Paper. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201908775
“Disentanglement of excite-state dynamics with implications for FRET measurements: two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy of a BODIPY-functionalized cavitand." Otto, J.; Wang, L.; Pochorovski, I.; Blau, S. M.; Aspuru-Guzik, A.; Bao, Z.;* Engel, G. S.;* Chiu M.* Chem. Sci.2018, 9, 3694. *denotes corresponding authorship. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8SC00818C
“Strain-Accelerated Formation of Chiral, Optically Active Buta-1,3-dienes.” Chiu, M.;*† Tchitchanov, B.; † Zimmerli, D.; Sanhueza, I. A.; Schoenebeck, F.;* Trapp, N.; Schweizer, W. B.; Diederich, F.* Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2015, 54, 349. *denotes corresponding authorship. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201409289