Dr. Michael Therien

Biography

Michael J. Therien is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Duke University, with research that encompasses the synthesis of compounds, supermolecular assemblies, and nano-scale objects. His work focuses on electronic materials with unusual ground- and excited-state characteristics and involves interrogating structures through advanced transient optical, spectroscopic, photophysical, and electrochemical methods. His expertise spans various aspects of physical chemistry, including physical inorganic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. He is actively involved in exploring excited-state dynamics, spectroscopy, and photophysics, contributing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning complex chemical processes. Therien's research has garnered significant funding from major institutions, underscoring his prominence in the field. As a member of the Duke Cancer Institute, he collaborates on projects that aim to advance the delivery and effectiveness of therapeutic agents. Therien has published extensively, contributing to the understanding of catalytic processes and photoinduced charge transfer dynamics in nanostructured systems, and is engaged in innovative projects that link chemistry to renewable energy applications.

Research Interests

Experience