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Moungi Bawendi is the Lester Wolfe Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on various applications of nanocrystals, particularly semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots. The Bawendi Lab conducts fundamental research on electro-optics and biological applications of these materials. The lab is engaged in ongoing synthetic efforts to develop new compositions and morphologies of nanocrystals and heterostructures, and to design new ligands for incorporation into hybrid organic/inorganic devices. Bawendi’s group is particularly interested in the fundamental spectroscopic properties of single quantum dots and is developing innovative methods to probe the dynamical properties and electronic structures of these dots across various time scales. Current investigations include the physics of multiexcitons in quantum dots and charge transport properties in films and dot/organic hybrids, which are critical for designing devices such as electrically driven light emitters, lasers, photodetectors, and photovoltaics. The lab also collaborates with various biology and medical groups to design nanocrystal probes that can selectively bind to single receptors on cell surfaces for tracking applications. Moreover, the research examines the effects of size, morphology, charge, and surface composition of nanocrystals in vivo, contributing to the development of molecular imaging agents.