Paul T. Cesana

Education

• B.S., University of Rhode Island
• Ph.D., MIT

Courses

• CHEM 104 General Chemistry II
• CHEM 121 Chemistry Fundamentals for Healthcare
• CHEM 407 Physical Chemistry Lab

Additional Information

Research Summary

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) serves as the dominant method of excitation transfer between photosynthetic light harvesting proteins and is frequently a proposed photocatalytic mechanism. Its highly characterizable distance dependence on the nanometer scale has deemed it the “spectroscopic ruler.” The utility of FRET as a mechanistic tool, particularly its potential for energetically uphill transfer, remains underexplored. Conventional catalyst development prioritizes screening for maximum synthetic performance, targeting methodology and product formation. Light absorption is the key initial step in photocatalytic mechanisms, but further optimization of this characteristic is often not performed. Without dedicated thought, suboptimal excitation wavelengths, low photon utilization, and issues capturing low-penetrating light in biological media and other local environments will remain. This plan proposes a method of rational post-catalyst design to overcome these optical snags. Specifically, this program will (1) determine fundamental design limits using model uphill FRET systems, (2) greatly expand the scope and applications of light-enhanced conjugates, and (3) create a highly educational, multidisciplinary undergraduate research program.