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Peng Chen
Peter J. W. Debye Professor
ST Olin, Room 782A
pc252@cornell.edu
607-254-8533
Educational Background
- Postdoc, Harvard University, 2004-2005
- PhD, Stanford University, 2004
- BS, Nanjing University, 1997
Website(s)
Overview
Professor Chen's Group develops and applies single-molecule approaches to interrogate and understand the function and dynamics of nanomaterials and biomacromolecules, with the goal of acquiring fundamental chemical knowledge for developing better strategies for energy conversion as well as for curing and preventing diseases.
SELECTED HONORS
- 2019 Joan Van der Waals Lecture, University of Leiden
- 2019 Brian Bent Lecture, Columbia University
- 2019 Chemical Pioneer Award
- 2019 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2018 Bau Family Award in Inorganic Chemistry
- 2018 Sessler Distinguished Alumni Lecture, Stanford University
- 2017 Visiting Professor in the Debye Chair, Utrecht University
- 2017 Catalysis Forum Lecture, DICP, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 2016 Excellence in Catalysis Award, Catalysis Society of Metro New York
- 2014 Early-Career Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry, ACS PHYS Division
- 2014 Coblentz Award
- 2013 Honorable Lecture, Applied Chemistry Lecture Series, CIAC, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- 2013 Lester S. Andrews Lecture, Mississippi State University
- 2011 CAPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award
- 2010 Paul D. Saltman Memorial Award
- 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
- 2007 NSF Career Award
- 2005 Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award
- 2002 Franklin Veatch Memorial Fellowship
- 1999 Gerhard Casper Stanford Graduate Fellowship
Keywords
Single-molecule super-resolution imaging, nanoscale (photo)(electro)catalysis, polymerization catalysis, bioinorganic/biophysical chemistry, bacterial cell imaging, solar and biological energy conversion
Departments/Programs
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Graduate Fields
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- Biophysics
Research
Our research focuses on developing and applying single-molecule techniques to understand molecular processes of physical, bioinorganic, and biophysical in nature. Compared with traditional ensemble measurements, single-molecule approaches remove ensemble averaging, so that transient intermediates and heterogeneous subpopulations can be captured and characterized in both spatial and temporal dimensions and under realistic conditions. Current projects are divided into three main areas:
Courses
Fall 2021
Publications
See complete publication list at Group Website.
- R. Ye, M. Zhao, X. Mao, Z. Wang, D. A. Garzón, H. Pu, Z. Zhao, P. Chen* "Nanoscale cooperative adsorption for materials control" Nature Commun. 2021, 12, 4287.
- S. Baral, C. Liu, U. K. Chakraborty, K. Kubo, X. Mao, G. W. Coates, P. Chen* "Single-chain polymerization dynamics and conformational mechanics of conjugated polymers" Chem 2021, 7, 2175-2189.
- B. Fu, K. Sengupta, L. A. Genova, A. G. Santiago, W. Jung, L. Krzeminski, U. K. Chakraborty, W. Zhang, P. Chen* "Metal-induced sensor mobilization turns on affinity to activate regulator for metal detoxification in live bacteria" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2020, 117, 13248-13255.
- L. A. Genova, M. F. Roberts, Y.-C. Wong, C. E. Harper, A. G. Santiago, B. Fu, A. Srivastava, W. Jung, L. M. Wang, L. Krzeminski, X. Mao, X. Sun, C.-Y. Hui, P. Chen,* C. J. Hernandez* "Mechanical stress compromises multicomponent efflux complexes in bacteria" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2019, 116, 25462-25467.
- X. Mao, C. Liu, M. Hesari, N. Zou, P. Chen* "Super-resolution imaging of nonfluorescent reactions via competition" Nature Chem. 2019, 11, 687-694.
- N. Zou, X. Zhou, G. Chen, N. M. Andoy, W. Jung, G. Liu, P. Chen* "Cooperative communication within and between single nanocatalysts" Nature Chem. 2018, 10, 607-614.
- G. Chen, N. Zou, B. Chen, J. B. Sambur, E. Choudhary, P. Chen* "Bimetallic effect of single nanocatalysts visualized by super-resolution catalysis imaging" ACS Cent. Sci. 2017, 3, 1189-1197.
- C. Liu, K. Kubo, E. Wang, K.-S. Han, F. Yang, G. Chen, F. A. Escobedo,* G. W. Coates,* P. Chen* "Single polymer growth dynamics" Science 2017, 358, 353-355.
- A. G. Santiago, T.-Y. Chen, L. A. Genova, W. Jung, A. M. G. Thompson, M. M. McEvoy, P. Chen* “Adaptor protein mediates dynamic pump assembly for bacterial metal efflux” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2017, 114, 6694-6699.
- J. B. Sambur, T.-Y. Chen, E. Choudhary, G. Chen, E. J. Nissen, E. M. Thomas, N. Zou, P. Chen* "Sub-particle reaction and photocurrent mapping to optimize catalyst-modified photoanodes" Nature 2016, 530, 77-80.
- D. J. Martell, C. P. Joshi, A. Gaballa, A. G. Santiago, T.-Y. Chen, W. Jung, J. D. Helmann, P. Chen* “Metalloregulator CueR biases RNA polymerase’s kinetic sampling of dead-end or open complex to repress or activate transcription” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2015, 112, 13467-13472.
- T.-Y. Chen, A. G. Santiago, W. Jung, L. Krzeminski, F. Yang, D. J. Martell, J. D. Helmann, P. Chen* “Concentration and chromosome-organization dependent regulator unbinding from DNA for transcription regulation in living cells” Nature Commun. 2015, 6, 7445.
- C. P. Joshi, D. Panda,D. J. Martell,N. M. Andoy, T.-Y. Chen, A. Gaballa, J. D. Helmann, P. Chen* "Direct substitution and assisted dissociation pathways for turning off transcription by a MerR-family metalloregulator" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2012, 109, 15121-15126.
- X. Zhou, N. M. Andoy, G. Liu, E. Choudhary, K.-S. Han, H. Shen, P. Chen* "Quantitative super-resolution imaging uncovers reactivity patterns on single nanocatalysts" Nature Nanotech. 2012, 7, 237–241.
- W. Xu, J. S. Kong, Y.-T. E. Yeh, P. Chen* "Single-molecule nanocatalysis reveals heterogeneous reaction pathways and catalytic dynamics" Nature Mater. 2008, 7, 992-996.