Megan Lazorski Research

My Research Background: I am an educator and researcher in inorganic chemistry with a strong commitment to mentorship in STEM. I hold a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Chemistry and Studio Art from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. I did undergraduate research investigating photosensitive glass for developing photosensitive ceramic glazes, bridging my interests in art and science. Along with the scientific research, I created a body of ceramic artwork that demonstrated how photosensitive glazes could enhance artistic expression. After my bachelor's, I pursued my Ph.D. in Chemistry at Colorado State University, studying photoinduced charge transfer processes (a fancy way to say solar energy conversion!) in transition metal complexes. Next, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at North Carolina State University, focusing on ultrafast electron and energy transfer in inorganic complexes for photon up-conversion and solar energy applications Current Research Overview: My research focuses on how light interacts with matter at the most fundamental level. In general, I am always trying to design complexes that enable investigation of the following issues when interacting with light: 1. How are the molecular orbitals affected? 2. How do the electrons move within or between different orbitals in the complex? 3. What spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques can I use to probe these changes? 4. How can I use what I learned from these investigations to design optimal solar energy harvesting and conversion systems? Specifically, my current research group focuses on the design and synthesis of inorganic and organic manganese complexes that exhibit uncommon electron transfer mechanisms or spin states upon interaction with light. The goal of our work is to understand how to manipulate these complexes so that the energy absorbed from the light is retained long enough to be transferred to other chemical processes efficiently. My research group is highly collaborative. We work closely with researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to investigate our complexes using advanced spectroscopic techniques. Teaching and Mentorship: I currently teach General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry courses and co-direct the Post-baccalaureate Bridge Programs in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. I serve as a Tier 1 and potential Tier 3 Mentor in the Bridge programs and lead the Post-baccalaureate Program Board of Directors.