PI
Prof. Marissa L. Weichman
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, 2020 –
weichman@princeton.edu
Office: Frick 229
(609) 258-0926
B.S. Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, 2012
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2017
Julia Wlodarczyk-Mingozzi
Faculty Assistant
jw7773@princeton.edu
Office: Frick 389
(609) 258-3674
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Cole Sagan
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2023 – 2025
PPPL Strategic Science Initiative Fellow, 2025 –
B.S. Chemistry and Biology, St. John’s University, 2017
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023
Cole is interested in describing naturally occurring phenomena from a physical chemist’s perspective. Previously in the Garand Group, he investigated the anion resonances of astrochemically-relevant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using photoelectron spectroscopy. In the Weichman group, he will use cavity enhanced spectroscopy to measure the optical properties of aerosols of varying compositions and sizes. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, video games and chasing the perfect cup of coffee.
Dr. Meijun Zou
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2025 –
B.S. Chemistry, Nanjing University, 2019
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 2025
Meijun’s research interest lies in using light to probe, characterize and manipulate chemical reactions and material properties. She previously investigated the photochemistry and reaction kinetics of atmospherically important species like Criegee intermediates in the Lester group at UPenn. Currently in the Weichman lab, she is working on cavity-enhanced frequency comb spectroscopy of astrochemically relevant species. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, biking and drawing.
Dr. Bailey Nebgen
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 2026 –
B.S. Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 2020
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2025
Bailey’s general interests lie in using ideas and techniques from fundamental physics to describe, probe, and understand complex chemical systems. Previously in the Zuerch Lab at UC Berkeley, she applied harmonic generation spectroscopic techniques to explore electronic structure in complex device architectures including solar cells and extreme pressure diamond anvil cells. In the Weichman Lab, she is focused on using microcavities and strong coupling to understand polariton chemistry and explore new cavity-enhanced optical techniques. When not in the lab, she can usually be found out in the woods or engrossed in a jazz improv session.
Graduate students
Negar Baradaran
Graduate student, 2022 –
A.S. Chemistry, Fullerton College, 2020
B.S. Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2022
Negar’s research interest is anything that deals with light-matter interaction, more specifically developing spectroscopic methods that enable the study of complex molecules with higher spectral resolution. During undergrad she worked in the Neumark Lab at UC Berkeley where she studied the dynamics of solutes in high vapor pressure solvents using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. As a result of her undergrad research she now enjoys work that involves building electronics and 3D CAD modeling. In her free time she likes to do photography, play video games, watch movies, and play the piano.
Alexander McKillop
Graduate student, 2022 –
B.S. Chemistry, Boston College, 2022
In his undergraduate studies with the Zhang Group, Alexander utilized his skills in organic chemistry to develop radical cascade reactions that employ Co(II)-porphyrin catalysts. However, in the latter years of his undergraduate experience he realized that his true calling was spectroscopy. Alexander’s current research interests combine both his organic chemistry experience with his newfound love of spectroscopy in that he seeks to exploit the properties of polaritons to find new reactivity in well-studied organic systems. In his free time, Alexander enjoys building computers, watching soccer, and going to nice restaurants.
Jane Nelson
Graduate student, 2022 –
B.A. Chemistry, Middlebury College, 2022
ORCiD, Google Scholar, LinkedIn
In the Vasiliou Lab at Middlebury, Jane modeled unimolecular thermal decomposition mechanisms of vanillin and other small organic molecules using quantum chemical calculations. She also gained experience with a high-vacuum matrix-isolation FTIR apparatus used to study said decomposition pathways and products. Jane’s exposure to gas-phase spectroscopy ties in well with her current investigations focused on extending the study of polaritons into the gas phase. Jane enjoys reading, taking long walks, and meeting new dogs when she’s not in the lab.
Arden Floyd
Graduate student, 2024 –
B.S. Chemistry, University of Central Florida, 2024
Arden discovered her passion for physical chemistry research as a member of the Popolan-Vaida lab at UCF, where she interrogated how gaseous and heterogeneous reactions with ozone drive the formation and growth of organic aerosol particles using high resolution mass spectrometry and bulk aerosol flow tube studies. At Princeton, she is scaling her aerosol research to the single particle level in developing an apparatus for precision spectroscopy of electrodynamically levitated aerosol particles. Along with science, Arden loves animals, reading, and playing the viola.
Alan Chang
Graduate student, 2025 –
B.S. Applied Physics, Math, and Computer Science, Boston College, 2025
During his undergraduate studies, Alan developed a passion for seeing how physics, math and computer science combine and intersect to enhance our understanding about the quantum world and all of its possibilities. He pursued this through ultrafast time-resolved Raman spectroscopy experiments with the Burch group, an independent study in finite-dimensional representations of compact Lie groups under Professor Mark Reeder, and ML and molecular dynamics research in protein-aptamer biosensor designs under Professor José Bento. Alan continues to pursue this interest in the Weichman Lab, working on cavity enhanced frequency comb spectroscopy of highly symmetric molecules. In his free time, Alan enjoys playing badminton, watching movies, and cooking.
Ezra Korican-Barlay
Graduate student, 2025 –
B.S. Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2025
Ezra was first exposed to the world of ultrafast optics and spectroscopy through his undergraduate research in the Zuerch Lab at UC Berkeley where he used solid-state high harmonic generation spectroscopy to study the electronic structures of materials. At Princeton, he is using ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopies to study vibrational dynamics and local heating effects in light-driven chemical reactions. Ezra enjoys listening to audiobooks, baking sourdough, and taking photos of cool mushrooms.
Neo Lin
Graduate student, 2025 –
B.S. Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 2025
Neo began his chemistry journey in the Mani Lab at the University of Connecticut, where he studied photoinduced fundamental chemical reactions in the condensed phase. His work focused on probing the photophysics of spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs) using chemical synthesis, ultrafast spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Neo now brings his interest in photoinduced molecular dynamics to the Weichman Lab, where he investigates the nature and control of polariton chemistry in the gas phase. Outside the lab, Neo enjoys cooking, working out, playing with his cat Cookie, and spending time with loved ones.
Undergraduates
Madeline Rohde
Undergraduate Research Fellow, 2025 –
Chemistry Major, Class of 2027
Madeline Rohde ’27 is an undergraduate concentrating in chemistry with minors in dance and astrobiology. She currently works to investigate polariton dynamics in the gas phase. Outside of lab, she enjoys ballet and contemporary dance, choreography, and reading.
Rachel Mark
Undergraduate Research Fellow, 2026 –
Chemistry Major, Class of 2027