Richard A. Mathies

Research Bio

Physical, Biophysical and Bioanalytical Chemistry — Richard Mathies has developed a variety of modern laser-based spectroscopic techniques to study excited-state reaction dynamics in photoactive proteins and to develop novel microfabricated chemical and biochemical analysis devices for terrestrial and extra-terrestrial applications.

Ultrafast Vibrational Spectroscopy of Reaction Dynamics. Mathies has used resonance Raman vibrational spectroscopy to study photochemical reaction dynamics of energy and information transducing systems especially the primary photochemistry of rhodopsins. Most recently his group developed the novel technique of Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy or FSRS that enables the acquisition of femtosecond time-resolved vibrational structure snapshots of reacting molecules.

Research Expertise and Interest

genomics, biophysical, bioanalytical, physical chemistry, laser spectroscopy, resonance Raman, excited-state reaction dynamics photoactive proteins, rhodopsins, microfabricated chemical biochemical analysis devices, forensics, infectious disease detection

In the News

Agilent helps launch new synthetic biology center

Agilent Technologies Inc. has signed up to support the newly launched Synthetic Biology Institute (SBI), which will help advance efforts to engineer cells and biological systems in ways that could transform health and medicine, energy, the environment and new materials.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring
  • Special Laboratory Study  [CHEM 196]  

  • Seminars for Graduate Students  [CHEM 298]  

  • Research for Graduate Students  [CHEM 299]  

  • Senior Honors Thesis  [CHEM H193]  

  • Research for Advanced Undergraduates  [CHEM H194]  

2025 Fall
  • Special Laboratory Study  [CHEM 196]  

  • Seminars for Graduate Students  [CHEM 298]  

  • Research for Graduate Students  [CHEM 299]  

  • Senior Honors Thesis  [CHEM H193]  

  • Research for Advanced Undergraduates  [CHEM H194]  

2025 Summer
  • Research  [BIOPHY 292]  

  • Special Laboratory Study  [CHEM 196]  

  • Research for Advanced Undergraduates  [CHEM H194]  

  • Research for Graduate Students  [CHEM N299]  

2025 Spring
  • Special Laboratory Study  [CHEM 196]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [CHEM 199]  

  • Seminars for Graduate Students  [CHEM 298]  

  • Research for Graduate Students  [CHEM 299]  

  • Senior Honors Thesis  [CHEM H193]  

  • Research for Advanced Undergraduates  [CHEM H194]