The Ribeiro Group develops mathematical theories and computational methods to understand and control molecular processes in nano-, meso-, and quantum-material environments. We are especially interested in how structured electromagnetic and electronic environments reshape energy flow, chemical reactivity, charge transport, and optical response.
Polaritonic chemistry and molecular energy flow
We investigate how strong light-matter coupling changes molecular energy transport, excited-state dynamics, chemical equilibrium, and reactivity. Our work develops statistical and quantum-mechanical descriptions of molecular polaritons and connects them with experimentally measurable spectroscopic and dynamical signatures.
Chemical dynamics at quantum-material surfaces
We study adsorption, charge transfer, electronic friction, and spin polarization at molecular interfaces with conjugated and topological materials. These projects examine how localized electronic states, surface structure, and nonequilibrium currents influence molecular bonding and dynamics.
Thermal and radiative chemistry in microcavities
We investigate how confined electromagnetic environments affect thermal infrared radiation, molecular dissociation, collision-induced spectroscopy, and radiative association. This work seeks new approaches for controlling chemical processes through photonic structure and molecular confinement.
Across these directions, we combine statistical mechanics, quantum dynamics, electronic-structure theory, and numerical simulation. Our goal is to identify predictive principles that can guide the design of molecular materials with controllable chemical, transport, and optical properties.