Justin R. Caram

Justin R. Caram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was promoted from Assistant Professor in 2023. He serves as Vice Chair of Space Allocation and leads the Caram Group, which develops and studies novel photophysical materials using photon-resolved spectroscopic methods. Dr. Caram received his A.B. in Chemistry from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT through the MIT-Harvard Center for Excitonics.

Dr. Caram's research leverages the detection, sorting, and timing of individual photons to unravel heterogeneity, complex chemical processes, and energy flow in nanomaterial and biological systems. His work combines time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and path length interferometry to develop new spectroscopies that probe chemical systems across the visible and shortwave infrared. His research spans the influence of energetic disorder on optoelectronic materials, the complex chemistry of oxidative stress, and quantum functional groups with applications from efficient light harvesting materials to understanding disease mechanisms. His experimental approach integrates advanced spectroscopic techniques with theoretical modeling to address fundamental questions in photophysics and materials science.

Analysis of Dr. Caram's recent publications reveals a strong focus on shortwave infrared materials, quantum sensing platforms, and molecular design principles that push the boundaries of optical properties. His work bridges fundamental quantum phenomena with practical applications in imaging, sensing, and energy conversion. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in manipulating light-matter interactions at the molecular level, with particular emphasis on ytterbium complexes for quantum applications, HgTe quantum dots with exceptional photoluminescent properties, and novel molecular designs for enhanced emission in the shortwave infrared region.

Dr. Caram's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Richard P. Van Duyne Early Career Award for Experimental Physical Chemistry (2024), Sloan Research Fellowship (2023), Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2022), Cottrell Scholar (2021), and the NSF Career Award (2020). His contributions to diversity in science were acknowledged through the Center for Diversity Leadership in Science Inaugural Faculty Fellowship (2018-2019).

As a principal investigator, Dr. Caram has secured substantial funding from the Sloan Foundation, National Science Foundation (including multiple grants as PI and co-PI), Department of Energy, and the Dreyfus Foundation. His research program encompasses fundamental investigations of excitonic phenomena, development of novel spectroscopic techniques, and applications in quantum information science and biomedical imaging. Dr. Caram is actively involved in mentoring students and postdoctoral researchers in his laboratory, fostering a collaborative research environment that bridges chemistry, physics, and materials science.

The Caram Group maintains a strong collaborative network with researchers across multiple institutions, particularly in the areas of quantum information science, molecular spectroscopy, and nanomaterials. The group's work has evolved from fundamental studies of quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems to the design and characterization of novel materials with tailored photophysical properties for advanced technological applications.