Dewey Holten

Dewey Holten is Professor of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, with affiliations in the Institute of Materials Science & Engineering and the International Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability. His research investigates primary photosynthetic reactions using ultrafast spectroscopy, with dual emphases on natural systems (bacterial reaction centers) and synthetic tetrapyrrole arrays. Current projects engineer mutant proteins to redirect electron transfer pathways and develop chromophores for solar energy applications.

Key research areas include:

• Mechanistic studies of charge separation in photosynthesis
• Structure-property relationships in tetrapyrroles
• Design of light-harvesting arrays

Recent publications analyze electron transfer pathways in bacterial mutants and expand near-infrared chromophore capabilities. Teaching and mentorship focus on physical chemistry principles and experimental techniques.