Our lab studies optical, biological, catalytic, and energy-relevant materials across length scales ranging from atoms to fully integrated devices. We combine diverse methods in materials synthesis, plasma- and solution-phase processing, and nanofabrication with scanning probe microscopy, optical spectroscopy, in situ/operando chemical analysis, and simulation. By integrating these approaches, we uncover how structure, composition, and light–matter interactions dictate functional behavior—enabling advances in photonics and optoelectronics, bio-inspired optical systems, plasma-driven chemistry, and catalytic energy conversion. Our unifying goal is to connect nanoscale mechanisms to macroscale performance to accelerate the development of next-generation materials and technologies.