Our Team
email: jbgordon [at] northwestern.edu
phone: 847-491-2290
office: Ryan 2004
Jesse B. Gordon
Assistant Professor, Northwestern University, 2025 - current
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 2021-2025
with Professor Daniel G. Nocera
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 2021
with Professor David P. Goldberg
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Florida, 2015
B.A. in Economics, University of Florida, 2015
Postdoctoral Fellows
Phan Phu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. at UC Irvine, 2025 (with Prof. Andy Borovik)
B.S. in Chemistry at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, 2018
(with Prof. S. Chantal Stieber)
Bio:
Phan grew up in a small town in Vietnam and later moved to sunny Southern California, where she completed all of her formal education. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona, gaining hands-on experience in synthetic, spectroscopic, and computational chemistry in Prof. Chantal Stieber's lab. A summer REU in bioinorganic chemistry sparked her interest in the field and inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. at UC Irvine, where she developed bio-inspired metal complexes to study metalloenzyme function under the guidance of Prof. Andy Borovik. After years of research under blue skies and cool weather, Phan is now ready for new challenges in a colder climate! As a postdoctoral researcher in the Gordon lab, she is excited to explore electro- and photochemical catalysis and investigate multi-metallic reactivity. Outside the lab, she enjoys discovering new restaurants, traveling, and watching movies.
email: pnphu-at-northwestern.edu
Langqiu Xiao, Ph.D.
International Institute of Nanotechnology Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. at University of Pennsylvania, 2024 (with Prof. Tom Mallouk)
B.S. in Chemistry at Hunan University, 2017
Bio:
Langqiu grew up in Leshan, Sichuan Province, in southwest China. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Hunan University, where his undergraduate research focused on the development of nanocapsules for photothermal therapy and drug delivery. Motivated by a growing interest in renewable energy research, Langqiu joined Prof. Tom Mallouk’s group, first at Penn State and later at the University of Pennsylvania. There, he completed his Ph.D., primarily studying electron-transfer processes at molecular–semiconductor interfaces in dye-sensitized photoelectrodes for water splitting. Following his graduation from Penn, Langqiu joined Brookhaven National Laboratory as a Goldhaber Research Fellow working with Jingguang Che, where he investigated photoelectrochemical–thermochemical tandem catalysis for converting CO₂ into solid carbon materials. Langqiu is a postdoctoral researcher in the Gordon lab whose interests span nanoscience, catalysis, and energy conversion involving nitrogen-based fuels. Outside the lab, Langqiu enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, swimming, playing ping pong and badminton.
Graduate Students
Nick Barmore
Graduate Student (G1)
B.S. in Chemistry at University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 2025
(with Prof. Steven Girard)
Bio: Nick grew up Evansville, a small town in southern Wisconsin, before attending the UW Whitewater where he received his B.S. in Chemistry. While there he worked under Professor Steven Girard investigating synthesis optimization strategies for photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles. Nick participated in a REU at Purdue University working under Professor Jeffery Miller where he synthesized aluminosilicate catalysts for oligomerization of light olefins into useable petroleum fuels. His graduate work focused on photoelectrochemical approaches for sustainable chemical synthesis. In his free time, Nick likes to read, hike, camp, lift, play video games, and watch the Green Bay Packers lose in the first round of the playoffs every year.
nicholasbarmore2030-at-u.northwestern.edu
Justin Bucsanyi
Graduate Student (G1)
B.S. in Chemistry at Case Western Reserve University, 2025
(with Prof. John Protasiewicz)
Bio: Justin grew up in Strongsville, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland) before attending Case Western Reserve University for his B.S. in Chemistry where he worked on air-free small molecule synthesis with John Protasiewicz. He was in a fraternity (Zeta Beta Tau) and was very involved in Greek Life, winning awards relating to leadership and community service. Being a native Clevelander, he developed a passion for volunteer work in the Greater Cleveland community, and he plans on continuing volunteering in science outreach and fighting against food insecurity in the Chicagoland area. In his free time, he likes to play video and board games and watch Cleveland sports inevitably drain his sanity.
justinbucsanyi2031@u.northwestern.edu
Lucas Hopkins
Graduate Student (G1), joint with Prof. Lin Chen
B.S. in Chemistry at Binghamton University, 2025
(with Prof. John Swierk)
Bio: Lucas is originally from Buffalo, NY and went to Binghamton University where he worked under John Swierk studying photocatalysis mechanisms using time-resolved and steady state spectroscopies as well as analytical electrochemical methods. His work with Jesse and Lin focuses on understanding fundamental photophysical processes in molecular photosensitizers. Outside of research he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, play ultimate frisbee, and watch a lot of movies!
lucashopkins2032@u.northwestern.edu
Abigail Sublett
Graduate Student (G1)
B.S. in Chemistry at University of Virginia, 2025
(with Prof. Michelle Personick)
Bio: Abigail grew up just outside of Richmond, VA where she first realized her passion for chemistry as a student instructor at the Richmond Math Science Innovation Center. She received her B.S. in Chemistry with highest distinction at the University of Virginia and worked in Prof. Michelle Personick's lab, developing electrochemical synthesis methods for shaped gold nanoparticles. Abigail is excited to investigate new materials for heterogeneous electrocatalysis as a graduate student in the Gordon lab. When she's not in the lab, you can find her at home baking or playing guitar or out salsa dancing!
abigailsublett2030@u.northwestern.edu
Undergraduate Students
Jerry He
Undergraduate Student (Junior)
B.S./M.S. in Chemistry at Northwestern University, (Expected 2027)
Bio: Jerry is originally from Beijing, China. Before joining the Gordon lab, he worked with Professor Kimberly Gray on the photodegradation of PFAS and found my interest in the field of catalysis. Outside of study, he enjoys biking, photography, and playing video games.
Lucy Luo
Undergraduate Student (Junior)
B.S./M.S. in Chemistry at Northwestern University, (Expected 2027)
Bio: Lucy is from Boston, MA. Before coming to Northwestern, she studied at Williams College and worked with Prof. Kerry-Ann Green as a research assistant in her organometallic lab, where she synthesized new pincer ligands. Her work in the Gordon lab focuses on the synthesis of new molecular photosensitizers. In her free time, she enjoys handcrafting, swimming, and traveling.
Martin Suarez
Undergraduate Student (Freshman)
B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Engineering at Northwestern University, (Expected 2029)
Bio: Martin is originally from Colombia and currently lives in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb near Chicago. Prior to coming to Northwestern, he’s always been fascinated by renewable energy and designed a simple photoelectrochemical cell during an independent high school study. In addition to his research in the Gordon Lab, he is working on a passion project focused on reverse osmosis membrane filtration tailored for the desert region of Colombia. In my free time, I enjoy playing chess, watching soccer, lifting, and playing video games.
Leo Vestring
Undergraduate Student (Freshman)
B.S. in Chemistry and Integrated Science at Northwestern University, (Expected 2029)
Bio: Leo grew up in Singapore where he developed a passion for science and learning through independent research projects and an internship at a bio-tech startup making lab cultivated fish meat. Outside the lab and academics, Leo enjoys playing volleyball, exploring cafes and restaurants, and traveling.
Anne Muller
Program Assistant
Wildcats
Monkey
Electron Purramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopet
We are recruiting!
If you are interested in joining the Gordon Lab go to our contact page to reach out.
Postdoctoral Fellow
If you are interested in joining the lab contact Jesse with application materials (cover letter, CV, brief summary of prior research, and contact information for three references) if you are interested. Applicants with a background in electrochemistry, physical organic chemistry, or organic method development, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Graduate Students
Email Jesse if you are interested in learning more about the group!
Prospective graduate students must apply to Northwestern’s graduate program.
Undergraduate Students
If you are a current undergraduate at Northwestern interested in learning more about the lab, reach out to Jesse by email.