I am an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and the Associate Director of the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute at the University of Maine. My research group, the UMaine Catalysis Laboratory, strives to develop a molecular-level understanding of processes that occur on catalytic surfaces used for the conversion of carbon-based feedstocks (i.e., biomass, petroleum, and natural gas) to chemicals and fuels. We combine data from spectroscopic (both in situ and operando) and reaction kinetics studies to elucidate the fundamental surface chemistry associated with chemical transformations. This knowledge is subsequently used to guide the rational design of novel catalytic materials. Our research is currently applied to the production of biorenewable chemicals by upgrading platform molecules obtained from biocatalytic transformations of sugars, waste plastics upcycling, and decarbonization of chemical processes (e.g., propane dehydrogenation and Kraft pulping).