Dr. Ayanjeet Ghosh, currently a postdoctoral associate at the University of Illinois, will join the Department as an assistant professor in physical chemistry in August.  Dr. Ghosh earned his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in 2-D IR spectroscopy.  He has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wisconsin.  Dr. Ghosh’s  research will employ infrared spectroscopy as a means to provide chemical contrast in optical and atomic force microscopy. He will seek to extend the unique capabilities of infrared spectroscopy towards molecular imaging, and push the boundaries of existing technology through development and application of novel infrared microscopies towards problems of major societal importance, such as cancer diagnostics and design of better solar cell materials.