Courses and mentorship
“The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible.”
— Albert Einstein
My priority is to stimulate students’ curiosity about the natural sciences by making complex ideas easier to understand while preserving a broad view of the field. In chemistry and related courses, students develop a scientific mindset for approaching and solving problems systematically through universal concepts and principles.
Most Recent Course
PHYS-SHU 997
Fall 2026 · Shanghai
Foundational chemistry and physics, physical chemistry, and mentored research experiences.
An introduction to chemistry for science, engineering, and mathematics majors. Topics include atomic structure, stoichiometry, gases, kinetic molecular theory, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, electronic structure, periodicity, chemical bonding, and molecular structure, with an emphasis on physical and chemical intuition through problem-solving.
PrerequisitesPre- or co-requisite: MATH-SHU 121 Calculus or MATH-SHU 201 Honors Calculus.
Fall 2024 SyllabusA continuation of Foundations of Chemistry I covering intermolecular forces, chemical kinetics and equilibria, acid-base reactions, phase transformations, electrochemistry, transition metals, and radiochemistry.
PrerequisitesCHEM-SHU 125 Foundations of Chemistry I; pre- or co-requisite: MATH-SHU 121 Calculus or MATH-SHU 201 Honors Calculus.
Spring 2022 SyllabusAn introduction to the principles of quantum mechanics and their application to model systems, electronic structure, chemical bonding, molecular spectroscopy, and photochemistry.
PrerequisitesPHYS-SHU 12 General Physics II or PHYS-SHU 93 Foundations of Physics II Honors, and CHEM-SHU 126 Foundations of Chemistry II.
Fall 2025 SyllabusA supervised research course that gives undergraduate students hands-on experience as members of an active chemistry research team. Students participate in group meetings and complete a written research report.
PrerequisitesFoundations of Science I–III or the corresponding introductory physics, chemistry, and biology sequences; minimum 3.0 GPA; faculty sponsorship and approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Students interested in independent study with Prof. Sun should discuss their interests and possible research topics with him before enrolling so that an individual course plan can be developed.
A supervised research course that gives undergraduate students hands-on experience as members of an active physics research team. Students participate in group meetings and complete a written research report.
PrerequisitesFoundations of Science I–III or the corresponding introductory physics, chemistry, and biology sequences; minimum 3.0 GPA; faculty sponsorship and approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Students interested in independent study with Prof. Sun should discuss their interests and possible research topics with him before enrolling so that an individual course plan can be developed.
A research thesis course for chemistry majors who have completed at least one semester of laboratory research. Students prepare a publication-style thesis and defend it before a three-faculty committee.
PrerequisitesCHEM-SHU 997 or 998 Independent Study; minimum 3.65 overall and science/mathematics GPA; permission of a faculty sponsor and the Dean of Arts & Sciences.
A research thesis course for physics majors who have completed at least one semester of laboratory research. Students prepare a publication-style thesis and defend it before a three-faculty committee.
PrerequisitesPHYS-SHU 997 or 998 Independent Study; minimum 3.65 overall and science/mathematics GPA; permission of a faculty sponsor and the Dean of Arts & Sciences.
Advanced theoretical and computational treatments of molecular systems and dynamics.
A theoretical and computational treatment of reactions, relaxation, and transfer events in molecular and condensed-phase systems. Topics include classical and quantum dynamics, rate theories, electron and energy transfer, mixed quantum-classical and semiclassical dynamics, environmental effects, nuclear quantum effects, and theoretical frameworks for ultrafast spectroscopy.
Spring 2026 SyllabusA balanced presentation of quantum chemistry and statistical mechanics for graduate students. Topics include electronic and nuclear wavefunctions, electronic structure theory, nuclear dynamics, quantum equilibrium statistical mechanics, path integrals, time-dependent statistical mechanics, quantum dynamics, and ultrafast spectroscopy.
Spring 2023 was co-taught with Prof. Jutta Rogal. Spring 2025 was taught by Prof. Xiang Sun.
Spring 2025 SyllabusA graduate-level course covering electronic structure theory, quantum nuclear dynamics, path-integral statistical mechanics, classical and quantum time-dependent statistical mechanics, and the theory of ultrafast spectroscopy.
Co-taught by Prof. Xiang Sun and Prof. John Zhang.