Collin J. Steen

Courses: Chem 107 – General Chemistry I; Chem 108 – General Chemistry II; Chem 341 – Survey of Physical Chemistry; Chem 342 and 342L – Physical Chemistry I; Chem 342 – Physical Chemistry II; Chem 445 – Special Topics in Physical Chemistry

Research Interests
Biophysical chemistry, optical microscopy, spectroscopy, lipid membranes, photosynthesis

Teaching Areas
General chemistry and physical chemistry

Publications

• C.J. Steen, V. Vaiyakarnam, W. Li, K. Xu, “Label-Free Interference Microscopy and Single-Molecule Displacement Mapping Elucidate the Microscopic Structure and Dynamics of Stacked Lipid Bilayers,” Langmuir, 2026, 42, 1755–1762.
• C.J. Steen, J. Niklas, O. Poluektov, R. Schaller, G.R. Fleming, L.M. Utschig, “EPR Spin-Trapping for Monitoring Temporal Dynamics of Singlet Oxygen during Photoprotection in Photosynthesis,” Biochemistry, 2024, 63, 1214–1224.
• C.J. Steen, A. Burlacot, A.H. Short, K.K. Niyogi, G.R. Fleming, “Interplay between LHCSR proteins and state transitions governs the NPQ response in Chlamydomonas during light fluctuations,” Plant Cell Environ., 2022, 45, 2428–2445.
• A.H. Short, T. Fay, T. Crisanto, J. Hall, C.J. Steen, K.K. Niyogi, D.T. Limmer, G.R. Fleming, “Xanthophyll-cycle based model of the rapid photoprotection of Nannochloropsis in response to regular and irregular light/dark sequences,” J. Chem. Phys., 2022, 156, 205102.
• C.J. Steen, J.M. Morris, A.H. Short, K.K. Niyogi, G.R. Fleming, “Complex Roles of PsbS and Xanthophylls in the Regulation of Nonphotochemical Quenching in Arabidopsis thaliana under Fluctuating Light,” J. Phys. Chem. B, 2020, 124, 10311–10325.
• Park, C.J. Steen, D. Lyska, A.L. Fischer, B. Endelman, M. Iwai, K.K. Niyogi, G.R. Fleming, “Chlorophyll-carotenoid excitation energy transfer and charge transfer in Nannochloropsis oceanica for the regulation of photosynthesis,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2019, 116, 3385–3390.
• Park, A.L. Fischer, C.J. Steen, M. Iwai, J.M. Morris, P.J. Walla, K.K. Niyogi, G.R. Fleming, “Chlorophyll-Carotenoid Excitation Energy Transfer in High-Light-Exposed Thylakoid Membranes Investigated by Snapshot Transient Absorption Spectroscopy,” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2018, 140, 11965–11973.

Why did you choose Lafayette?

As an undergraduate at a liberal arts institution, I experienced firsthand the transformative impact of close interactions with my professors, collaborative learning with peers, and the opportunity to perform undergraduate research. Those early experiences shaped my development as a scientist and educator, and informed the kind of academic community I hoped to call home.

Lafayette College immediately stood out to me because it offered the opportunity to build a vibrant research program without sacrificing my passion for undergraduate teaching and mentorship. I was particularly drawn to the teacher-scholar model. I look forward to joining colleagues who share a commitment to excellence in both the classroom and the laboratory.

Equally compelling was the Chemistry Department’s longstanding commitment to involving undergraduates in authentic, hands-on research. I am excited to build a research program in experimental biophysical chemistry where undergraduate students are active collaborators in addressing fundamental questions about photosynthetic and other biological membranes. Lafayette’s emphasis on close faculty-student interactions, intellectual curiosity, and undergraduate scholarship aligns closely with my own values and makes it an ideal place for me to build my career.