The focus of the Román Group’s research lies at the interface of heterogeneous catalysis and materials design. The group applies a wide range of synthetic, spectroscopic, and reaction engineering tools to study the chemical transformation of molecules on catalytic surfaces. A strong emphasis is placed on the nanoscale fabrication of catalytic sites by controlling and manipulating the structure of the material. Research projects are aimed at addressing current issues in and tackling relevant problems associated with alternative energy, renewable chemicals, and novel catalyst design.