The research program in Nanoengineered Photonics and Plasmonics of the Halas Group at Rice University is focused on four principal missions:

1. to design new optically active nanostructures driven by function;
2. to develop and implement new nanofabrication strategies to build, orient, and pattern these nanostructures into new materials and devices;
3. to characterize and understand the physical properties of these optically active nanostructures, devices and materials;
4. to prototype the use of optically active nanostructures in applications of potential technological and broad societal interest.

   A major goal of our research program is to produce PhD research scientists with significantly expanded skill sets and expertise who can develop new solutions to research and engineering problems beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries.