Skip to main content

spinlab @ William & Mary


spinlab at William & Mary is a student-driven, NMR-focused research group investigating physical properties of materials.

Our Research

Our research addresses problems in physical chemistry and materials science using both experimental and computational methods, centered on single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry — trading the atom-specific signal of a million-dollar spectrometer for something far cheaper and more flexible. What we do: instrumentation and methods that make better measurements possible, computational work that makes sense of what we measure, and applications that put both to use on real materials.

Instrumentation and Methods

Improving single-sided NMR instrumentation and use

We develop pulse sequences, nuclear hyperpolarization, and accessory hardware that improve the ease of use, accuracy, and quality of single-sided NMR measurements.

Instrumentation and Methods
Computational Modeling and Analysis

Connecting molecular behavior and macroscopic measurements

We use computational methods to predict and interpret relaxometry and other measurements done using single-sided magnets. We also actively pursue better methods to analyze relaxometry data in context of particular applications.

Computational Modeling and Analysis
Applications

Using NMR to study adhesives, artwork, and more

We use NMR, along with other methods, to study a wide range of materials and applications. Some of these include coatings, epoxies, and polymers; chemical kinetics; art, archaeology, and objects of cultural heritage; and biomaterials.

Applications
Mentoring

Open, student-driven, peer-mentored research

Progress in the lab depends on strong mentoring and collaboration — students guide each other and bring their own research ideas to the table, turning them into real projects. Along the way, they pick up skills from electronics to computation.

Mentoring

Recent Publications

22. Comparison of calorimetry and NMR relaxometry measurements of epoxy cure kinetics. J. Polym. Sci. 2026, in press.
21. RAMM: a Robotic, Autonomous Magnetic Field Mapper. HardwareX 2025, 24, e00700. Link
20. Automated optimization of spatial resolution for single-sided NMR. Magn. Reson. Chem. 2023, 61, 418–426. Link
19. Characterization of molecular environments and chemical exchange in acrylic paints via single-sided NMR. Prog. Org. Coat. 2023, 183, 107770. Link
18. Effect of pigment volume concentration on acrylic emulsion paints. Magn. Reson. Chem. 2020, 58, 880–888. Special issue: NMR in cultural heritage. Link

Group

Spinlab group photo, 2026

Spring 2026

Principal Investigator

Avatar

Tyler Meldrum

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Director of Undergradate Research in Chemistry

Graduate Student

Avatar

Kylie McCoy

Biochemistry, 2026; M.S. 2028

Undergraduate Students

Avatar

Alexandra Castillo

Math major, Chemistry minor, 2027

Avatar

Thomas Felton

Data Science major, Chemistry minor, 2027

Avatar

Sam Heanue

Chemistry (Chemical Physics concentration), 2029

Avatar

Eliza Hedlund

Chemistry, 2027

Avatar

Huy Le

Chemistry, 2027

Avatar

Morgan Peden

Economics, 2027

Avatar

Megan Pruitt

Chemistry and Religious Studies, 2027

Avatar

Alex Wiggins

Chemistry and Music, 2027