This $480,000 federal Project Grant award, funded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Federal Grant Program (CFDA 47.049), supports research conducted by Matthew Sheldon and his team at the University of California, Irvine. The project aims to quantify the behavior of hot electrons and their role in surface chemistry, as well as explore resonant vibrational energy transfer, with the goal of advancing the scientific understanding of light-matter interactions and sunlight-driven chemical processes. The research leverages plasmonic nanostructures to dissect complex photochemical processes through inelastic spectroscopy, with a focus on renewable energy applications. Additionally, the project promotes educational inclusion by providing research opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented college students. This award, with a performance period from Sep 1, 2024 to Aug 31, 2027, is expected to yield insights that inform the steady-state dynamics of plasmonic photochemistry and offer new perspectives on the mechanisms underlying sunlight-driven chemical transformations.