In the Department of Chemistry at Rice, we bring together experimental and theoretical physical chemists whose expertise is to develop new tools to look at nanoscale interfaces. Our faculty aims to overcome one of the most difficult challenges in chemistry: to measure and model interfacial structure and dynamics in situ, where proteins, water, ions, and energy exchange outside equilibrium descriptions. Interfacial dynamics play a crucial role in materials and biological functionality. Viral cell entry, catalysis, adhesive materials, antifouling coatings, and separations science all rely on nanoscale interfacial dynamics. Perhaps disease inception itself stems from protein aggregation at membrane interfaces. At the same time, interfaces are quite literally buried from view. Our goals are to build an understanding, both experimental and theoretical, of dynamic and hybrid interfaces at which both spatial and temporal heterogeneity on the single molecule scale drive macroscale observables, and to provide new ways to see and explore new frontiers through spectroscopic imaging at the multiple time and length scales necessary to achieve transformative improvements in chemistry, materials science, and eventually medicine.