The McMahon/Woods research program explores fundamental aspects of organic chemistry with the goal of understanding the chemistry that occurs in harsh reaction conditions. These harsh conditions include very high temperature, very low temperature, intense light, and electrical discharges. Their studies provide a foundation for understanding the chemical processes that occur in a variety of natural environments, including space (astrochemistry), flames and combustion, atmospheric chemistry, lithography, and plasmas. Because of the harsh conditions, these chemical environments are inherently complex. To study them, in detail, requires an integrated approach involving several different branches of chemistry: organic chemistry, physical chemistry, quantum chemistry, and molecular spectroscopy.