Dr. Eddie Chang earned his PhD with Profs. Mazo and Peticolas in 1977. He has sent us the following career update:
“After my stint as Acting Program Director for Biosensing, I decided to stay on a little longer at NSF and am now the PD for Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics in the Engineering Directorate at NSF.”
“University of Oregon chemist Jim Hutchison tackles both the definition and its application in the production of metals in a newly produced educational video for the Materials Research Society.”
More at AroundTheO
Professor Sean Burrows
Oregon State University
2:00PM in the OCO Conference Room – 240 Willamette
“Creative Spectrochemical Biosensing and Techniques to Improve Resolution for
Two-Photon Luminescence Applications”
Abstract:
Translational and clinical research requires sensitive sensors capable of high spectral resolution to observe the multitude of biomarkers describing biological systems. Biomarkers are molecules in biological systems that regulate or indicate the behavior of the biological system. Small ligonucleotides called messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) are a class of biomarkers that regulate protein expression and ultimately cell behavior. Typically tissues express these RNA heterogeneously at concentrations in the femtomolar to nanomolar range. Often the sensitivity of most commercially available in situ biosensors for tissue or cellular applications suffers from false signals and poor spectral resolution. False signals are due to nuclease and other forms of biosensor degradation. This puts a limit on the sensitivity of these techniques. To address this problem we have designed an innovative biosensor that aims to reduce false signals and improve sensitivity by forcing dyes together. Our reporter-probe displacement biosensor for miRNA analysis uses a self-complementary reporter for signal change. As a model system we used a medically relevant miRNA, Lethal-7a (Let7a), for proof-of-principle studies. The
speed, selectivity, sensitivity, and extent of false signals using our reporter-probe displacement biosensor will be discussed. False positive signals from nuclease degradation were reduced by at least 16 % points compared to molecular beacons. Preliminary data suggests picomolar limits of detection are obtainable. We will also present studies to improve sensor performance in terms of two-photon induced Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) enhancement and the effect of spacer length and orientation on the FRET enhancement.
The ability to simultaneously analyze multiple fluorescent markers that cannot be spatially resolved remains a challenging area in spectroscopy. While multi-color analysis is possible when colors are spatially separated, the broad spectral profile inherent to fluorescence limits the ability to isolate colors that cannot be spatially separated. As a result a mixing of colors limits the number of dyes that can be simultaneously detected from the same focal volume. Synchronous scanning luminescence (SSL) improves multi- color detection by simultaneously scanning the excitation and emission wavelengths at a defined wavelength offset. The wavelength offset is responsible for SSL peak position and peak width. The benefit of this method is reduced peak-width, allowing for multiple dyes to be interrogated simultaneously by significantly reducing mixing of colors. The proof of concept for multicomponent SSL was demonstrated by Vo-Dinh in the late 1970’s. To date, SSL has found many uses in multicomponent chemical analysis, but to the best of our knowledge two-photon SSL has yet to be explored. We will present the use of a tunable excitation source in conjunction with tunable thin-film filters to achieve two-photon induced SSL. The thin-film tunable filters control emission bandwidth, peak wavelength of emission, and contribute to the SSL peak width. The two-photon excitation spectrum of Rhodamine B without SSL has a bandwidth of about 90 nm broad. We will show that SSL reduces the bandwidth to about 52 nm. Future studies will use multiple dyes to demonstrate potential for multiplex detection with two-photon synchronous scanning excitation-luminescence.
UO Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty Andrew Marcus and Physics faculty Michael Raymer have been awarded an Incubating Interdisciplinary Initiatives (I3) award by the UO Office of Research, Innovation & Graduate Education (RIGE).
Professors Marcus and Raymer, in collaboration with an international team of physicists, chemists and material scientists, will use the John Templeton Interdisciplinary Research Network for Study of Quantum Coherence in Biologically Inspired Engineered Molecular Systems award to address the question of whether coherence plays a significant role in electronic transport processes that occur in the bio-molecular machines responsible for energy transduction in living organisms. The award will enable the team to acquire specialized equipment they need to generate preliminary data for a grant proposal to the John Templeton Foundation.
The I3 program is designed to foster interdisciplinary research groups at UO, and to build capacity and support development of large-scale projects and programs that will strategically enhance the UO’s research excellence by targeting specific, large-scale external funding opportunities. The awardees represent broad research interests from across the campus.
Come support UO Chemistry and Biochemistry Grad Student Brett Israels in the Three Minute Thesis Competition!
Wednesday, April 16
6:30-8:00pm in Lawrence 177
Audience members can:
Don’t miss your chance to support Brett and vote for your favorite presentation via text message. The favorite presenter as selected by the audience will advance to the UO Finals on Wednesday, May 7 for a chance to win $250-$500 and advance to represent UO at the statewide finals on May 17 in Portland with students from OSU, PSU, and OHSU.
UO Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate student Ellen Robertson was the recipient of the American Chemical Society Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry Student Poster Presentation Award at the 247th ACS National Meeting on March 16, 2014, in Dallas, Texas. The award is given in recognition of excellence in research, as presented during the ACS national meeting.
Ellen is doing her research in the Richmond lab, studying the adsorption of polymethacrylic acid to the carbon tetrachloride/water interface.
Professor Lyle Isaacs
University of Maryland
Friday, April 11, 2014
2:30 pm, 331 Klamath Hall
Title: “Cucurbit[n]uril Molecular Containers: From Basic Science to Drug Delivery”
Abstract:
In this talk I will discuss my groups work in the area of cucurbit[n]uril molecular containers with an emphasis on our recent work toward the use of CB[n]-type receptors in biomedical applications. Some topics to be discussed include: 1) the templated synthesis of methylene bridged glycoluril hexamer, its transformation into monofunctionalized CB[6] and CB[7] derivatives and CB[6] dimers, and studies of their self-assembly properties,1-4 2) the preparation of acyclic CB[n]-type receptors and their use as solubilizing agents for insoluble pharmaceuticals,5 3) the use of acyclic CB[n]-type receptors as in vitro and in vivo reversal agents for neuromuscular block,6 and drug delivery using targeted CB[7].7
Website: http://www.chem.umd.edu/lyle-isaacs/
Refreshments will be served at 2:00pm in 377 Klamath
Professor Alex Travesset
Iowa State University
2:00PM – 240 Willamette
OCO Conference Room
Seminar Title:“Materials by Programmable Self Assembly”
Abstract:
In this talk I will describe materials that are made by self-assembly, where the individual components are programmed to assemble in complex structures that are relevant for the particular function. The main difficulty for this approach is that it is necessary to endow each component with the necessary information so that they will assemble at the right location and at the right time. I will describe how the use of DNA enables to successfully implement these ideas and the advances that have been made in theoretically predicting the design of these materials. The role of graphic processing units (GPUs) will also be discussed. I will provide with future directions and possibilities for this type of materials.
UO Chemistry major Loveprit Singh has been named as a 2014 recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
The scholarship was was established in 1986 by Congress to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, whose career in the armed forces and the Senate spanned 56 years. The purpose of the award is to foster a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by supporting college students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields. Awards can cover the junior and senior years or just the senior year. Recipients receive up to $7,500 annually to help cover tuition, fees, books, room & board.
Loveprit, a junior at the UO, is pursuing a double-major in Chemistry and Mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship will support his senior year of undergraduate study. He also was selected as a Beckman Scholar in 2013, a scholarship awarded to outstanding sophomores or juniors to pursue extensive undergraduate research projects in chemistry. Loveprit’s interest in organic chemistry led him to enroll in undergrad research in the Pluth lab, where he participates in research to develop fluorescent molecular probes for hydrogen sulfide detectors and donors – biocompatible tools which can aid in our understanding of the physiological roles of hydrogen sulfide.
After graduating from the UO, Loveprit plans to attend graduate school and pursue interests in green chemistry and environmental impacts while earning his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.
OU alumnus Gregory Harlow has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his work in the field of Chemical Synthesis.
Gregory is currently a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA. While an undergrad in the UO Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gregory did research in the Liu lab as a Beckman Scholar. He graduated in June 2013 with a degree in Chemistry with departmental honors.
