UO NSF Research Traineeship: Molecular Probes and Sensors

Who We Are…

The UO NRT Molecular Probes and Sensors in Complex Environments is a graduate training program aimed at creating a diverse and collaborative environment to tackle pressing problems in biological and environmental sensing in complex media as well as multimodal imaging. Collaboration across academic disciplines and with non-academic partners empowers students to build a strong foundation to support future careers working in diverse team-based environments that bridge the gaps between academia, industry or other agencies, and entrepreneurship.

Why We Sense…

Molecular probes and sensor devices allow for the detection and analysis of many analytes from a wide range of practical applications. Whether evaluating lead concentrations in drinking water, detecting explosive residues in travel hubs, or monitoring glucose levels in diabetic patients, the detection method must factor in the recognition medium, analyte competition, instrument sensitivity, and practicality of real-world application. Development of novel targeted molecular detection systems requires diverse knowledge and skill sets, all of which rely heavily on interdisciplinary collaboration.

Upcoming Events

No meetings upcoming. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Recent Events

  • For our last meeting of the quarter we heard from Dr. Mike Hahn about the biomechanical tools they use to assess musculoskeletal health and human performance!
  • The past meeting our meeting focused on research challenges and collaborations to get our fellows talking about new projects with one another!
  • In the past meeting the NRT fellows all pitched a 90 second flash talk on their research and skills gained during graduate school.
  • Congrats to fellow Gaby B. on being awarded the Women Chemist Committee award to present her research on CPP at the Spring ACS meeting in San Diego.
  • Congrats to NRT fellows Willow D. and Katelyn A. for presenting their work at the NRT annual meeting in Washington DC. As well as Gaby B. who was awarded a prestigious travel award to present her work! 
  • Thank you to Cathy Robinson for talking to our fellows about her post doc research in Dr. Karen Guillemin lab and her journey of navigating the start up and small business realm.
  • NRT fellows participated in a two day workshop for the Lens of the market program put on by ecosVC.
  • We welcomed our new NRT fellows and participants at our first meeting of the summer. Congrats to all the new members of our program! 
Past Events

 

Past Events

2023-2024 Academic year

  • At the next NRT meeting, we will be celebrating all the hard work and accomplishments of our fellows this year!
  • The NRT fellows worked on forming collaborative research projects during round robin research this week.
  • Following the workshop Sherry Yennello gave a wonderful talk to our NRT fellows on the “Race to Cure Cancer“.
  • We had a wonderful time hosting Sherry Yennello (Texas A&M) on campus for the workshop “The Art of Effective Negotiations“. This workshop was open to NRT fellows plus graduate students at the UO and the workshop pulled 22 participants.  Thank you Sherry for a great professional development workshop for our fellows!
  • Last week we heard great research updates from Malvika Singhal, Leif Lindberg, Jasmine Collins, Gaby Bailey and Vi Baird!
  • Our fellows learned about the design of experiments during Bob Hubbard’s talk “The 100-year-old tool that every experimentalist should know.” at the NRT meeting.
  • Congratulations to current fellow Iman von Briesen on receiving the NSF GRFP!!!
  • Great flash talks by fellows Justin, Chris, Katelyn, and Nathan on their current research.
  • Congratulations to Andy Davis on a successful F31 application!!!
  • The NRT fellows toured the earth science facilities at the University of Oregon to get a sneak peek into the instruments the students in the department use for their research.
  • Amazing talk by Dr. Kyle Gee about his career and research to our NRT fellows.
  • At our meeting we heard research updates from Diana and Christina. Amazing research occurring at the Knight Campus and in the Department of Earth Sciences by these two fellows.
  • Our first meeting of 2023 the fellows met for coffee and met our newest addition to the NRT Dr. Kyle Gee!
  • NRT fellows Andres, Katelyn, Keyan, Chris, Leif, Dillon, and Kaylin presented posters at the OHSU Chemical Biology and Physiology conference. Kaylin won a poster prize for her innovative work in Professor Mike Pluth’s lab.
  • For our final meeting of the year we heard research updates from Dillon and Willow. Thank you all for a wonderful 2023!
  • Our fellows heard from Bradley Smith about a multidate of image methods. Dr.Smith is an Emil T. Hofman Professor of Science and Director of the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility.
  • Thank you to Luca, Andy, and Andres for their wonderful research updates!
  • Three NRT fellows Haley, Andy, and Katelyn presented their research and connected with other NRT by attending the NSF NRT Annual Meeting at Arizona State University.
  • Fellows Susana, Gaby, Chris, and Katelyn attended the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) to recruit undergraduate students to UO.
  • Our fellows toured the Subtractive fabrication lab (Knight Campus) and Genome Core (Klamath). The tour covered what instruments and resources are available to aid their research.
  • The NRT attended the Thermo Fischer Scientific Discovery and Impact Symposium at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Eugene site on Friday, October 6. Along with tours, networking opportunities, and a career panel the fellows listened to an engaging research talk by Bradley Smith. Special thanks to Darren Johnson, UO NRT, CBGReAT, and Thermo Fischer Scientific for making this possible. 
  • The NRT had a coffee catch-up hour filled with many pumpkin-themed drinks on September 20th to kick off the Fall term.
  • The NRT hosted the UO NRT External Advisory Board in person and virtually to catch them up on our current events,  professional development, and student research projects occurring under our NRT program. Thank you to our amazing External Advisory board Sarah Brady, Kyle Gee, Kristin Susan Bowman-James, and Milton Jackson. 
  • Thank you to our student presenters Keyan Li, Susana Marquez Rosales, Alex Rosen, and Iman von Briesen for their wonderful presentations to our UO NRT External Advisory Board.
  • Thank you to Prof. Darren Johnson for speaking at our 7/26  meeting about the Lens of the Market (LoM) program! As well as LoM alumni Alex Rosen and Will Skinner who told the NRT members about their projects from the LoM program.
  • Congrats to our new NRT fellow and affiliates. The new NRT members meet the PIs and past members at our first meeting  7/12 of the summer term

2022-2023 Academic year

  • Special thanks to Prof. Melanie Spero for presenting her group’s research at our meeting on 5/12!
  • Special thanks to Prof. Keat Ghee Ong for presenting his group’s research at our meeting on 4/28!
  • Thanks to Erin Jezuit for presenting her research at our meeting on 3/3!
  • Thanks to Keyan Li and Katelyn Alley for presenting at our first meeting of the term!
  • Thanks to Andres Guerrero and Willow Davis for presenting their research at our meeting on 12/2!
  • Special thanks to Dr. Brantly Fulton for his presentation on 11/18!
  • Thanks to the following NRT fellows who have presented their research over the course of this term: Gaby Bailey, Alex Rosen and Susana Marquez Rosales!
  • Thanks to all the NRT fellows who made it out to our 9/23 meeting where we shared some data and devised solutions for issues in our research!
  • Special thanks to Prof. Raghu Parthasarathy who spoke with us on 9/9 about his lab’s research on bacteria in the zebrafish gut!
  • Special thanks to Prof. Darren Johnson for speaking at our 8/12 meeting and telling us about the Lens of the Market program!
  • Special thanks to Prof. Julia Widom for telling us about her research at our meeting on 7/29!
  • Special thanks to James Murray and the team at Abcam for speaking at our 7/15 meeting!
  • Special thanks to graduate students Hannah Bates (DWJ) and Thaís de Faria (DWJ) for attending our meeting on July 1 and telling us about their experiences with their industry internships!
  • Congratulations to the 2022 NRT cohort: Katelyn Alley, Gaby Bailey, Willow Davis, Andres Guerrero, Keyan Li, Susana Marquez Rosales, and Alex Rosen!
  • Special thanks to Christine Gramer for her presentation on patents and IP at our May 6th meeting!
  • NRT fellows Haley, Dillon, Claire and Erin presented posters at the OHSU Chemical Biology and Physiology conference! Good job everyone!
  • Thanks to Anissa for sharing her research and plans for her future at our April 15 meeting!
  • Thanks to Luca and Haley for sharing your work with us at our Jan. 11th NRT meeting!
  • Thank you Andy and Erin for sharing your exciting research at our Dec. 10th NRT meeting!
  • Congratulations Dillon and Haley for completing Lens of the Market Stage 2A and thank you for sharing your work with us on the Dec. 10th final presentations!
  • Thank you Dillon, Bella, and Claire for sharing all your great research at the Nov. 12th NRT meeting!