Congratulations to Whitney Laboratory Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Sandra Loesgen for recently being selected as a recipient of the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award.
Click here for full article.
The Analytical Chemistry Division is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2023 James and Laura Winefordner Summer Graduate Scholarship, Tyler Volta. Tyler is a graduate of the University of Florida and a member of Professor Charles Martin’s research group. His dissertation research focuses on the ionic and electronic transport properties of synthetic gold nanotube membranes.
Congratulations Tyler!
Congratulations to Namodhi Wijerathne and Naveen Thakur for winning the 28th annual UFIC International Student Achievement Awards for their high academic standards and involvement at UF.Naveen is a 5th year graduate student in Dr. Eddy’s lab. His research focuses on understanding the role of lipids on the structure and function of G protein-coupled receptors. Namodhi is a 4th year graduate student in the Dr. Wei’s lab, and her research is focused on improving the performance of electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction by bio-inspired material design.
Chemistry’s own Candice Ulmer was profiled in C&EN today – see article C&EN Digital Magazine (acs.org)
Congratulations, Candice!
Dr. Alberto Perez has been awarded a prestigious NSF CAREER award from the Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods program in the Division of Chemistry. The award will fund the development of new computational methods to deepen our understanding of nucleic acids. Computational structural studies of nucleic acids have been challenged by nucleic acid flexibility and strong electrostatic interactions. The new methods will lead to mechanistic and quantitative understanding of molecular recognition and supramolecular interactions, with important applications in understanding gene regulation, nanotechnology and nanosensors to name a few. Within the scope of this award, Dr. Perez will develop courses and workshops that introduce molecular modeling to our community through immersive virtual reality technology. Students will learn about proteins and nucleic acids through an inquiry-based approach that will enable them to develop STEM related skills.
The Keaffaber Scholar Award recognizes the overall excellence in research and academic scholarship of one of our senior chemistry majors. To be eligible for the award, the undergraduate must be research active within the Department of Chemistry and committed to pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry.
This year, the recipient of the Keaffaber Scholar Award is Eva Bayer.
Eva Bayer is currently working towards degrees in chemistry and mathematics with a minor in Chinese language and literature. Since the spring of her sophomore year, she has been working as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Daniel Seidel. In this group, she has contributed her efforts to the development and application of novel organocatalysts for asymmetric amine C-H functionalization. Eva’s work in this group has been recognized and supported by the University Scholars Program. When she’s not doing chemistry, Eva enjoys travelling, hiking, and reading. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry with a focus on organic synthetic methodology development.
Boone Prentice, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Florida, has been selected to receive the 2022 Young Investigator Award from Eli Lilly and Company. The award is given annually by Eli Lilly’s Analytical Chemistry Academic Contacts Committee and recognizes a “rising star” in analytical chemistry. Prentice’s research focuses on developing novel molecular imaging technologies using mass spectrometry. A major area of innovation includes his use of gas-phase reactions performed inside the mass spectrometer to provide for the structural elucidation of complex biomolecules. Prentice works with biologists and clinicians at UF and around the country applying his methods to study disease pathophysiology and resolve biomedical challenges related to infectious disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, neuropharmacology, cancer, and more.
The unsolicited award is based on Prentice’s outstanding research, publication record, and his scientific impact in the field of analytical chemistry, and includes an unrestricted grant of $50,000, which is renewable for a second year.
The University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) has awarded an honorary doctorate to Prof. Adrian Roitberg for his contributions to science and specifically his collaborators with Argentinian groups. Prof. Roitberg received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from that University.
The title will be awarded at a ceremony in Argentina, and Prof Roitberg will deliver a series of lectures on his scientific work”
Charles Cao and research team identify the possibilities of interconnected nanocrystal networks in future design applications
By Lauren Barnett — August 18, 2022
A clear understanding of the stability of atomic-level structures of materials is critical for technological advancements, yet many aspects of these tiny assemblies remain a mystery to scientists. In a discovery that could pave the way for more innovative technological design, University of Florida chemistry professor CHARLES CAO worked with a team of researchers to illuminate new characteristics of nanocrystals.
Nanocrystals, tiny crystalline particles with a size in the nanometer range, have already found their way into our daily lives in a variety of electronics. The research team’s new findings, published in the premier global science journal Science, will take their potential even further. The study highlights interconnected nanocrystal networks as a new form of matter capable of holding an intermediate — or “metastable” — energy level in standard laboratory conditions. This metastable state allows for the construction of functional materials with new design opportunities, ranging from semiconductors and catalysts to super-hard materials and quantum materials.
Although minuscule in size, nanocrystals gain power in numbers — scientists strive to create extensive, interconnected superstructures due to their potential to enhance new materials. As the nanocrystal superstructures hold metastable states, where atoms remain in an “excited” state for an extended period, they offer the potential for enhanced technological designs. “Metastability is an intrinsic kinetic property of all matter systems,” Cao said. “Our research addresses a fundamental question in materials sciences: how is metastability controlled in materials construction?”
Cao and his colleagues conducted the study with support from the National Science Foundation and special funds from UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Working with a team a UF post-doctoral and graduate researchers from the Cao Research Group, as well as Zhongwu Wang from Cornell University, Cao designed and supervised the project, analyzed the data and participated in simulations.
The W. M. Jones Award for Originality and Creativity was endowed by Emeritus Professor William (“Bill”) M. Jones and each year acknowledges an original research proposal idea of a graduate student in the Organic, Inorganic, or Biochemistry Division. The award is judged based on three criteria: originality and impact of the scientific idea, quality and clarity of a short written document, and quality and format of an oral presentation/defense. The Award Committee is pleased to announce Devin Ketelboeter as the winner of the 2022 W. M. Jones Award for Originality and Creativity. Congratulations Devin!
