Past Seminars & Events
Professor Jen Heemstra
Professor Jen Heemstra
Director of Faculty Recruiting and Development
Department of Chemistry
Emory University
Host: Professor William Pomerantz
Harnessing biomolecular recognition in the lab and building resilience in the classroom
Nucleic acids are exquisitely adept at molecular recognition and assembly, making them foundational to life processes and enabling researchers to harness them for applications beyond their canonical biological roles. As an example, aptamers have been evolved in nature to regulate cellular processes and can also be generated in the laboratory and utilized for biosensing and therapeutic applications. We have leveraged the molecular recognition capability of aptamers to generate chiral sensors for high-throughput measurement of small-molecule enantiopurity, thus addressing a critical bottleneck in biocatalysis. We demonstrate fluorescence-based enantiopurity measurement in a microplate format and via flow cytometry, and have developed a method for the direct evolution of new aptamer sensors.
…And we’ve encountered a lot of failure along the way. As researchers, we recognize that failure is both an unavoidable and necessary part of discovery, and that overcoming failure requires resilience. This led us to ask the question: when and how do undergraduate STEM students develop the resilience they need to persist through failure? To address this question, we founded FLAMEnet as a nationwide collaborative aimed at developing, implementing, and disseminating educational interventions that leverage psychological frameworks to promote retention and success of students in STEM.
Jen Heemstra
Jen Heemstra received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, in 2000. At Irvine, she performed undergraduate research investigating the folding of synthetic beta-sheet mimics, which instilled in her a love of supramolecular chemistry. She then moved to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she completed her Ph.D. in 2005 studying the reactivity of pyridine-functionalized phenylene ethynylene cavitands. After a brief time in industry as a medicinal chemist, she moved to Harvard University to pursue postdoctoral research exploring mechanisms for templated nucleic acid synthesis. Jen began her independent career in 2010 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Emory University. Research in the Heemstra lab is focused on harnessing the molecular recognition and self-assembly properties of nucleic acids and proteins for applications in biosensing and bioimaging. In addition to her research, Jen is also actively engaged in science communication, outreach, and advocacy via her social media presence, and professional development seminars and workshops. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, as well as rock climbing, cycling, and running.
CANCELLED: Professor Tehshik Yoon
Professor Tehshik Yoon
Department of Chemistry
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Host: Professor Courtney Roberts
Base Metals in Photoredox Oxidation Reactions
Photocatalysis offers a uniquely facile strategy for the generation of a wide variety of open-shell intermediates, and the development of new photoredox transformations based upon their reactivity has been a major theme of research in the past decade. This broad effort has led to the development of a remarkable variety of net redox-neutral and, to a lesser extent, net-reductive transformations of significant synthetic utility. The development of net-oxidative photoredox transformations, in contrast, has been somewhat slower, due to the incompatibility of photoredox conditions with many of the terminal oxidants that are ideally suited to ground-state oxidative catalysis. We propose that simple base metal salts are inexpensive, earth-abundant, and environmentally benign terminal oxidants that readily support the one-electron oxidation state changes typical of photoredox reactions. Their incorporation into the design of photoredox reactions enable a broad range of useful net oxidative photochemical transformations.
Tehshik Yoon
Tehshik Yoon is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He earned his Ph.D. with Prof. David MacMillan, first at Berkeley and then at Caltech. After finishing graduate school in 2002, he became an NIH postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Prof. Eric Jacobsen at Harvard. Tehshik has been on the faculty at UW–Madison since 2005. His research group has broad interests in organic synthesis and catalysis. In particular, the Yoon group has been pioneering the use of transition metal photocatalysts in synthetically useful transformations promoted by visible light. Tehshik’s efforts in teaching and research have earned him a variety of prestigious of awards, including an NSF CAREER Award (2007), the Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award (2008), the Beckman Young Investigator Award (2008), the Amgen Young Investigator Award (2009), an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2009), an Eli Lilly Grantee Award (2011), a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award from the Humboldt Foundation (2015), and an ACS Cope Scholar Award (2019).
Professor Bin Zhang
Professor Bin Zhang
Department of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Host: Professor Jason Goodpaster
Genome Organization through Phase Separation: Random yet Precise
The three-dimensional genome organization plays an essential role in all DNA-templated processes, including gene transcription, gene regulation, DNA replication, etc. Coarse-grained models parameterized to reproduce experimental data via the maximum entropy optimization algorithm serve as effective means to study genome organization at various length scales. They have provided insight into the principles of whole-genome organization and enabled de novo predictions of chromosome structures from epigenetic modifications. In addition, they provided insight into the critical role of the chromatin network in stabilizing multiple liquid droplets. Applications of these models at a near-atomic resolution further revealed physicochemical interactions that drive the phase separation of disordered proteins and dictate chromatin stability in situ.
Bin Zhang
Bin Zhang attended the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) as a chemical physics major. After graduating from USTC in 2007, Bin moved to the United States to pursue doctoral research at the California Institute of Technology in Thomas Miller’s group. Upon graduation, Bin accepted a position as a postdoctoral scholar with Peter G. Wolynes at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University. Bin joined MIT faculty as an assistant professor in 2016. His research focuses on studying three-dimensional genome organization with interdisciplinary approaches that combine bioinformatics analysis, computational modeling and statistical mechanical theory. While at MIT, Bin has received awards that include the Scialog Fellowship and the NSF CAREER Award.
Cheol K. Chung
Cheol K. Chung
Principal Scientist
Process Research & Development
Merck Research Laboratories
Rahway, NJ
Host: Tao Wang
Process R&D for Sustainable Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
In this presentation, a process chemist’s perspective toward the development of sustainable manufacturing processes for pharmaceuticals with the ultimate goal of developing ideal chemical process, will be discussed. Achieving this ambitious goal is enabled by a green-by-design development strategy, to progress from initial route design through to a fully optimized sustainable commercial manufacturing process. The strategy commences with the application of green chemistry principles incorporated into route exploration in order to identify the shortest possible routes with maximized atom economy. This is followed by establishing proof of concept demonstration for the different routes with extensive use of high-throughput experimentation, allowing evaluation of vast reaction landscapes with minimal material and solvents. Next, viable routes are carefully evaluated for efficiency and sustainability potential for final route selection supported by computational and predictive science. Lastly, the selected route is fully optimized, with the goal to develop a sustainable process with minimal environmental footprint.
The strategy described above was successfully applied to a number of recent drug development programs, among which process development stories for Letermovir and Nemtabrutinib will be highlighted. Green chemistry mindset focusing on not just the key bond forming reactions, but also encompassing entire supply chains ensures sustainable long-term pharmaceutical manufacturing. Green chemistry mindset also encourages the discovery of novel chemical transformations that are more sustainable, economical and safer to execute. For instance, in Letermovir program, Merck scientists invented a novel hydrogen-bonding catalyst to circumvent the robustness issues encountered during initial scale-up, greatly improving the sustainability represented by low process mass intensity or PMI. The newly developed process reduced the PMI by 70% and the raw material cost by > 90%. In another example of Nemtabrutinib, a novel 2-step synthesis starting from a renewable raw material was developed for a key intermediate, which successfully replaced the existing 11-step sequence while dramatically reducing the PMI by 94%.
Cheol K. Chung
Cheol received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Seoul National University in Korea. He then moved to the United States and obtained Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry under the supervision of Professor Barry Trost at Stanford University. After completing the postdoctoral training in the laboratories of late Professor Robert Grubbs, Cheol joined Merck Process Research in Rahway in 2008, where he has contributed to a number of drug development programs including Anacetrapib, Odanacatib, Niraparib, Letermovir, and most recently, Nemtabrutinib. His main areas of interest are the application of catalytic reactions in organic synthesis, designing efficient and practical synthesis of complex drug candidates, and development of new reactions using high-throughput experimentation.
Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
This lectureship is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and by donations to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
Alumna Jeannette Brown
Brown is the first African American to receive a degree from the Department of Chemistry's graduate program, earning her master's degree in 1958. She is a former faculty associate in the Department of Pre-College Programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For 25 years, she worked as a research chemist at Merck. She is the author of two books, "African American Women Chemists" and "African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era." She is a Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (2004), and is a member of the first class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows (2009). For her distinguished service to professionalism, she received the Henry Hill Award from the ACS Division of Professional Relations in 2020. For her work as a mentor to minority students and science education advocacy, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1991; was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005; and received the ACS national award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 2005.
Professor Thomas H. Epps, III
Professor Thomas H. Epps, III
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers
University of Delaware
Host: Professor Marc Hillmyer
Advancing Sustainability: Small Molecules and Polymers from Biomass and Plastics Waste
From a materials standpoint, advancing polymer sustainability involves the sourcing of materials from renewable feedstocks, along with the harnessing of polymer/plastics waste in the creation of closed-loop frameworks that valorize traditional waste. For the renewables case, lignin is the largest natural source of aromatic carbon on the planet, and thus, lignin-derived products have emerged as critical elements in the next generation of polymers. However, the valorization of lignin to high-performance and cost-competitive materials remains a challenge due to lignin’s perceived recalcitrance, inherent structural variability, and complexity of deconstructed lignin bio-oil mixtures. Recently, we have demonstrated that materials with reproducible thermal and mechanical characteristics can be synthesized in a controlled and predictable manner from batches of monomers with complex and somewhat variable compositions, such as minimally processed bio-oils obtained from deconstructed lignin. As one example, we have combined polymer science and catalysis to generate new, high-performance, pressure-sensitive adhesives from compounds obtained directly from raw biomass (poplar wood) deconstruction with properties, cost, and processing methods that were competitive and compatible with commercial tapes. Additionally, we have developed structure-activity relationships for lignin-derived compounds that were used to design new systems that had drop-in potential in both synthesis and materials properties (relative to petroleum-based analogues), yet most importantly, demonstrated reduced environmental impacts when screened by several common toxicity assays. Finally, we have leveraged these activities to design new catalytic processes that enable scalability towards continuous processes, along with the translation of these lignin deconstruction concepts to the recovery and valorization of macromolecules from polymer/plastics waste.
Professor Epps
Thomas is the Allan & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD) with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering. He is Director of the Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers (CRiSP), Director of the new NSF MRSEC at UD called CHARM (Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials) and Deputy Director of the new DOE EFRC at UD called CPI (Center for Plastics Innovation). His research interests include nanostructured assemblies for targeted drug delivery and gene therapy, polymeric materials for bio-separation and ion-conduction membranes, nanostructured soft materials from biobased and plastics waste feedstocks, and polymer films for nanotemplating. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2018, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2021, Polymers Division of the American Chemical Society in 2021, the American Chemical Society in 2021, and the National Academy of Inventors in 2021. Thomas is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Lignolix, Inc. – a start-up focused on valorization of biomass waste. He has received several honors and awards including: the William W. Grimes Award (AIChE, 2021), Percy L. Julian Award (NOBCChE, 2020); John H. Dillon Medal (APS, 2016); Owens-Corning Early Career Award (AIChE, 2015), among others. Thomas is an associate editor for Science Advances and a member of the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.
Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
This lectureship is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and by donations to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
Alumna Jeannette Brown
Brown is the first African American to receive a degree from the Department of Chemistry's graduate program, earning her master's degree in 1958. She is a former faculty associate in the Department of Pre-College Programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For 25 years, she worked as a research chemist at Merck. She is the author of two books, "African American Women Chemists" and "African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era." She is a Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (2004), and is a member of the first class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows (2009). For her distinguished service to professionalism, she received the Henry Hill Award from the ACS Division of Professional Relations in 2020. For her work as a mentor to minority students and science education advocacy, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1991; was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005; and received the ACS national award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 2005.
Jesus G. Estrada
Jesus G. Estrada
Senior Scientist
Small Molecule Process Research & Development
Merck Research Laboratories
Host: Dipa Kalyani
Personal Story: Experiences as an undocumented Immigrant pursuing a career in chemistry
In this Ted Talk I will go over my experiences as an undocumented immigrant pursuing higher education in chemistry and leading to a career in the pharmaceutical industry. I have found that navigating through those experiences resulted in tenacity and resilience. I’ve been able to tap into these personal skills as a scientist tackling complex problems allowing me to come up with unique solutions. Science benefits greatly when teams are composed of people from diverse backgrounds that tackle problems with different approaches and perspectives.
Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
This lectureship is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and by donations to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
Alumna Jeannette Brown
Brown is the first African American to receive a degree from the Department of Chemistry's graduate program, earning her master's degree in 1958. She is a former faculty associate in the Department of Pre-College Programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For 25 years, she worked as a research chemist at Merck. She is the author of two books, "African American Women Chemists" and "African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era." She is a Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (2004), and is a member of the first class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows (2009). For her distinguished service to professionalism, she received the Henry Hill Award from the ACS Division of Professional Relations in 2020. For her work as a mentor to minority students and science education advocacy, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1991; was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005; and received the ACS national award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 2005.
Professor Thomas H. Epps, III
Professor Thomas H. Epps, III
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers
University of Delaware
Host: Professor Marc Hillmyer
Space Shuttles, Popcorn, and Mountains – A Road through Polymer Science
In this lecture, Thomas will reflect on key points of his past that have guided his path towards a career focused on polymer science. Starting from playing with wooden models of molecules in his father’s office to participating in team building activities at Space Camp and Space Academy in Huntsville, AL, there have been several notable events that have cemented Thomas’ interest in polymers. The story also includes numerous mentors, friends, colleagues, and random interactions that have play pivotal roles in Thomas’ personal and professional growth. He described several aspects of this story as an African American polymer scientist in a 2020 Oral History Interview with the American Institute of Physics.
Professor Epps
Thomas is the Allan & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD) with a joint appointment in Materials Science & Engineering. He is Director of the Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers (CRiSP), Director of the new NSF MRSEC at UD called CHARM (Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials) and Deputy Director of the new DOE EFRC at UD called CPI (Center for Plastics Innovation). His research interests include nanostructured assemblies for targeted drug delivery and gene therapy, polymeric materials for bio-separation and ion-conduction membranes, nanostructured soft materials from biobased and plastics waste feedstocks, and polymer films for nanotemplating. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2018, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2021, Polymers Division of the American Chemical Society in 2021, the American Chemical Society in 2021, and the National Academy of Inventors in 2021. Thomas is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Lignolix, Inc. – a start-up focused on valorization of biomass waste. He has received several honors and awards including: the William W. Grimes Award (AIChE, 2021), Percy L. Julian Award (NOBCChE, 2020); John H. Dillon Medal (APS, 2016); Owens-Corning Early Career Award (AIChE, 2015), among others. Thomas is an associate editor for Science Advances and a member of the DOE Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.
Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
This lectureship is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and by donations to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
Alumna Jeannette Brown
Brown is the first African American to receive a degree from the Department of Chemistry's graduate program, earning her master's degree in 1958. She is a former faculty associate in the Department of Pre-College Programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For 25 years, she worked as a research chemist at Merck. She is the author of two books, "African American Women Chemists" and "African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era." She is a Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (2004), and is a member of the first class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows (2009). For her distinguished service to professionalism, she received the Henry Hill Award from the ACS Division of Professional Relations in 2020. For her work as a mentor to minority students and science education advocacy, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1991; was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005; and received the ACS national award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 2005.
2022 Jeannette Brown Lectureship
Department of Chemistry celebrates second annual Jeannette Brown Lectureship, co-sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Location: Graduate Minneapolis - Pinnacle Ballroom
Zoom Link: z.umn.edu/JeannetteBrownWebinar2022
2:45 pm - 4:00 pm
- Welcome from UMN and Merck
Christy Haynes & Michelle Machacek - Opening Remarks
Jeannette Brown - "Space Shuttles, Popcorn, and Mountains – A Road through Polymer Science"
Professor Thomas Epps, Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
- Overview of Merck’s DEI values and strategy
Celeste Warren, Vice President Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, Merck & Co, Inc. - "Personal Story: Experiences as an undocumented Immigrant pursuing a career in chemistry"
Jesus Estrada, Small Molecule Process Research & Development, Merck Research Laboratories
Thursday, April 7, 2022 - Morning
Location: Graduate Minneapolis - Pinnacle Ballroom
Zoom Link: z.umn.edu/JeannetteBrownWebinar2022
9:45 am - 10:45 am
- Keynote Lecture: "Advancing Sustainability: Small Molecules and Polymers from Biomass and Plastics Waste"
Professor Thomas Epps, Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Keynote Lecture: "Process R&D for Sustainable Pharmaceutical Manufacturing"
Cheol Chung, Principal Scientist, Process Research & Development, Merck Research Laboratories
Thursday, April 7, 2022 - Afternoon
Location: Graduate Minneapolis
Zoom Link: z.umn.edu/JeannetteBrownMtg2022
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
- Career panel with Merck scientists - Pinnacle Ballroom
2:00 pm - 4:15 pm
- Student Flash Talks: Schedule & Abstracts
Room 1 - Pathways Room
Room 2 - Think Room 1
Room 3 - Think Room 3
Room 4 - Think Room 4
Jeannette Brown Lectureship
The Department of Chemistry established the Jeannette Brown Lectureship to honor the career and legacy of one of its outstanding alumna. This lectureship will bring experts in all fields of chemistry from around the world to the University of Minnesota, with emphasis on highlighting the work and careers of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the chemical sciences. The lectureship reflects and celebrates the pioneering work of Jeannette Brown as a talented chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years, author, historian, and tireless leader and advocate for the inclusion and advancement of African American women in chemistry-related professional pursuits and careers.
This lectureship is sponsored by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and by donations to the Jeannette Brown Lectureship Fund. Supporters can go to the Department of Chemistry’s giving page to donate.
Alumna Jeannette Brown
Brown is the first African American to receive a degree from the Department of Chemistry's graduate program, earning her master's degree in 1958. She is a former faculty associate in the Department of Pre-College Programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. For 25 years, she worked as a research chemist at Merck. She is the author of two books, "African American Women Chemists" and "African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era." She is a Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) Fellow of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (2004), and is a member of the first class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows (2009). For her distinguished service to professionalism, she received the Henry Hill Award from the ACS Division of Professional Relations in 2020. For her work as a mentor to minority students and science education advocacy, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1991; was honored by the University of Minnesota with an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2005; and received the ACS national award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences in 2005.
Professor Kristin Wustholz
Professor Kristin Wustholz
Department of Chemistry
The College of William and Mary
Host: Professor Aaron Massari
Harnessing Single-Molecule Blinking for Photocatalysis and Multiplexed Imaging
Illuminating complex structures and processes at the nanoscale using fluorescent probes is a priority for many applications of vital importance to society. In particular, single-molecule fluorescence approaches have allowed for conquering the diffraction limit of light and revealed hidden phenomena arising from photochemistry and nanoscale motion in complex environments such as cells, polymers, and nanomaterials. For these applications and others, the time-dependent emission intensity (also known as blinking dynamics) from individual probe molecules plays an essential role. Most single-molecule studies utilize blinking to probe environmental heterogeneity or to localize molecules and achieve high spatial resolution. Our strategy is to decipher the blinking mechanisms of single emitters in complex environments using robust statistical analysis and modeling so that their intensity fluctuations can be controlled and harnessed for new opportunities in multicolor super-resolved imaging and probe design.
Kristin Wustholz
Kristin Wustholz is the Mansfield Associate Professor of Chemistry at William & Mary. She obtained B.A.S. in chemistry and philosophy from Muhlenberg College. Kristin obtained her PhD in 2007 from the University of Washington in Seattle, funded in part by an NSF IGERT fellowship. Her research with Profs. Bart Kahr and Phil Reid involved single-molecule spectroscopy of dyed salt crystals. As a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University, she studied plasmonics, LSPR microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and single-molecule SERS with Prof. Richard Van Duyne. She has been at William & Mary since 2010, where her group uses single-molecule and plasmon-enhanced spectroscopies to study a variety of problems including solar energy conversion, biological imaging, and art conservation. Kristin’s efforts in research and teaching have been recognized by the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2016), Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence (2020), and being named a Faculty Fellow in the Center for the Liberal Arts at William & Mary.
Professor Sahar Sharifzadeh
Professor Sahar Sharifzadeh
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Division of Materials Science and Engineering
Boston University
Host: Professor Renee Frontiera
Understanding the Optoelectronic Properties of 1D Materials from First-Principles Theory
Theory and computation provide important tools for understanding and predicting material properties on the atomic scale, and guiding synthesis and experimentation. In this talk, I will present our recent advances in applying state-of-the-art first-principles computational methods to understand the excited-state electronic properties of 1D-stacked organic assemblies and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In particular, we explore the role that structural complexity, due to the presence of defects and vibrations, plays on electronic and optical excitations in these materials, and develop physical intuition to explain these phenomena.
Sahar Sharifzadeh
Dr. Sahar Sharifzadeh is an Associate Professor at Boston University. She obtained her PhD from Princeton University, working under the guidance of Prof. Emily Carter, and subsequently joined the Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow and project scientist in the group of Dr. Jeffrey Neaton. She joined Boston University in 2014 as an Assistant Professor. Prof. Sharifzadeh was awarded the Department of Energy Early Career Award in 2017, the National Science Foundation Early Career Award in 2019, and the Boston University College of Engineering Early Career Award in 2019. Her research focuses on first-principles computational modelling of materials.