Massenat Receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Neumiah Massenat (DuChene group): My proposal titled, "Investigating the Electrochemical Nucleation and Growth of Shaped-Controlled Copper Nanoparticles for Electrocatalysis Applications” explores the research in mechanistic understanding and method development of shaped copper nanoparticles for applications such as the electrochemical reduction of CO2 into various value-added products. These studies will help to further lay the foundation for the development of new techniques for the synthesis of shape-controlled catalytic nanoparticles, with eventual applications in electrocatalysis for solar-to-fuel energy conversion.
Currently, as the only black female graduate student in the department, who also happens to be of Caribbean descent, I hope to inspire minorities to join advanced studies in STEM. I plan to advocate for Green Chemistry in Caribbean spaces for the advancement of our people and countries. Using my extensive background in outreach, I plan to implement a program for grade school students in nearby schools of large Caribbean populations, teaching them about STEM-related subjects and fields with applications in environmental literacy.
Ali Receives Paul Hatheway Terry Scholarship
(You Group): The cell membrane is one of the most essential barriers in biological systems. It plays critical roles in cellular signaling and communications. This is made possible due to the highly dynamic and heterogenous nature of the membrane resulting in a highly fluid environment. Unfortunately, we lack the tools needed to study, visualize and understand in detail these dynamic and transient interactions which take place in the cell membrane. We developed a DNA Zipper probe capable of visualizing these dynamic interactions on live cells while also monitoring changes in the membranes in real time. This probe works by stabilizing highly dynamic interactions enough for them to be visualized via DNA hybridizations.
These probes will be very useful for exploring the various complex properties of the cell membranes as well as diagnostic and therapeutic purposes owing to the highly programmable nature and biocompatibility of the DNA structures used.
Bi Receives Rausch Fellowship Award
Hongshan Bi (Zhou Group): Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide provides a unique strategy for carbon neutrality. However, the screening of efficient catalysts and the investigation of catalytic mechanisms face many challenges. In the Zhou Lab, these issues are addressed through first-principles quantum mechanical simulations. We have designed a novel two-dimensional catalyst with dual copper atoms loaded on nitrogen-doped graphene. In the simulation process, we consider solvent effects, influence of pH, and the impact of applied electrode voltage on reaction free energy. By systematically exploring the entire reaction pathway, we identify the most probable reaction pathways. Research result indicates that dual transition metal active sites play a crucial role in stabilizing reaction intermediates, ultimately guiding the production of the final product, methanol. This will help us gain a deeper understanding of the electrocatalytic mechanism of CO2RR.
Doungchawee Receives Paul Hatheway Terry Scholarship
Jeerapat Doungchawee (Vachet group): Nanomaterials have been innovatively developed and extensively utilized in the biomedical field, particularly serving as carriers for drug delivery. The necessity to closely monitor their biodistribution and potential biochemical impact is paramount to propel their progress. The complexities associated with the trajectory of nanoparticles underscore the intricate interactions with biological systems, highlighting the ongoing need for research in this area. The comprehension of how nanomaterials are cleared and distributed in specific organs is vital for evaluating their fate, excretion, and potential effect in biological system. In the scope of my research in the Vachet lab, I am employing mass spectrometry imaging and developing multimodal imaging techniques to investigate the fate and biochemical effects of nanoparticles. This multifaceted approach aims to enhance sensitivity and deepen our understanding of the correlation between the biodistribution of nanomaterials and their effects within the biological systems. Through these efforts, we strive to contribute valuable insights that will further advance the safe and effective utilization of nanomaterials in biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery.
Mitra Receives Marvin D. Rausch Fellowship
Gaurav Mitra (Kittilstved group): The intentional incorporation of impurities or dopants in semiconductors is fundamental to manipulate the properties that render them useful for spintronics,
photocatalysis, and optoelectronics. One long-standing challenge in integrating the doped semiconductors in various applications is the design of materials with controlled individual dopant properties such as dopants speciation, valence state, and spin dynamics. Transition metal dopant's in SrTiO3 exhibit interesting electronic structures and defect chemistries that lead to interesting functional properties such as well-known photochromism and charge-controlled spin dynamics. Colloidal nanocrystals have a substantially higher percentage of atoms residing at the nanocrystal surface compared to bulk powders or single crystals. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, we show that the speciation of Mn ions in colloidal nanocrystals and bulk powders are different. We also provide spectroscopic evidence that the Mn oxidation state can be altered through facile ex-situ chemical perturbations in bulk powders, which is not observed for Mn ions in the colloidal SrTiO3 nanocrystals. These results have electronic structural origins and are attributed to and in context of surface defects, charge-compensation mechanisms, and synthetic methods.
Mitra Receives Outstanding Leadership Award
At UMass Amherst, our graduate students include visionary leaders who investigate, design, and implement solutions to improve the graduate student experience, and graduate education more broadly. These leaders advance initiatives through graduate student organizations, governance bodies, departmental committees, service roles, collaborations with administrative offices, and more. To honor these significant contributions to our campus, as a part of the leadership team of the Graduate Student Senate, Gaurav Mitra PhD Candidate in the Department of Chemistry is amongst the inaugural class of recipients for the Graduate School Outstanding Leadership Award for academic year 2023-24. This award is a testament to their collective commitment to excellence in leading the graduate student body. Their efforts to foster a supportive and dynamic academic environment have not only enriched the graduate experience but also set a new standard for student-led initiatives. This recognition fuels their passion to continue advocating for the needs and aspirations of their peers, and to innovate in ways that leave a lasting impact on the graduate student community. This award was presented on May 3rd at the Graduate School Celebration of Excellence.
Mitra Graduate School Lifetime Achievement Award
One of the most prestigious awards of the Graduate Student Senate is the Lifetime Achievement Award, this is the highest honor bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional and enduring contributions to the Senate and graduate student community over their tenure. The President of Graduate Student Senate is proud to present this award to Gaurav Mitra the Senator representing the Department of Chemistry. This award celebrates Gaurav Mitra’s longstanding dedication, leadership, and impact, embodying the spirit of service and advocacy throughout his career as a senator, representing the department of Chemistry.
Dutta Receives Marvin D. Rausch Fellowship
Ranit Dutta (Thayumanavan group): Targeted protein degraders, such as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have garnered increasing attention because of their substoichiometric mode of action and potential to alleviate drug resistance. Compared to occupancy-based drugs that temporarily inhibit a protein function, PROTACs offer a generalizable strategy to entirely degrade a protein of interest (POI). All these features have resulted in the ongoing clinical trials of ~20 PROTACs, including ARV-471 that targets estrogen receptor-α and is being investigated in phase 3 as a monotherapy. Despite their high efficacy, PROTACs offer a formidable challenge of off-target toxicity due to their non-specific homing in on healthy vs diseased tissues. As degradation of POIs leads to deletion of all essential functions of that protein, their off-target accumulation could prove highly deleterious. Muting these degraders and then activating them on-demand using endogenous tissue-specific stimuli is a promising approach to tackle this challenge. In our lab, we are utilizing antibody-nanoparticle conjugates to peform tissue-selective intracellular delivery of PROTACs. We are also modifying the PROTACs at the molecular scale to create prodrugs that are activatable in response to tumor-specific stimuli. Overall, we believe that these strategies are adaptable for a broader spectrum of bifunctional degraders and therefore has high translational potential.
Park Receives PPG Fellowship
Jungmi Park (Rotello group): My research conducted in the Rotello lab is committed to tackling the pressing issue of biofilm-associated infections. These infections are a persistent and significant threat that is difficult or impossible to address using current treatments. Given the escalating challenge posed by biofilm infections and antibiotic resistance, we have studied the intricate nature of biofilms and have adopted an approach to treat these infections using polymeric nanomaterials. In our group, we investigate the role of polymer structures and charges to develop polymeric nanomaterials that enhance biofilm penetration and eradication.
During my doctoral research, I synthesized polymeric nanomaterials, utilizing chemical strategies to customize polymer design. I could then integrate antimicrobials for a combined treatment approach. In my most recent work, the synthesized polymers were used to enhance the activity of bacteriophages for antimicrobial applications. With the support of the PPG fellowship, my focus will continue to be on creating polymer-based nanotherapeutics and testing them through rigorous in vitro and in vivo testing. This research will be conducted at UMass as well, through collaborations with researchers at the Mayo Clinic to provide effective solutions for biofilm-based infections.
Zhang Receives PPG Fellowship
Zhaojie Zhang (DV group): In p-i-n perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the buried hole transport layer (HTL)/perovskite interface plays a vital role in dictating the performance and stability of the photovoltaic device. However, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the HTL on phase segregation of mixed halide perovskite is lacking. I systematically explore the impact of electronic and chemical properties of the HTL on vertical halide segregation of mixed-halide perovskite materials. By manipulating the chemical and electronic properties of the HTL, I have demonstrated that the PTAA/copper halide bilayer, with its synergistic passivation and efficient hole extraction ability, stabilizes the perovskite layer from phase segregation. My work highlights that synergetic passivation and efficient hole extraction pack a more powerful punch for suppressing the vertical phase segregation in mixed-halide perovskites.
Three-Minute Thesis
The UMass Graduate School's Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition serves as an invaluable platform for graduate students to effectively communicate their research findings. This year's competition saw three talented chemistry students, Jayashree Bhagabati (Thayumanavan group), Rehab Heikal (Strieter group), and Jithu Krishna (Thayumanavan group), presenting talks in the final round, showcasing the depth and breadth of research within the chemistry department.
Rehab Heikal's impressive achievement of winning joint second place highlights her exceptional ability to distill the significance of her research into a concise and engaging presentation, reflecting positively on both her work and the mentorship provided by the Strieter group. The recognition of winners by Chancellor Javier Reyes demonstrates the university's commitment to celebrating the achievements of its graduate students and fostering a culture of effective science communication and public engagement.
Competitions like the 3MT have gained global popularity because they challenge students to convey the essence of their research in a manner accessible to a broad audience. Participation in such events not only hones students' communication skills but also helps them articulate the broader impact of their research on society.