Xue Group Research Published in Nature Communications Journal

July 25, 2018 by Kayla Benson

Xue group research article “Spin–phonon couplings in transition metal complexes with slow magnetic relaxation” is now published in Nature Communications, a highly reputable journal. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field. Their innovative research spectroscopically reveals and quantitates the spin–phonon couplings in typical transition metal complexes and sheds light on the origin of the spin–phonon entanglement.

Xue group research is centered on three areas: (1) Spectroscopic studies of molecular magnetism; (2) Synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes; (3) Development of new chemical analyses. Both fundamental chemistry and applications are studied. For this open-access article, Duncan Moseley and Shelby Stavretis in their group conducted research.

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Barnes Wins Fulbright to Conduct Research in Czech Republic

July 10, 2018 by Kayla Benson

When Carolyn Barnes started college, she had her heart set on attending medical school. As she progressed through courses in biology and chemistry, however, she discovered a different career path.

“I realized my interest in medicine was more focused towards understanding the cellular and molecular processes that cause humans to have diseases and illness rather than just treating those diseases,” says Barnes, a senior in chemistry and member of the Chancellor’s Honors Program.

Barnes was first introduced to the field of lipid and membrane chemistry during her junior year. In 2017, she studied at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. In 2018, she has the opportunity to study in the Czech Republic thanks to a Fulbright Award.

“I am excited to experience the Czech Republic and be immersed in the culture while also pursuing research I find really interesting,” says Barnes, who will study the dynamics of pancreatic cells involved in insulin release.

Insulin is the hormone that controls blood-sugar levels in the body. When a person loses control of releasing insulin it affects the body’s ability to control blood-sugar level, which in turn, causes diabetes. Barnes became interested in this line of research when she learned about a friend’s experience being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.

“Type II diabetes accounts for 90 percent of diabetes cases worldwide, but the molecular mechanisms of this are very poorly understood,” Barnes says. “We hope this research will allow us to differentiate the effects of several different types of fat on insulin secretion from pancreatic cells.”

Barnes, who is from Knoxville, started working in labs at UT as a senior in high school. Since her arrival at UT, she has worked in several labs and learned different aspects of research and collaboration. She fell in love with the lab atmosphere and the research she conducts when she began working with Michael Best, professor of chemistry.

“The field of lipid chemistry is diverse and has a lot of applications that have only begun to be investigated,” Barnes says. “I enjoy the atmosphere in a lab where those who surround you have the same thirst for knowledge and the desire to discover something that might change the world.”