Two Journal Covers from the Sokolov Group
The Sokolov Group’s primary focus of research on dynamics of soft materials, including dynamics of biological macromolecules, and nano-composite materials.
Their recent publication “Correlation between the temperature evolution of the interfacial region and the growing dynamic cooperativity length scale” was featured on cover of The Journal of Chemical Physics. They presented an analyses that revealed a clear correlation between the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation time, ln(τα(T)/τ0), and the interfacial layer thickness, Lint(T), in nanocomposite materials.
The group also published their work “Perspectives for Polymer Electrolytes: A View from Fundamentals of Ionic Conductivity” which was on the cover of Macromolecules. This research analyzes fundamental mechanisms controlling ionic conductivity and suggests design of novel polymer electrolytes with enhanced conductivity.
Zhao Group Published in Nature Communications
The Zhao Group is a polymer chemistry research group, focusing on responsive, functional soft and hybrid materials.
The group recently published their work “Breaking translational symmetry via polymer chain overcrowding in molecular bottlebrush crystallization” in Nature Communication.
The research focuses on the fundamental laws in crystallization is translational symmetry. This piece reports on the spontaneous formation of spherical hollow crystals with broken translational symmetry in crystalline molecular bottlebrush (mBB) polymers. This study unravels a new principle of spontaneous translational symmetry breaking, providing a general route towards designing versatile nanostructures.
First Publication from Bailey Lab
The Bailey Lab just published their first review article “Site directed mutagenesis as a precision tool to enable synthetic biology with engineered modular polyketide synthases” in Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology.
This article is an overview on a way to target genetic changes to change as little as one amino acid to change the function of polyketide synthases.
“Polyketides have a correspondence between their sequence and the structure of the small molecules they create, which are often important pharmaceuticals,” said Assistant Professor Constance Bailey. “Finding ways to subtly alter the structure of the metabolite that forms is a way to enable the discovery of new important drugs.”
The group reviews examples of targeted point mutagenesis to one or a few residues harbored within the PKS that alter domain specificity or selectivity, affect protein stability and interdomain communication, and promote more complex catalytic reactivity.
Calhoun Lab Publishes Online Detection Method for Microfluidics
The Calhoun Lab published their article “Total Internal Reflection Transient Absorption Microscopy: An Online Detection Method for Microfluidics” in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. Brandon Colon, a graduate student in the Calhoun Lab, is the primary author of this work.
Microreactors have garnered widespread attention for their tunability and precise control of synthetic parameters to efficiently produce target species. Despite associated advances, a lack of on-line detection and optimization methods has stalled the progression of microfluidic reactors.
“Here we employ and characterize a total internal reflection transient absorption microscopy (TIRTAM) instrument to image excited state dynamics on a continuous flow device,” Colon said. “The experiments presented demonstrate the capability to discriminate between different chromophores as well as in differentiating the effects of local chemical environments that a chromophore experiences.”
This work presents the first such on-line transient absorption measurements and provides a new direction for the advancement and optimization of chemical reactions in microfluidic devices.
Learn MoreDo Lab Published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
The Do Group’s research combines ion-mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), and computational modeling to bring a chemical physics outlook to problems of broad chemical interest.
The group recently published their work “Selective host–guest chemistry, self-assembly and conformational preferences of m-xylene macrocycles probed by ion-mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry” in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.
The group demonstrates ion-mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) as a powerful tool for interrogating and preserving selective chemistry including non-covalent and host–guest complexes of m-xylene macrocycles formed in solution.
Their experiments collectively unravel multiple facets of macrocycle chemistry including conformational flexibility, self-assembly and ligand binding; all in one analysis. Their findings illustrate an inexpensive and widely applicable approach to investigate weak but important interactions that define the shape and binding of macrocycles.
Sharma Lab Published in Analyst
The Sharma Raman lab is an interdisciplinary research group working in the areas of Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Biology, and Materials Science. The group focuses on probing and characterizing the underlying chemistry and physics of biological processes. The long range research goal of the group is the use of innovative Raman spectroscopic methods to create new approaches to understand biology. Specifically, we are developing methods for early detection of disease (both in vitro and in vivo detection), as well as methods for chemical and biological sensing.
The Sharma Lab published their work “Raman spectroscopy and neuroscience: from fundamental understanding to disease diagnostics and imaging” in Analyst.
Neuroscience would directly benefit from more effective detection techniques, leading to earlier diagnosis of disease. The specificity of Raman spectroscopy is unparalleled, given that a molecular fingerprint is attained for each species. It also allows for label-free detection with relatively inexpensive instrumentation, minimal sample preparation, and rapid sample analysis. This review summarizes Raman spectroscopy-based techniques that have been used to advance the field of neuroscience in recent years.
Musfeldt Group Published in Nature Quantum Materials
The Musfeldt Group published their work “Nonreciprocal directional dichroism of a chiral magnet in the visible range” in npj Quantum Materials. Micheal Yokosuk, recent doctoral graduate from the Musfeldt Lab and DMREF collaboration, is the primary author of this work.
The Musfeldt Lab provides a very unique opportunity for students with the DMREF team (Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future). DMREF collaboration just won a Creativity Extension on our 4 year, $1.6 M grant. “This is the highest honor in the Division of Materials Research,” Professor Janice Musfeldt said. “The Creativity Extension is worth $450 K over the next year.”
“The goal of the Rutgers – Tennessee DMREF team is to explore the new functionalities that arise in materials in the presence of strong spin-orbit coupling,” Yokosuk said. “I participated in this collaboration from the beginning, lead the collaboration between crystal growers, theorists, and spectroscopists, and was responsible for the discovery of nonreciprocal directional dichroism in Ni3TeO6 – a system in which both ultra-low symmetry and spin-orbit coupling are essential.”
This research reveals how nonreciprocal effects extend into the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and prove, by symmetry arguments, measurements, simulations, and first principles theory, the many different orientations for these effects in chiral magnets.
“My time with the DMREF team was one of the most rewarding experiences in my graduate career. In addition to encouraging me to take the lead on projects that I found interesting, they pushed me to learn new science to back up my ideas” Yokosuk said. “It prepared me incredibly well for my new job at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.”
Brantley Lab Publishes in ACS Macro Letters
The Brantley Lab published their article “Controlled Polymerization of β-Pinadiene: Accessing Unusual Polymer Architectures with Biomass-Derived Monomers” in ACS Macro Letters. Alan Fried, graduate student in the Brantley Lab, is the primary author of this work.
Biomass-derived polymers are emerging as critically needed alternatives to their petrochemical counterparts. Terpenes, which are among the most abundant natural products, represent particularly fertile chemical space for monomer development.
“Here, we present the living vinyl-addition polymerization of β-pinadiene at room temperature,” Fried said. “Employing [(π-allyl)NiOCOCF3]2 as a catalyst afforded the desired polymers with good control over molecular weight and dispersity.”
The research shows the bicyclic pinane core was retained in the isolated materials and the reported materials exhibited impressive thermal stability and high glass transition temperatures.
“As the polymerization of terpene-derived cumulenes can afford scaffolds that defy current synthetic logic, we anticipate our work will unlock additional avenues for sustainable polymer development,” Fried said.
Reynolds in Roy Lab Named Goldwater Scholar
Five students have been named 2020–2021 Goldwater Scholars, ranking the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, first in the country for the prestigious award.
The Goldwater Scholarship Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor US Senator Barry M. Goldwater. The most prestigious undergraduate STEM scholarships in the United States, Goldwater Scholarships are awarded to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The scholarships provide up to $7,500 annually to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board. An estimated pool of more than 5,000 sophomores and juniors nationwide applied this year for the Goldwater.
“To lead the country in Goldwater Scholars is a tremendous achievement, a reflection of our nationally competitive undergraduates, and of course a credit to these five outstanding future STEM research leaders,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor David Manderscheid, who is also a professor of mathematics. “These results also underscore our robust undergraduate research infrastructure and the high quality of faculty mentoring our undergraduates receive.”
Several thousand sophomores and juniors nationwide seek their institution’s nomination to the Goldwater national competition. UT can nominate up to five undergraduates. This year 396 Goldwater Scholars were named from the 1,343 students nationwide nominated by 461 colleges and universities.
“The Goldwater competition is rigorous and unfolds over several months, which gives our staff a chance to get to know the students, their goals, and what drives them. Their passion for discovery really rubs off,” said Andrew Seidler, director of UT’s Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships, which facilitates the campus nomination process. “Seeing their potential recognized in this way is so satisfying—personally and professionally. It’s exciting to imagine what lies ahead for them”
Kristopher Reynolds, a junior from Coalfield, Tennessee, studying chemistry and biology
Reynolds is a Marine Corps veteran and currently serves as the president of UT’s SALUTE chapter, a national veterans honor society working to serve student veterans. The organization helps connect students with resources about education and career planning. At UT, he is conducting research regarding molecular electronics and integrated circuits and spent the prior two summers conducting research at Harvard.
“I am tremendously honored to have been selected as a Goldwater Scholar and join a community of talented scientists and leaders in shaping the way we conduct research to become more inclusive and tackle the scientific challenges that the world faces and will face in the near future,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds plans to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry, studying the charge and mass transport phenomena between material interfaces. Reynolds ultimately wants to lead a research group at a university or national laboratory.
“We must always remember that science knows no ethnicity or gender; it knows only curiosity and truth, and as long as we confront nature with an open mind, she will humble us every day,” Reynolds said.
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