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Speakers
	Dr. Gary W. Brudvig Department of ����vlog�ٷ���� and Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University Honors: Searle Scholar, 1983-86, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, 1985-90, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 1986-88, Elected Fellow of the AAAS, 1995, Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Minnesota, 2016, Elected Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 2019, Graduate Mentor Award in the Natural Sciences, 2021 Biography: Gary Brudvig is the Benjamin Silliman Professor of ����vlog�ٷ����, Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, and Director of the Yale Energy Sciences Institute at Yale University.  He received his B.S. (1976) from the University of Minnesota, his Ph.D. (1981) from Caltech and was a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley from 1980 to 1982.  Professor Brudvig has been on the faculty at Yale since 1982. Brudvig served as Chair of the ����vlog�ٷ���� Department from 2003-2009 and 2015-2018.  Since 2012, Brudvig has been the Director of the Energy Sciences Institute located at Yale’s West Campus where he oversees the development of new research programs and facilities related to renewable energy, alternative fuels, and materials science.  His research involves study of the chemistry of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis and work to develop artificial bioinspired systems for solar fuel production.
	Dr. Wolfgang Nitschke Research Director, Bioenergetics and protein engineering laboratory (BIP)/CNRS Prof. Nitschke has been studying bioenergetics all his academic life, beginning with a Ph. D. on photosynthetic electron transfer in plants at the University of Regensburg in Germany and, after drifting towards prokaryotic photosynthesis during 5 years as post-doctoral fellow in Paris, serving as a professor in Freiburg Germany. Upon moving to Marseille, France, he addressed electron transport and the implied energetics in an expanding repertoire of biochemical processes and bacterial species. He led the “Evolution of Bioenergetics" research group from 1995 until his retirement in 2023 and was vice-director of the department “Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering” from 2002 to 2006. Through a career dedicated to biological energy conversion, he was convinced of the fundamental importance of energy to life (and beyond). His professional bio reports that since his retirement he is 'able to finally do research without the crazy administrative workload'.
	Dr. Shelley Minteer Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair of Biological ����vlog�ٷ���� and Associate Chair of ����vlog�ٷ����  Director, Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability at Missouri University of Science and Technology Honors & Awards: 2020 Bioelectrochemistry Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2020 University of Utah Distinguished Research Award, 2020 Charles N. Reilley Award of the Society of Electroanalytical ����vlog�ٷ����, 2019 Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2019 Grahame Award of the Electrochemical Society, 2018 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018 American Chemical Society Analytical Division Electrochemistry Award, 2015 Luigi Galvani Prize of the Bioelectrochemical Society, 2013 Fellow of The Electrochemical Society, 2010 Tajima Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2008 American Chemical Society St. Louis Award, 2008 Scientific American Top 50 Award, 2008 Society of Electroanalytical Chemists Young Investigator Award, 2006 U.S. Department of Defense Okaloosa Award, 2006 Missouri Inventor of the Year Award, 2005 Academy of Science of St. Louis Innovation Award

2024 Naff Symposium Committee

Prof. Anne-Frances Miller - (����vlog�ٷ����) [Chair]

Prof. Marcelo Guzman - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Kenneth Graham - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Isabel Escobar - (Chemical & Materials Engineering)

Speakers
	Dr. Gary W. Brudvig Department of ����vlog�ٷ���� and Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University Honors: Searle Scholar, 1983-86, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, 1985-90, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 1986-88, Elected Fellow of the AAAS, 1995, Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Minnesota, 2016, Elected Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 2019, Graduate Mentor Award in the Natural Sciences, 2021 Biography: Gary Brudvig is the Benjamin Silliman Professor of ����vlog�ٷ����, Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, and Director of the Yale Energy Sciences Institute at Yale University.  He received his B.S. (1976) from the University of Minnesota, his Ph.D. (1981) from Caltech and was a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley from 1980 to 1982.  Professor Brudvig has been on the faculty at Yale since 1982. Brudvig served as Chair of the ����vlog�ٷ���� Department from 2003-2009 and 2015-2018.  Since 2012, Brudvig has been the Director of the Energy Sciences Institute located at Yale’s West Campus where he oversees the development of new research programs and facilities related to renewable energy, alternative fuels, and materials science.  His research involves study of the chemistry of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis and work to develop artificial bioinspired systems for solar fuel production.
	Dr. Wolfgang Nitschke Research Director, Bioenergetics and protein engineering laboratory (BIP)/CNRS Prof. Nitschke has been studying bioenergetics all his academic life, beginning with a Ph. D. on photosynthetic electron transfer in plants at the University of Regensburg in Germany and, after drifting towards prokaryotic photosynthesis during 5 years as post-doctoral fellow in Paris, serving as a professor in Freiburg Germany. Upon moving to Marseille, France, he addressed electron transport and the implied energetics in an expanding repertoire of biochemical processes and bacterial species. He led the “Evolution of Bioenergetics" research group from 1995 until his retirement in 2023 and was vice-director of the department “Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering” from 2002 to 2006. Through a career dedicated to biological energy conversion, he was convinced of the fundamental importance of energy to life (and beyond). His professional bio reports that since his retirement he is 'able to finally do research without the crazy administrative workload'.
	Dr. Shelley Minteer Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair of Biological ����vlog�ٷ���� and Associate Chair of ����vlog�ٷ����  Director, Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability at Missouri University of Science and Technology Honors & Awards: 2020 Bioelectrochemistry Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2020 University of Utah Distinguished Research Award, 2020 Charles N. Reilley Award of the Society of Electroanalytical ����vlog�ٷ����, 2019 Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2019 Grahame Award of the Electrochemical Society, 2018 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018 American Chemical Society Analytical Division Electrochemistry Award, 2015 Luigi Galvani Prize of the Bioelectrochemical Society, 2013 Fellow of The Electrochemical Society, 2010 Tajima Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2008 American Chemical Society St. Louis Award, 2008 Scientific American Top 50 Award, 2008 Society of Electroanalytical Chemists Young Investigator Award, 2006 U.S. Department of Defense Okaloosa Award, 2006 Missouri Inventor of the Year Award, 2005 Academy of Science of St. Louis Innovation Award

2024 Naff Symposium Committee

Prof. Anne-Frances Miller - (����vlog�ٷ����) [Chair]

Prof. Marcelo Guzman - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Kenneth Graham - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Isabel Escobar - (Chemical & Materials Engineering)

Speakers
	Dr. Gary W. Brudvig Department of ����vlog�ٷ���� and Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University Honors: Searle Scholar, 1983-86, Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, 1985-90, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 1986-88, Elected Fellow of the AAAS, 1995, Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Minnesota, 2016, Elected Member, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 2019, Graduate Mentor Award in the Natural Sciences, 2021 Biography: Gary Brudvig is the Benjamin Silliman Professor of ����vlog�ٷ����, Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, and Director of the Yale Energy Sciences Institute at Yale University.  He received his B.S. (1976) from the University of Minnesota, his Ph.D. (1981) from Caltech and was a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley from 1980 to 1982.  Professor Brudvig has been on the faculty at Yale since 1982. Brudvig served as Chair of the ����vlog�ٷ���� Department from 2003-2009 and 2015-2018.  Since 2012, Brudvig has been the Director of the Energy Sciences Institute located at Yale’s West Campus where he oversees the development of new research programs and facilities related to renewable energy, alternative fuels, and materials science.  His research involves study of the chemistry of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis and work to develop artificial bioinspired systems for solar fuel production.
	Dr. Wolfgang Nitschke Research Director, Bioenergetics and protein engineering laboratory (BIP)/CNRS Prof. Nitschke has been studying bioenergetics all his academic life, beginning with a Ph. D. on photosynthetic electron transfer in plants at the University of Regensburg in Germany and, after drifting towards prokaryotic photosynthesis during 5 years as post-doctoral fellow in Paris, serving as a professor in Freiburg Germany. Upon moving to Marseille, France, he addressed electron transport and the implied energetics in an expanding repertoire of biochemical processes and bacterial species. He led the “Evolution of Bioenergetics" research group from 1995 until his retirement in 2023 and was vice-director of the department “Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering” from 2002 to 2006. Through a career dedicated to biological energy conversion, he was convinced of the fundamental importance of energy to life (and beyond). His professional bio reports that since his retirement he is 'able to finally do research without the crazy administrative workload'.
	Dr. Shelley Minteer Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair of Biological ����vlog�ٷ���� and Associate Chair of ����vlog�ٷ����  Director, Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability at Missouri University of Science and Technology Honors & Awards: 2020 Bioelectrochemistry Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2020 University of Utah Distinguished Research Award, 2020 Charles N. Reilley Award of the Society of Electroanalytical ����vlog�ٷ����, 2019 Fellow of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2019 Grahame Award of the Electrochemical Society, 2018 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2018 American Chemical Society Analytical Division Electrochemistry Award, 2015 Luigi Galvani Prize of the Bioelectrochemical Society, 2013 Fellow of The Electrochemical Society, 2010 Tajima Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 2008 American Chemical Society St. Louis Award, 2008 Scientific American Top 50 Award, 2008 Society of Electroanalytical Chemists Young Investigator Award, 2006 U.S. Department of Defense Okaloosa Award, 2006 Missouri Inventor of the Year Award, 2005 Academy of Science of St. Louis Innovation Award

2024 Naff Symposium Committee

Prof. Anne-Frances Miller - (����vlog�ٷ����) [Chair]

Prof. Marcelo Guzman - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Kenneth Graham - (����vlog�ٷ����)

Prof. Isabel Escobar - (Chemical & Materials Engineering)

Abstract: The living cell is an intricate and synchronized organization with compartmentalization across diverse length scales. While intracellular compartments such as the lysosome and mitochondria are bound by membranes, cells also contain organelles, not confined by membranes, known as “biomolecular condensates”. Recent studies showed that many biomolecular condensates are viscoelastic materials formed from the phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids. The abrupt changes in composition and material properties of these condensates impair their biological function and are often associated with cancer, ribosomopathies, and aging disorders. Therefore, synthetic systems are required to create model biomolecular condensates in living systems. These systems aim to elucidate the biophysical principles of intracellular organization and diseases. In the first part of my talk, I will discuss our work on using protein oligomerization and sequence interactions in vivo to create multiphasic biomolecular condensates that mimic native condensate assemblies. We show that specific molecular and nanoscopic design principles can be exploited to design optogenetic fusion proteins that exhibit targeted condensation with high spatiotemporal resolution. Later in this talk, I will describe our work on synthetic polymers to form condensates that mimic the function of underwater adhesive proteins secreted by marine organisms such as mussels and sandcastle worms. In summary, the bioinspired design of macromolecules that form model biomolecular condensates represents new frontiers to ask fundamental questions on the behavior of mesoscopic biological assemblies in living cells and to inspire the design of novel functional materials.

Abstract: The living cell is an intricate and synchronized organization with compartmentalization across diverse length scales. While intracellular compartments such as the lysosome and mitochondria are bound by membranes, cells also contain organelles, not confined by membranes, known as “biomolecular condensates”. Recent studies showed that many biomolecular condensates are viscoelastic materials formed from the phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids. The abrupt changes in composition and material properties of these condensates impair their biological function and are often associated with cancer, ribosomopathies, and aging disorders. Therefore, synthetic systems are required to create model biomolecular condensates in living systems. These systems aim to elucidate the biophysical principles of intracellular organization and diseases. In the first part of my talk, I will discuss our work on using protein oligomerization and sequence interactions in vivo to create multiphasic biomolecular condensates that mimic native condensate assemblies. We show that specific molecular and nanoscopic design principles can be exploited to design optogenetic fusion proteins that exhibit targeted condensation with high spatiotemporal resolution. Later in this talk, I will describe our work on synthetic polymers to form condensates that mimic the function of underwater adhesive proteins secreted by marine organisms such as mussels and sandcastle worms. In summary, the bioinspired design of macromolecules that form model biomolecular condensates represents new frontiers to ask fundamental questions on the behavior of mesoscopic biological assemblies in living cells and to inspire the design of novel functional materials.

Abstract: Fossil fuels have been overwhelmingly used in many industry sectors in past decades, suffering from significant CO₂ and other pollutant emissions, low efficiency, and nonsustainability. Clean and efficient energy storage and conversion via electrochemical reactions associated with hydrogen, oxygen, and water have attracted substantial attention for energy and environmental sustainability. Among compelling energy technologies, hydrogen proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a promising zero-emission power source for transportation to mitigate environmental pollution and reduce fossil-fuel dependence. Meanwhile, water electrolyzers have been clearly identified as the sustainable pathway to produce cheap green hydrogen efficiently using renewable electricity. However, current materials, including catalysts, membranes, and ionomers, cannot meet the challenging targets of high-efficiency, low-cost, and long-term durability of hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Developing high-performance catalysts from earth-abundant elements to replace current precious metals is crucial for making these hydrogen technologies viable for large-scale clean energy applications. U.S. DOE has been continuously supporting his research group at SUNY-Buffalo in the past decade, aiming to address materials issues by designing and scaling up innovative and highly efficient catalysts and electrodes. This talk discusses recent understanding, progress, achievement, and perspective on developing low-cost and high-performance catalysts based on newly emerging atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon materials for sustainable and clean hydrogen technologies.

Gang Wu is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York (SUNY-Buffalo). He completed his Ph.D. studies at the Harbin Institute of Technology in 2004, followed by extensive postdoctoral training at Tsinghua University (2004-2006), the University of South Carolina (2006-2008), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) (2008-2010). Then, he was promoted to a staff scientist at LANL. He joined SUNY-Buffalo as a tenure-track assistant professor in 2014 and was quickly promoted to a tenured associate professor in 2018 and a full professor in 2020. His research focuses on functional materials and catalysts for electrochemical energy technologies. He has published more than 320 papers in prestigious journals, including Science, Nature Energy, Nature Catalysis, JACS, Angew Chem, and Advanced Materials. His papers have been cited more than > 48,000 times with an H-index of 118 (Google Scholar) by November 2023. He is currently leading and participating in multiple fuel cell, battery, and renewable fuel (e.g., NH₃) related projects with a total research funding of more than $10.0 M. Dr. Wu was continuously acknowledged by Clarivate Analytics as one of the Highly Cited Researchers since 2018. He recently received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Activities (2021) and UB’s Exceptional Scholar–Sustained Achievement Award (2020). He serves as Associate Editor for a few journals, including the Journal of the Electrochemical Society (JES), the Electrochemical Society’s flagship journal.

Event Info: We will discuss what our program structure, what we do, and how the state program compliments and supports federal CERCLA mandates. We intend on highlighting examples of current site-work and how chemistry is integral to the field of environmental protection, as well as playing a part in protective and sustainable community redevelopment.

Bio: Sheri is a Registered Professional Geologist with over 24 years of experience in the environmental field, specifically in contaminated site characterization & remediation, regulation development, and beneficial reuse. After a brief stint performing geotechnical work in private consulting Sheri started with KDEP in 2000 as a Geologist with the tanks program, becoming a supervisor in the Superfund Branch in 2007.  Between 2007 and 2012, Sheri supervised the State Superfund Section, then the Federal Superfund Section before accepting the branch Environmental Scientist Consultant position.  As an E.S. Consultant, she focuses on scientific research, and regulation & policy development for Kentucky’s Superfund, Brownfields, and other programs.  In addition, Sheri serves as the technical lead for Kentucky's high priority clean-up sites. Outside of her career with the commonwealth of Kentucky, Sheri is on the Board of Advisors to the Kentucky Geological Survey and a long-time active member of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, cycling, reading, fiber arts, and creating stained glass. 

ABSTRACT

Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) is an evolving soft ionization technique that directly snapshots biomolecular profiles, spatial distributions, and chemical changes from biological tissue or fluids with minimal pretreatment. I will first introduce the methodology development of two representative AIMS techniques, namely air-flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI) and conductive polymer spray ionization (CPSI), along with their applications in preclinical anti-tumor drug research and clinical cancer diagnosis. The topic will be then shifted to using AIMS to create water microdroplets, which exhibit ultrafast kinetic and favorable thermodynamic microenvironment differing from equal volume of bulk solution phase. I will introduce my research on AIMS-based microdroplet chemistry for both bioanalysis and synthesis of basic building blocks of life materials.

Abstract

The accurate identification and detailed analysis of biomolecules have led to a deeper understanding of biological intricacies, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. The cutting-edge field of single-molecule techniques has emerged as a highly promising avenue in this pursuit of revealing the identity and real-time dynamics of biomolecular structure and interactions. In this seminar, I will discuss the development of single-molecule bioanalytical approaches, from unraveling the stability and dynamics of folded nucleic acid structures to proteomics applications. By employing DNA nanotechnology techniques to create a confined space for a G-quadruplex (GQ) structure and performing single-molecule mechanical unfolding assay of GQ using optical tweezers, we revealed that confined space facilitates the folding of the G-quadruplex  structure by enhancing both stability and kinetics. Venturing into single-molecule proteomics, we introduced the mechanically reconfigurable DNA Nanoswitch Calipers (DNC) capable of measuring multiple coordinates on single biomolecules with angstrom-level precision. By measuring the distances of specific amino acid residues in optical and multiplexed magnetic tweezers, our work extends to the single molecule fingerprinting of peptides, showcasing discrimination within a heterogeneous population and even between distinct post-translational modifications. Furthermore, by using force-activated barcodes in measuring the distances of biotin-binding sites in single native-folded biotin-streptavidin complexes, we demonstrated the DNC’s potential in single-molecule structural proteomics applications.

Abstract: The vast majority of chemistry and biology occurs in solution, and new label-free analytical techniques that can help resolve solution-phase complexity at the single-molecule level can provide new microscopic perspectives of unprecedented detail. Here, we use the increased light-molecule interactions in high-finesse fiber Fabry-Pérot microcavities to detect individual biomolecules as small as 1.2 kDa (10 amino acids) with signal-to-noise ratios >100, even as the molecules are freely diffusing in solution.  Our method delivers 2D intensity and temporal profiles, enabling the distinction of sub-populations in mixed samples. Strikingly, we observe a linear relationship between passage time and molecular radius, unlocking the potential to gather crucial information about diffusion and solution-phase conformation. Furthermore, mixtures of biomolecule isomers of the same molecular weight can also be resolved. Detection is based on a novel molecular velocity filtering and dynamic thermal priming mechanism leveraging both photo-thermal bistability and Pound-Drever-Hall cavity locking. This technology holds broad potential for applications in life and chemical sciences and represents a major advancement in label-free in vitro single-molecule techniques.