RSS FeedUpcoming EventsOrganic Chemistry Seminar, March 19https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230052-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230052-organic-chemistry-seminar
Physical Chemistry Seminar, March 19https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230068-physical-chemistry-seminar

Sabre Kais, Distinguished Professor, Purdue University

Journey with Quantum Information and Computing for Complex Chemical Systems

In this talk, I will give a brief overview of our research, then I will present our recent results for the development of quantum computing algorithms for electronic structure and open quantum dynamics for complex chemical systems. For electronic structure, the focus will be on quantum machine learning, particularly the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), as it emerged to be a promising alternative approach to electronic structure calculations of quantum and topological materials leveraging the power of quantum computers. Moreover, I will introduce and analytically illustrate that the imaginary components of out-of-time order correlators can provide unprecedented insight into the information scrambling capacity of a graph neural network. For open quantum dynamics, the focus will be on simulating the quantum master equation on quantum devices. Then, I will demonstrate the approach by simulating the dynamics of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex on a quantum computer and Dicke supper-radiance. Finally, I will present future directions and open problems that might lead to quantum advantage!

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230068-physical-chemistry-seminar
A molecular perspective on the evolution of neuron types in the eye / Renewable Fertilizer by Low-Temperature Plasma-Enabled Manure Upcycling, March 20https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/243547-a-molecular-perspective-on-the-evolution-of-neuron-ty

A molecular perspective on the evolution of neuron types in the eye / Renewable Fertilizer by Low-Temperature Plasma-Enabled Manure Upcycling

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/243547-a-molecular-perspective-on-the-evolution-of-neuron-ty
Bioengineering Seminar: Toward Holistic Bioimaging to Elevate Human Health, March 20https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/217516-bioengineering-seminar

Abstract:


Holistic imaging of diverse functional, anatomical, and molecular architecture that span multiple levels, from cells to an entire system, remains a major challenge in biology. In this talk, I will introduce a series of technologies that enable integrated multiscale imaging and molecular phenotyping of both animal tissues and human clinical samples. I will discuss how we engineer (1) the physicochemical properties of biological tissues, (2) molecular interactions, and (3) molecular transport all together to achieve integrated organ-wide 3D molecular analysis at unprecedented speed and resolution. I will also discuss how these technologies can be commercialized and deployed synergistically to study a broad range of biological questions.

/live/events/217516-bioengineering-seminar
Graduate Research Seminar, March 21https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204468-graduate-research-seminar

Encapsulation and delivery of functional RNA using MS2 virus-like particles

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204468-graduate-research-seminar
Graduate Research Seminar, March 21https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204469-graduate-research-seminar

Chemically recyclable polymers via ring-opening polymerization of cyclic alkyl phosphonates

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204469-graduate-research-seminar
Designing Advanced Nanocatalysts by Looking at Atoms and Molecules on Reactive Surfaces: Nano Seminar series, March 22https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/237676-designing-advanced-nanocatalysts-by-looking-at

Clarification of the nature of active sites at both solid-gas and solid-liquid interfaces has been a long-standing question in surface chemistry, holding paramount significance in crafting innovative catalytic materials that demand minimal energy consumption. A bimetallic Pt alloy, or mixed catalyst, is an excellent platform to uncover the contentious role of the metal–metal oxide interface because the alloyed transition metal can coexist with the Pt surface layer in the form of an oxidized species on the bimetal surface during catalytic reactions. The real-time imaging of catalytically reactive atomic sites using operando surface techniques, including ambient pressure scanning tunneling microscopy, can reveal the nature of reactive sites on the catalytic surfaces.

In this talk, I present in-situ observation results of structural modulation on Pt-based bimetal catalysts and mixed catalysts and its impact on the catalytic activity. We utilized PtNi, and PtCo that includes both single crystal and nanoparticle surfaces as model catalysts, and showed the coexistence of Pt and metal oxide leads to the enhancement of catalytic activity, indicating these metal-oxide interfaces provide a more-efficient reaction path for CO oxidation. The mixed catalysts composed of Pt nanoparticles and the mesoporous cobalt oxide exhibit the enhancement of catalytic activity while Pt is encapsulated by the oxide thin layers forming the reactive metal-oxide interfaces. In addition, we address the fundamentals of the electrocatalytic process and on locating the real active sites at the solid-liquid interface by utilizing in-situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy. Overall, the atomic-scale imaging of the reactive surfaces gives rise to the design rule of advanced bimetallic and mixed catalysts.

**************

Jeong Young Park (박정영) did his PhD in Physics at Seoul National University and postdoc at LBNL (Go Bears!) After some years as staff scientist here he returned to Korea and joined the Chemistry faculty at KAIST. Prof. Park has authored 320 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters in international journals.

 

/live/events/237676-designing-advanced-nanocatalysts-by-looking-at
Ken Raymond Lectureship in Inorganic Chemistry, March 22https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230505-ken-raymond-lectureship-in-inorganic-chemistry

Keith Hodgson, David Mulvane Ehrsam and Edward Curtis Franklin Professor, Stanford University

Synchrotron X-rays – Revolutionizing X-ray Absorption and Diffraction Methods in Bioinorganic Chemistry and Structural Biology

Beginning in the early seventies, synchrotron x-rays from electron storage rings transformed the use of several x-ray based techniques for structural studies, enabling new discoveries in (among other areas) bioinorganic chemistry and structural biology. This talk will provide a brief introduction to the key properties of synchrotron radiation and explore the technology developments and innovations in methodologies that have led to significant impacts over the past decades. The particular focus will be in two areas where research in our group has made pioneering contributions. These are in x-ray absorption spectroscopy (edge and EXAFS) as applied to bioinorganic systems and in macromolecular crystallography and solution of the “phase problem” with multiple wavelength (MAD) phasing.

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230505-ken-raymond-lectureship-in-inorganic-chemistry
Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar, April 1https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/232513-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar

Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/232513-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar
Organic Chemistry Seminar, April 2https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230054-organic-chemistry-seminar

James Tour, T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor, Rice University

Flash Joule Heating

Described will be ultrafast heating and cooling routes to synthesize graphene and other 2D materials, carbon nanotubes, heteroatom substituted carbons and many inorganics, all in gram to ton scales. Using the same approaches, ultrafast routes to the selective extraction of metals in electronic waste, industrial waste and metal ores, the degradation of PFAS, soil remediation and battery anode and cathode recycling will be discussed.

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230054-organic-chemistry-seminar
George C. Pimentel Memorial Lecture, April 2https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230066-george-c-pimentel-memorial-lecture

Ewine F. van Dishoeck, Professor, Universiteit Leiden

Chemistry between the stars: from clouds to planets

The space between the stars is not empty but filled with a very dilute gas. In spite of the extremely low temperatures and densities, these clouds contain a surprisingly rich chemistry, as evidenced by the detection of more than 300 different molecules, from simple to complex and from gas to solid-state ices. These clouds are also the birthplaces of new stars and planets. New powerful observatories such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) have found water and a surprisingly rich variety of organic materials near forming stars, including simple sugars, ethers and alcohols. How are these molecules formed in space? Which molecular processes play a role? How common are they and can they be delivered to new planets?

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230066-george-c-pimentel-memorial-lecture
Graduate Research Seminar, April 4https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204471-graduate-research-seminar

Title TBA

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/204471-graduate-research-seminar
Polar Topological Defects – Fundamentals to Applications: Nano Seminar series, April 5https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/230393-polar-topological-defects-fundamentals-to

Topological defects such as vortices and skyrmions have recently gained significant interest in solid state materials as ferroic materials (ferromagnets and ferroelectrics) have become a test-bed to realize and control these nanoscale structures. Although this phenomenon is being investigated as a pathway to energy efficient information storage, broader applications in interaction of electromagnetic waves with such features are emerging.

In the case of ferroelectrics, boundary condition engineering is used to achieve vortices, skyrmions, and merons in low dimensional epitaxial oxide heterostructures.

In this talk, I will introduce the notion that similar phenomenology but at the atomic scale can be achieved in charge density wave phases, especially nominally semiconducting chalcogenides. I will outline my group and other groups’ efforts in showing non-trivial toroidal polar topologies at the atomic level in chalcogenides with nominally empty conduction band with d-orbital character such as 1T-TiSe2, Ta2NiSe5 and BaTiS3.

Specifically, we use X-ray single crystal diffraction as a probe for high quality single crystals of a quasi-1D hexagonal chalcogenide, BaTiS3, to reveal complex polar topologies such as vortices, and head-to-head and tail-to-tail arrangement of dipoles. Recent experiments and theoretical studies on the stability and dynamics of these features, and their broad connection to low dimensional magnets, will also be discussed. Lastly, I will outline the perspective for photonic applications of polarization textures.

***********

Jayakanth Ravichandran did his PhD in the Ramesh lab here at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) and postdoc with Philip Kim at Harvard. He joined the USC faculty in 2015.

/live/events/230393-polar-topological-defects-fundamentals-to
Earl L. Muetterties Lectures in Chemistry, April 5https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230507-earl-l-muetterties-lectures-in-chemistry

Karsten Meyer, Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

“Super-Oxidized” Iron Nitrido & “Super-Reduced” Iron Nitrosyl Complexes in
tris-Carbene Coordination Spheres – and How Iron Really Feels About it

In this seminar, we will present our work on the synthesis and reactivity of metal nitrido and nitrosyl complexes. First, we report our studies on high-valent Fe(IV, V, VI, and VII) nitrido complexes, synthesized via photolytic azide and N–C bond cleavage in iron imides Fe=N–Ad, followed by oxidation with AgII and XeII-salts. In this series of complexes, the Fe/N unit is stabilized by the sterically encumbered N-anchored tris-N-heterocyclic carbene chelates tris-amine (alkyl: methyl = TIMMN; ethyl = TIMEN). Based on the iron nitrido complex [(TIMENMes)FeIV(N)]+,[1] we show how subtle changes in ligand design (TIMEN vs. TIMMN) lead to vastly different reactivity and the stabilization and isolation of air and moisture-stable stable high-valent Fe(V) and super-oxidized Fe(VI) as well as highly reactive Fe(VII) complexes.

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230507-earl-l-muetterties-lectures-in-chemistry
Tell Your Story: The Power of Your Discovery Narrative to Guide Your Future, April 8https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/229111-tell-your-story-the-power-of-your-discovery-narrative

How do you translate your experience at Cal to your future career? This workshop is designed for graduating undergraduate students (or those worried about graduation) to reflect on what you discovered in and beyond the classroom to hone your story. Come learn how to frame your experiences to open doors for the next chapter of your life after graduation.

Offered in-person or online (60 mins). Lunch provided to first 30 attendees.

/live/events/229111-tell-your-story-the-power-of-your-discovery-narrative
Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar, April 8https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/232524-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar

Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/232524-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar
Organic Chemistry Seminar, April 9https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230055-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230055-organic-chemistry-seminar
Physical Chemistry Seminar, April 9https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230065-physical-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230065-physical-chemistry-seminar
Bioengineering Seminar: Surgical Bioengineering - Engineering Stem Cells and Extracellular Components for Tissue Regeneration, April 10https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/217517-bioengineering-seminar-surgical-bioengineering-engine

Abstract:

This presentation is providing an overview of the ongoing research at the UC Davis School of Medicine, Center for Surgical Bioengineering (CSB). CSB focuses on engineering stem cells and biomaterials to develop novel regenerative therapies for a variety of diseases, with the focus being on the birth defect program in collaboration with the UC Davis Fetal Treatment Center and Shriners Children’s. Birth defects represent a substantial portion of pediatric morbidity and mortality. In the United States, 1 in every 33 infants is born with a congenital anomaly, and congenital anomalies comprise the largest cause of infant death. In utero surgery and stem cell therapy have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of birth defects: instead of merely treating symptoms following birth, anomalies may be treated or cured before birth. The Wang lab has been developing fetal tissue engineering approaches using different types of stem cells, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, and extracellular matrix-mimicking biomaterial scaffolds to engineer the fetal environment and treat a variety of birth defects before birth. One of the major projects his lab has focused on over the past decade is on developing a stem cell technology for the fetal treatment of spina bifida. His team have successfully manufactured clinical-grade placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) in the UC Davis GMP facility, acquired IND approval from the FDA, and are currently conducting a first-in-human Phase 1/2a clinical trial for the in utero treatment of spina bifida using PMSCs. The Wang lab is also working on using lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNAs to genetically modify developing stem cells to treat genetic diseases before birth. To harness the stem cell behavior, novel integrin-based ligands identified via One-Bead One-Compound (OBOC) combinatorial technology have been applied to target stem cells and improve stem cell attachment, migration and function.

/live/events/217517-bioengineering-seminar-surgical-bioengineering-engine
Graduate Research Seminar, April 11https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/207008-graduate-research-seminar

Title TBA

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/207008-graduate-research-seminar
Graduate Research Seminar, April 11https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/209316-graduate-research-seminar

Title TBA

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/209316-graduate-research-seminar
Tell Your Story: The Power of Your Discovery Narrative to Guide Your Future, April 11https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/229112-tell-your-story-the-power-of-your-discovery-narrative

How do you translate your experience at Cal to your future career? This workshop is designed for graduating undergraduate students (or those worried about graduation) to reflect on what you discovered in and beyond the classroom to hone your story. Come learn how to frame your experiences to open doors for the next chapter of your life after graduation.

Offered in-person or online (60 mins). Lunch provided to first 30 attendees.

/live/events/229112-tell-your-story-the-power-of-your-discovery-narrative
Dynamic Control Of Active Matter: Nano Seminar Series, April 12https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/229975-dynamic-control-of-active-matter-nano-seminar

Through the magic of ‘active matter,’ which converts chemical energy into mechanical work to drive emergent properties, biology solves a myriad of seemingly impossible physical challenges. I will present my lab’s efforts to develop new fluid mechanics models to direct the flow of matter enabled by the use of “active” molecules found within living systems.

We design 2D composite materials with tunable inclusions of lipid domains embedded within an active elastic network. These mechanoresponsive lipid inclusions enable exquisite control over the phase separation and material properties (like failure resistance) of 2D composite materials. I will also present our recent work on model predictive control and learning of many-body colloidal interactions driven by active and hydrodynamic forces.

**********

Sho Takatori did his PhD at CalTech and postdoc as a Miller Fellow here at UCB (Go Bears!). He joined the UCSB faculty in 2020. Awards include a Packard Fellowship and the ACS New PI.

/live/events/229975-dynamic-control-of-active-matter-nano-seminar
Earl L. Muetterties Lectures in Chemistry, April 12https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230508-earl-l-muetterties-lectures-in-chemistry

Karsten Meyer, Chair of Inorganic and General Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität

Seminar 2 of 2

From Uranium-Mediated Small Molecule Activation and the Electrocatalytic Production of H2 from Water to Redox-Flow-Batteries

In our efforts to activate small molecules of industrial and biological concern, we have turned our attention to reactive uranium coordination complexes. Employing the chelating triazacyclononane- and single N- as well as the arene-anchored aryloxide ligands (ArO)3tacn3–, (ArO)3N3–, and (ArO)3mes3–have provided access to reactive coordination compounds of uranium in oxidation states II, III, IV, V, and VI with tailorable steric and electronic profiles. These complexes display a pronounced selectivity and reactivity in reactions with CO2 and related small heteroallenes. As a result, they provide unique reaction pathways inaccessible to d-block metals.

Here, we briefly summarize our work on CO2 activation, including a previously unknown coordination mode, stoichiometric reductive cleavage, insertion reactions, and CO2 functionalization chemistry via multiple bond metathesis. We also report the stoichiometric and catalytic “disproportionation” of CO2 to CO and CO32– via an unusually reactive µ-oxo-bridged complex. In a similar strategy, we could isolate oxalates, thiooxalates, and mixed carbonates by reacting bridged chalcogenide complexes U‒E‒ U (E = O, S, Se) with CO2, CS2, and COS.

Employing the arene-anchored chelate allowed us to elucidate the molecular and electronic structure of a new oxidation state, namely U(II), in uranium coordination chemistry. In anionic [U(OArAd,Me)3mes)]⊝, the U(II) center is supported by δ back bonding. Further studies of [U(OArAd,Me)3mes)]0/– revealed unique electrochemical behavior, rendering these complexes candidates for electrocatalysis. Accordingly, [U(OArAd,Me)3mes)] was found to be the first molecular uranium catalyst for catalytic H2 production. Utilization of this catalyst during H2O electrolysis lowered the overpotential by 0.5 V, increased the steady-state electrolysis current by a factor of 10, and lowered the faradaic resistance by three orders of magnitude. Isolation of key intermediates allowed us to determine the reaction mechanism of H2O reduction. Notably, no radicals are involved, rendering this catalyst remarkably durable. This reactivity was also studied with a series of lanthanide complexes [Ln(OArAd,Me)3mes)] as well, which permits for fine-tuning of overpotential by choice of the lanthanide ion.

Finally, our previous electrochemical studies on redox complex pairs such as [U((OAr)4cyclen)] and other simple [U(acac)4] derivatives, with electrochemical windows of up to ca. 4 V, initiated a project to design a redox-flow battery (RFB). Accordingly, an all-uranium-based electrochemical cell was constructed with [UIV/V]0/+ and [UIII/IV]−/0 complexes as anolyte and catholyte species. These complexes have favorable properties for RFB applications, including reversible redox chemistry, relatively high stability toward electrochemical cycling, and high solubility in common organic solvents. A proto-type cell provides a promising entry point to a potential future class of uranium-based, non aqueous redox-flow battery electrolytes, not for use in personal devices but incorporated into under ground energy storage systems, e.g., foundations of wind turbines, where weight and radioactivity levels are not an issue and where this abundant waste material could find new application.

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230508-earl-l-muetterties-lectures-in-chemistry
Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar, April 15https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/206994-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar

Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/206994-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar
Organic Chemistry Seminar, April 16https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230056-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230056-organic-chemistry-seminar
Physical Chemistry Seminar, April 16https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230064-physical-chemistry-seminar

Bingqing Chen, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley

Predicting materials properties with the help of machine learning

I will demonstrate how to enable ab initio predictions of materials properties by combining advanced statistical mechanics with machine learning interatomic potentials. I will show example applications on computing phase diagrams, chemical potentials of liquid mixtures, adsorption isotherms of gas in porous materials, and reactions on surfaces.
https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230064-physical-chemistry-seminar
Bioengineering Seminar: Engineering Extracellular Matrix Viscoelasticity to Probe Cellular Responses, April 17https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/229420-bioengineering-seminar-engineering-extracellular-matr

Abstract:

In the body, cells are surrounded by a scaffolding of biopolymers that provide physical support and biochemical cues, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Hydrogel cell culture models have been used to reveal that properties of the ECM, notably matrix stiffness, can regulate a host of cellular behaviors, such as migration, division, differentiation, and even cancer progression. ECM is often viscoelastic, displaying stress relaxation in response to strain, and recapitulating complex aspects of native ECM, such as dynamic remodeling and viscoelasticity, remains challenging. Further, key aspects of mechanotransduction, such as the effect of mechanics on the epigenome, are not well understood. In this talk, I will discuss how matrix stiffness can induce epigenomic remodeling leading to a tumorigenic phenotype in a breast cancer model. I will also describe our work to develop 3D hydrogel platforms that allow for dynamic tuning of matrix viscoelasticity to better understand the biological impact and pathways involved in mechanotransduction.

/live/events/229420-bioengineering-seminar-engineering-extracellular-matr
Inorganic Chemistry Seminar, April 19https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230509-inorganic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230509-inorganic-chemistry-seminar
CARA 10th Anniversary Symposium, April 22https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/242554-cara-10th-anniversary-symposium

Celebrate a decade of groundbreaking research in real-world technology applications.

Hear from:

  • Renowned keynote speakers

  • Leading researchers from CARA and BASF in collaborative presentations

  • Inspiring student presentations

  • Engaging panel discussion

Network with fellow researchers and industry leaders.

Register now to learn more about CARA and BASF!

(The registration page will close on 04/05/24)

 

Co-hosted by the University of California, Berkeley, and BASF.

Event Information Page

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/242554-cara-10th-anniversary-symposium
Cynthia A. Chan Memorial Lecture, April 22https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/224072-cynthia-a-chan-memorial-lecture

Cynthia A. Chan Memorial Lecture

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/224072-cynthia-a-chan-memorial-lecture
Organic Chemistry Seminar, April 23https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230057-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230057-organic-chemistry-seminar
Chandler Lecture in Physical Chemistry, April 23https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230063-chandler-lecture-in-physical-chemistry

Eugene Shakhnovich, Roy G. Gordon Professor, Harvard University

Biophysical journeys on fitness landscapes: from atoms to populations and back

I will present recent theoretical and experimental developments aimed at understanding the two-way link between protein stability and protein evolution. At the heart of these developments are models of evolutionary dynamics that merge molecular mechanisms of protein stability and folding with population genetics. Traditional population genetics models are agnostic to the physical-chemical nature of mutational effects. Rather they operate with an a’priori assumed distributions of fitness effects (DFE) of mutations from which evolutionary dynamics are derived. Alternatively some population genetics models aim to derive DFE from evolutionary observations. In departure with this tradition the novel multiscale models integrate the molecular effects of mutations on physical properties of proteins, most notably their stability, into physically intuitive yet detailed genotype-phenotype relationship (GPR) assumptions. I will present a range of models from simple analytical diffusion-based model on biophysical fitness landscapes to more sophisticated computational models of populations of model cells where genetic changes are mapped into molecular effects using biophysical modeling of proteins and ensuing fitness changes determine the fate of mutations in realistic population dynamics. Examples of insights derived from biophysics-based multiscale models include parameter-free prediction of distribution of protein stabilities in natural proteomes that explains the observation of “marginal stability” of proteins without resorting to unproven stability-activity tradeoffs, the fundamental limit on mutation rates in living organisms, physics of thermal adaptation, co-evolution of protein interactions and abundances in cytoplasm and related results, some of which I will present and discuss.

Next, I will describe “bottom-up experimental efforts to establish the relationship between biophysical properties of proteins (stability, activity, interactions with other proteins) and fitness. The approach is based on introducing rational introducing genetic variation on the chromosome of E.coli using genome editing approaches with subsequent concurrent evaluation of biophysical effects of mutations in vitro and fitness effect of strains that have these genetic variants in their chromosome. Carrying out this program for two genes encoding essential metabolic enzymes in E. coli – folA and adk – we obtained deep insights into the relationship between protein stability and fitness. In particular we quantitatively determined how the changes in stability affect the protein turnover in cellular environment resulting in changes in the abundance of functional protein and through that affecting the phenotype (growth rates and lag times). We established fundamental role of protein quality control – chaperone GroEL and certain proteases that modulate the fitness effects of stability-changing mutations in a predictable way. We developed a dynamic steady state theory that describes stability-dependent protein turnover and established the relationship between protein abundance and stability that is different from simple equilibrium Boltzmann distribution. These advances allowed us to get a comprehensive biophysical fitness landscapes for metabolic enzymes. Further we applied these advances to the analysis of antibiotic resistance in DHFR encoded by folA. The theory allowed predicting fitness effect of escape mutations in DHFR and IC50 against antibiotic trimethoprim with very high accuracy based only on biophysical molecular properties of numerous DHFR mutants. Altogether these results provide a clear picture of interplay between biophysical traits and evolutionary dynamics on various time scales – from evolution of modern proteomes to evolution of antibiotic resistance and provides practical tools to address the problem of pathogen escape from stressors from a fundamental physical-chemical perspective.

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230063-chandler-lecture-in-physical-chemistry
Printing Functional Polymers for Sustainable Earth and Habitable Mars: Nano Seminar series, April 26https://events.berkeley.edu/live/events/229388-printing-functional-polymers-for-sustainable-earth

Printing technologies have the potential to revolutionize manufacturing of electronic and energy materials by drastically reducing the energy cost and environmental footprint while increasing throughput and agility. For instance, printing organic solar cells can potentially reduce energy payback time from 2-3 years to as short as 1 day! At the same time, additive manufacturing of such functional materials brings a new set of challenges demanding exquisite control over hierarchical structures down to the molecular-scale.

We address this challenge by understanding the evaporative assembly pathway and flow-driven assembly central to all printing processes. We discover a surprising chiral liquid crystal mediated assembly of achiral semiconducting polymers in an evaporating meniscus. We uncover the molecular assembly mechanism and further show that the chiral helical structures can be largely modulated by controlling printing regimes.

Such new topological states of semiconducting polymers can empower unprecedented control over charge, spin, and exciton transport, reminiscent of how Nature efficiently transfers electrons and transduces energy using chiral helical structures. The ability to control non-equilibrium assembly during printing sets the stage for dynamically modulating assembled structures on the fly.

We demonstrate this concept by programming nanoscale morphology and structure color of bottlebrush block copolymers during 3D printing. This approach holds the potential to reduce the use of environmentally toxic pigments by printing structure color. Complementing the above hypothesis-driven approach, we are pursuing data-science driven approach to drastically accelerate discovery and manufacturing of functional polymers. By linking automated synthesis, testing, and machine learning in a close-loop, we are able to optimize function highly efficiently while discovering new physical insights for transferring closed-loop optimization into hypothesis driven discovery.

***********

Ying Diao did her PhD at MIT and postdoc at Stanford. She won many early-career awards from NSF, Sloan, NASA, ACS, etc., and is an Advanced Materials “Rising Star”. She joined UIUC in 2015.

/live/events/229388-printing-functional-polymers-for-sustainable-earth
Inorganic Chemistry Seminar, April 26https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230510-inorganic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230510-inorganic-chemistry-seminar
Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar, April 29https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/209985-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar

Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/209985-structural-quantitative-biology-seminar
Organic Chemistry Seminar, April 30https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230058-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230058-organic-chemistry-seminar
William A. Lester Lecture, April 30https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230062-william-a-lester-lecture

Alán Aspuru-Guzik, Professor, University of Toronto

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230062-william-a-lester-lecture
cDIBS, May 2https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/241084-cdibs

Annual Department of Chemistry Climate Survey and the Chemistry Departmental Information and Brainstorming Session (cDIBS)

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/241084-cdibs
Inorganic Chemistry Seminar, May 3https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230511-inorganic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230511-inorganic-chemistry-seminar
Organic Chemistry Seminar, May 7https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230059-organic-chemistry-seminar

TBD

https://events.berkeley.edu/chem/event/230059-organic-chemistry-seminar