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CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Utilization of Atomic Layer Deposition for Heterogeneous Catalysis in Biomass Upgrading Applications” (Mengjie Fan)

Raisler Lounge (Room 225), Towne Building 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: The need for sustainable energy sources has intensified interest in biomass upgrading, where biomass-derived feedstocks are transformed into fuels and valuable chemicals. A major challenge in biomass upgrading is the development of highly active, selective, and stable catalysts for complex reactions. Traditional synthesis methods often result in heterogeneous catalysts with poor dispersion of active […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Engineering Biomolecular Condensates: Insights Into Catalytic Activities and Structural Design” (Muyang Guan)

https://upenn.zoom.us/j/96301746733

Abstract: Eukaryotic cells orchestrate cellular processes through spatiotemporal organization achieved by compartmentalization. Biomolecular condensates, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), serve as vital hubs for enzymatic reactions and mediate cellular functions. To investigate catalytic activities within biomolecular condensates, a light-emitting enzyme (NanoLuc) was incorporated into LAF-1 RGG model condensates. Incorporation into condensates led to a […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “A molecular understanding of the structure-property relationships of model end-linked polymer networks” (Han Zhang)

Room 35, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Polymer networks, including thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers and gels, are among the most versatile and widely utilized polymeric materials, with applications spanning drug delivery systems, membranes and implantable devices. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between the macroscopic properties and the structure and topology of polymer networks is crucial for advancing their utilization and […]

CBE & VIEST Joint Seminar: “Lignin Conversion to Performance-advantaged Fuels, Chemicals, and Polymers” (Gregg Beckham, NREL)

Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, Room 121 231 S 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Terrestrial plants harbor renewable carbon resources in their cell walls that can directly contribute to decarbonization of the transportation and materials sectors, but the heterogeneous, aromatic lignin polymer found in plants has long obstructed both natural- and humankind-driven endeavors to deconstruct plant biomass to valuable products. However, viable methods to valorize lignin are essential […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Tailoring MXene Chemistry through Composition and Undercoordination for Applications in Hydrogen Chemistries” (Yamilée Morency)

Amy Gutmann Hall, Room 414 3333 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States

Abstract: Global transition to clean energy relies on the development of efficient hydrogen storage materials and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts—two primary chemistries investigated in this thesis. MXenes, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, have emerged as promising candidates for hydrogen technologies due to their high electrical conductivity, chemical tunability, and structural […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Understanding and Modulating Interactions between Polymers and Nanoparticles for Effective Catalyst Design in Polymer Upcycling” (Anirban Majumder)

Raisler Lounge (Room 225), Towne Building 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Despite recent advances in catalytic conversion of plastic waste into high-value chemicals, the interactions between the polymers and catalysts, which are highly porous nanomaterials, are not well understood. Fundamental understanding of these interactions and the ability to modulate them would allow us to design effective catalysts for polymer upcycling reactions. To study the interactions […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Designing Solvent-Based Order Parameters for Characterizing Binding of Surfaces with Different Hydrophobicity Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations” (Jun Lu)

Greenberg Lounge (Room 114), Skirkanich Hall 210 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Life is dependent on water: most self-assembly and binding processes of biomolecules take place in water. Water-mediated interactions are an essential driving force behind these processes, which is largely affected by the hydrophobicity of the binding surfaces. As many biomolecular binding interfaces are amphiphilic, the hydrophobic interactions are largely affected by polar and charged […]

CBE Seminar: “Redox-responsive Interfaces for Selective Electrochemical Separations” (Xiao Su, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)

Wu and Chen Auditorium (Room 101), Levine Hall 3330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Electric fields and electrochemical reactions can unlock new separation pathways. While electrochemical separations have been explored previously for water desalination, their translation to value-added chemical manufacturing or resource recovery has been hampered by the lack of molecular selectivity. Here, we present the molecular design of redox-responsive materials for enabling selective electrochemical separations. Redox electron-transfer […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Bridging Transcription and Signaling to Study c-MYC Function and Regulation in Cancer Cells” (Reshma Kalyan Sundaram)

Raisler Lounge (Room 225), Towne Building 220 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: The transcription factor c-MYC (MYC) is a master regulator of gene expression and is frequently deregulated in human cancers. Despite the prevalent role of MYC in cancers, no MYC inhibitors are currently available for clinical use. In this work, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying MYC’s transcriptional function and deregulation using an integrated approach […]

CBE Doctoral Dissertation Defense: “Reconfigurable Metasurfaces Based on Multistable Elastic Pixels” (Jed-Joan S. Edziah)

Glandt Forum, Singh Center for Nanotechnology 3205 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract: Metamaterials are engineered materials designed to manipulate and tailor electromagnetic (EM) waves. Metasurfaces are planar metamaterials that rely on inclusions whose optical properties and spatial arrangements are designed to interact with incident EM waves to yield desired reflected or transmitted waveforms. A reconfigurable metasurface in which the relative positions of inclusions can be controlled […]