Dr. Sujay Ray will join the University of Mississippi Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry on August 1st. Dr. Ray received his Bachelor of Science from Calcutta University, India, in 2007, a Masters of Science from Indian Institute of Technology, India, in 2009, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics from Kent State University in 2015. He then served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan from 2015-2020 and Harvard University from 2020-2022, and then as a senior research assistant at the University of Michigan before joining the faculty at UM. His interests center around nucleic acid-protein interactions in the context of cellular stress responses, DNA/RNA- nano structures, molecular robotics, single molecule biophysics/biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, and force spectroscopy.
His research group at the University of Mississippi will study how biological systems work at the nanoscale, focusing on cellular stress response. He will look at how certain structures made of DNA/RNA help cells manage resources and adapt to challenging stress conditions by prioritizing essential functions. He aims to understand how these complex DNA/RNA structures interact with different proteins to manage the demands of the cell. His goal is to clearly link between structural attributes and functional response and ultimately harness these insights for biotechnological innovations and clinical intervention. To accomplish this, he will develop and apply novel single-molecule manipulation and detection techniques, and nanoscale engineering. His research projects will combine approaches from a variety of disciplines including chemistry, physics, molecular biology, and engineering we collaborate with researchers from these various disciplines.
Dr. Jinchao Lou will join the University of Mississippi Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry on August 1st. Dr. Lou received her Bachelor of Science from Northwest Normal University, China, in 2016, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee in 2022. She then served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tennessee before joining the faculty at UM. Her interests center around bio-organic chemistry, chemical biology, nanomaterials, drug delivery, and synthetic organic chemistry.
The emerging fields of nanomedicine and biomaterials have the potential to significantly impact human health by improving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases. However, despite significant attention and investment, the clinical adoption of nanoparticle-based therapeutic and imaging agents faces substantial biological, immunological, and translational challenges. Dr. Lou’s research group aims to address these critical challenges in nanomedicine and biomaterials by developing responsive materials that can effectively navigate complex biological environments through organic chemistry approaches. She strives to contribute significantly to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, ultimately improving human health and well-being. Dr. Lou’s research interests include 1) developing multi-stimuli-responsive peptide-based programmable materials to enhance the responsiveness and target specificity of nanomedicine; 2) creating short and ultrashort peptide small molecule materials that have the unique property of self-assembling in situ upon exposure to specific stimuli, thereby amplifying nanomedicine tissue penetration ability; and 3) developing chemical biology tools to better understand peptidoglycan synthesis in various bacteria cells, ultimately aiming to improve the efficacy of bacteria-targeted therapeutics.
Abby Boyd, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Abby Boyd will join the University of Mississippi Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry on August 1st. Dr. Boyd received her Bachelor of Science from Mercer University in 2017, a Masters of Science from Clemson University in 2021, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Clemson University in 2023. She then served as a Teaching Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines before joining the faculty at UM. She was an NARST Early Career Scholar in 2024. Her interests center around recruitment and retention in science disciplines, accessibility of science, and environmental chemistry.
Dr. Boyd’s research interests include student recruitment and retention in science disciplines and improving the accessibility of science for all students. Many of her current and past projects surround engaged learning experiences such as undergraduate research and incorporating new technologies into chemical education. Additionally, she explores environmental chemistry research topics such as trace metal and microplastic analysis in estuarine environments.
Left to right) Thomas Werfel, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Adam Smith, associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, are the three UM researchers on the recent grant to establish the Mississippi Nano-bio ImmunoEngineering Consortium. Photos by Thomas Graning and Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
The National Science Foundation has awarded $7 million to fund a University of Mississippi-led initiative to make the Magnolia State a new hub for innovative health care solutions.
“The big picture idea is to create a thriving multidisciplinary research network to enhance the state’s capacity in biomaterials research, education and workforce development,” said Adam Smith, associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering and lead principal investigator for the grant.
“This represents an opportunity for Mississippi to be known as a biomaterials research hub. We want to build a foothold in a space that the state is not well represented in, and it’s building on some of the research expertise we already have in the state.”
Nanobiotechnology works with materials at the atomic and molecular level in the health care field to better treat illnesses and improve drug delivery, among its many uses.
“One of the most common examples of nanobiotechnology in our everyday lives is mineral sunscreen,” said Thomas Werfel, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and co-principal investigator. “The zinc oxide active ingredient in these sunscreens are nanoparticles that absorb the sun’s rays and protect your skin.
“Another high-profile example of the impact of nanobiotechnology in today’s world is the COVID-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Our consortium will now be able to conduct research on similar technologies and likely will bring new technologies to market in the coming years.”
The association will start with three main goals, Smith said. They are:
Gain a better understanding of protein interactions with nanoparticles to help steer medication to a particular area of the body
Improve nucleic acid delivery to eliminate side effects of certain vaccines and medications
Facilitate healing and reduce the risk of infection in tissue regeneration.
For these first two projects, the goal is to be able to do things like target cancer therapeutics to only the cancerous tissue,” he said. “For the last, we want to create antibacterial polymer matrices that will both degrade over time to facilitate healing as well as provide a barrier against infection.”
While conducting research and creating a pipeline of next-generation biomaterials, the association will also evaluate state policies and regulations influencing the growth of the biotech industry.
“We have a wealth of potential scientists in Mississippi who are passionate about solving healthcare problems they see in their loved ones and communities, and part of the role of the consortium is to create more spaces for people to come together by pooling our skills and resources,” said Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and co-PI on the grant.
“Much of our work focuses on the development of new materials to provide effective delivery of drugs – and especially nano-medicines – throughout the body and has a large potential impact.”
“This consortium will have a major impact on the state of Mississippi through increased research output, STEM education outreach to the state’s K-12 schools and the generation of new, patented technologies that can be taken to the marketplace and contribute to growing the Mississippi economy,” he said.
“The infrastructure and educational opportunities that the consortium will establish will provide transformational opportunities for students interested in biotechnology, both in the classroom and outside the classroom walls.”
The consortium includes 13 researchers from:
Alcorn State University
Jackson State University
Mississippi State University
Tougaloo University
University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Southern Mississippi
The consortium will also offer research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students while providing funds for more researchers across the state to join the consortium, Smith said.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research’s Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (EPSCoR RISE RII) grant No. 2414442.
Chemistry Professor Nathan Hammer with University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce
The University of Mississippi recognized chemistry professor Nathan Hammer for his exceptional teaching, research, creativity and service during the 2024 spring faculty meeting.
“This is a singular honor given to a faculty member with a demonstrated track record of research and creative achievement,” said Greg Easson, interim vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs. “He has been specially recognized for his mentoring of students, especially undergraduates, and a number of his students have gone on to win prestigious awards like the Goldwater Scholarship.”
Exposing students to research – both at the undergraduate and graduate levels – is important to increase the diversity of perspectives in science, Hammer said.
“Different people bring different perspectives and talents to studying problems,” he said. “When you work with others that have experience in different areas, you can paint a different picture of what you’re studying.”
Nathan Hammer
The annual award recognizes researchers who have achieved national or international recognition for work in their field.
Hammer is a renowned expert in analyzing the electromagnetic spectrum of molecules, nanoparticles and ions, and has published the highest-resolution spectroscopic view of cannabinoids, the chemical compounds found in cannabis. His work has been referenced more than 6000 times in other researchers’ publications.
“This year’s award winner once joked that he wanted to publish a paper with every member of his department,” Easson said. “He’s now well on his way to achieving that with publications with 14 faculty members of his department.”
Hammer has previously received the College of Liberal Arts Award for Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement for Senior Faculty and the university’s Faculty Achievement Award in 2021. He also won the Alpha Omicron Pi Favorite Professor, Lambda Sigma Honors Society Excellence in Teaching and Student Members of the American Chemical Society Faculty awards.
The researcher has received more than $6 million in grants to fund his studies from institutions such as the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice and the American Chemical Society. He also received the prestigious NSF Career Award in 2010.
“To summarize, we can think of no better faculty member to receive the University of Mississippi’s 2024 Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award than Dr. Nathan Hammer,” said four Ole Miss chemistry and biochemistry professors in one of Hammer’s recommendation letters. “His scholarship, teaching, research and impact on the scientific community are outstanding.”
Among Hammer’s recommendation letters were professors from Johns Hopkins University, Mississippi State University, Florida State University; researchers at the Savannah River National Laboratory; and a researcher and former student with the U.S. Air Force.
“In his teaching efforts, he went to great heights to deliver the very best education to each student by looking at the needs, concerns and contributions of the individual student,” said John Kelly, who works in the Air Force’s Occupational Environmental Health Department. Kelly first met Hammer as a graduate student in 2011.
“In the classroom, he provided undergraduate and graduate students with tools and support for diverse career opportunities and development. The quality of teaching that Nathan practices can best be measured by the success of his students that go on to be successful in their careers.”
Two University of Mississippi chemistry students have been recognized as Goldwater Scholars for their dedication to pursuing biomedical research.
George Taylor, a junior biomedical engineering major, and Lyle Tobin, a junior biology, classics and biochemistry triple major, are the university’s 25th and 26th students to receive Goldwater scholarships. Both students are members of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and perform research in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
“As a university, we are only allowed to nominate four students for Goldwater scholarships, and George and Lyle were undoubtedly at the top of the crop,” said Vivian Ibrahim, director of the UM Office of National Scholarship Advisement.
George Taylor
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation awards the scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. This year, 438 new Goldwater scholarships are being awarded from a pool of 1,353 undergraduates nominated by 446 total institutions.
Taylor, a Southaven native, joined the lab of Eden Tanner, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry. He was intrigued by her work on ionic liquids and nanoparticle drug treatments, which has a wide range of implications for improvements in drug delivery.
“We are currently looking at the specific interactions between various blood components and ionic liquid coated nanoparticles,” Taylor said. “This work aims to improve biodistribution of nanoparticle drug treatments. By modifying the ionic liquid, we can change the cellular interactions, which then can impact where the particles concentrate in the body.”
Tanner said she is proud of Taylor’s accomplishments.
“George is a valued member of our lab who has been working diligently to try and better understand the mechanisms underlying ionic liquid-mediated blood cell hitchhiking,” she said. “The Goldwater is a well-deserved recognition of his promise as a scientist.”
Based on his work in the lab, he has co-authored four research publications.
“George is a natural researcher,” Ibrahim said. “As a junior, publishing four papers and maintaining a 4.0 GPA is an incredible feat and makes him a very competitive applicant.”
Lyle Tobin
With the help of the Goldwater scholarship, Taylor plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry.
“Getting the award really makes me feel more confident in what I’m doing,” he said. “I plan on using the award in as many different ways as I can so that I can continue on in the research that I’m conducting.”
A Montgomery, Texas, native, Tobin said his three majors, although seemingly unconnected, are complementary.
“The classics, and more broadly the humanities, provide both an ethical basis and a source of inspiration for science,” Tobin said. “These degree programs are helping me learn a lot of material. My long-term goal is to develop novel therapies against cancer and other diseases.”
Josh Sharp, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has mentored Tobin in his lab while working on new methods to characterize the structure of proteins – research that could aid the design of protein therapeutics. He called Tobin an “outstanding young researcher with an inspiring level of drive and creativity.”
“He has been performing research at a graduate student level since he was a sophomore,” Sharp said. “He’s constantly coming to me with new ideas based on the experiments he has run. It’s been a joy to work with him.”
Tobin is the university’s first Goldwater scholar who plans to pursue an M.D/Ph.D. in immunology and oncology, Ibrahim said. His decision was influenced by having volunteered several hundred hours as an EMT with the Lafayette County Fire Department.
“You can’t see those kinds of things and not be struck by how incapable and futile a lot of modern medicine is,” Tobin said. “I want to do my part to help address that.”
Congratulations to Dr. Cizdziel for winning the Melinda & Ben Yarbrough, M.D., Senior Professor Research Award for the Natural Sciences from the College of Liberal Arts!
This award recognizes an outstanding tenured faculty member in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The award is given in recognition of sustained exemplary performance in research, scholarship, and/or creative achievement at the national or international level while serving as a faculty member at the University of Mississippi.
The Cizdziel group develops analytical methods to solve real-world problems in environmental and forensic science.
Congratulations to our SMACS students and faculty winners of the UM 2024 Leadership and Engagement Awards! Ally Watrous – President of the Year Holly Moncrief – Member of the Year Dr. Emily Rowland – Advisor of the Year
Congratulations to our SMACS students and faculty winners of the UM 2024 Leadership and Engagement Awards!
A critical molecule for the metabolism of living organisms has been synthesized for the first time by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers at low temperatures (10 K) on ice coated nanoparticles mimicking conditions in deep space marking a “cool” step in advancing our understanding of the origins of life.
The UH Mānoa Department of Chemistry team of Professor Ralf I. Kaiser, and postdoctoral fellows Jia Wang and Joshua H. Marks worked with computational chemist Professor Ryan C. Fortenberry from the University of Mississippi to explore how glyceric acid can form in cold, carbon dioxide-rich icy environments of outer space. Glyceric acid is the simplest sugar acid that helps with a process called glycolysis, which is like the engine that helps break down the food we eat into energy that our bodies can use.
Using experiments with interstellar model ices and proxies of energetic Galactic Cosmic Rays at the UH Mānoa’s W. M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry, racemic glyceric acid was formed and detected with the help of photo ionization lasers in the gas phase. These molecules might play a role in the development of life on planets like Earth. Scientists now hope to detect these molecules in space using telescopes such as ALMA.
“The study suggests that molecules like glyceric acid could have been synthesized in molecular clouds and possibly in star forming regions prior to their delivery to Earth via comets or meteorites thus contributing to the building blocks of life,” Kaiser said. “Understanding how these molecules form in space is crucial for unraveling the mysteries of life’s origins.”
“The potential presence of such molecules in space shows how the chemistry in our bodies is connected to the chemistry of ‘the beyond,’” Fortenberry said. “Additionally, the interaction of experiment and computation also highlights how different perspectives on science work together to make the generation of new knowledge possible.”
Lauded by students and peers as an inspiring teacher, University of Mississippi chemistry professor Jason Ritchie has been named the second faculty member to hold the Doctors Andrew Stefani and Eldon Miller Memorial Chair for STEM Teaching and Research.
Established in 2019 by Dr. Rhett Atkinson and his wife, Elaine, with a $1.5 million gift, the chair honors Stefani, former professor and chair of chemistry, and Miller, former professor and chair of mathematics.
Ritchie, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said he plans to use the chair’s resources to develop new teaching materials and activities to support active learning in his classroom. He also wants to help other faculty members stimulate the adoption of active learning techniques across campus.
“I’m really thrilled to be recognized by my colleagues for this position,” he said. “I’m also excited about the possibilities for sharing my techniques with others who are interested in incorporating active learning in their classrooms.”
An Ole Miss faculty member since 2000, Ritchie is a previous recipient of the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award. He also ru
Jason Ritchie
ns a research laboratory that studies polymer electrolytes for fuel cells and batteries, with both graduate student and undergraduate researchers.
Ritchie’s colleagues said he is more than deserving of his recognition.
“Jason has been one of our department’s best-regarded teachers for over 20 years,” said Daniell Mattern, the inaugural recipient of the award in 2022. “He continually works to improve his teaching chops, and his students praise him while they are learning their chemistry. He well deserves this recognition.”
Mattern also said Ritchie’s strengths are his chemical demonstrations in his classes, embellishing his lectures with examples from current events and showing how old topics in general chemistry are relevant to present-day issues.
“His goal is to learn each student’s name, which is an impressive feat,” Mattern said. “Students appreciate his enthusiasm and cheerful attitude, and his accessibility.”
Joshua Eyler, director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said Ritchie is one of the most dedicated educators he knows.
“He truly prioritizes students and their learning, and he does so through innovative uses of active learning techniques that have been specifically designed for helping STEM students to develop conceptual understanding,” Eyler said. “His commitment to and passion for education alone makes him incredibly deserving of this prestigious honor.”
The Doctors Andrew Stefani and Eldon Miller Memorial Chair for STEM Teaching and Research Endowment is open to gifts from individuals and organizations. Send a check, with the endowment noted in the memo line, to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655, or give online at http://give.olemiss.edu.
For more information on supporting STEM teaching and research at the university, contact Charlotte Parks, vice chancellor for development, at cpparks@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3120.
