Discipline: Chemistry & Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
- Fisk University
Co-Author(s): Brian Nelms, Steve Morgan, Qingxia Li and Arnold Burger, Fisk University, Nashville, TN
The Fisk University Center for Biological Signature and Sensing (BioSS) conducts collaborative interdisciplinary research in the area of biological, chemical, and nuclear sensors for biological applications. The overarching theme is the development of novel biosensors to address a variety of biological testing needs. Center efforts are organized into three research subprojects: In Subproject 1 we are testing the hypothesis that the approach of combined transcriptional network analysis, microfluidics tools for reaching a better understanding of dopaminergic neuron function. By integrating biochemistry, polymer synthesis, and microfluidics, Subproject 2 is developing a sensor to reveal the fundamental role of manganese in essential cellular processes and optimize this sensor for monitoring heavy metals in the environment. Subproject 3 will utilize traditional nuclear sensing devices and by integrating materials science, computational science, and mathematical optimization to develop and utilize novel radiation sensors for biological applications. Mentoring together with innovative learning modules, we assure a successful pathway of under-represented minority talent moving from Community College through the Ph.D, and thus serve as a model for national replication.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD-1547757
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,