UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #813

Submission information
Submission Number: 813
Submission ID: 14691
Submission UUID: b7e2021e-d0cc-4d78-afe4-faa38c47b4c4

Created: Fri, 08/16/2024 - 11:20 AM
Completed: Fri, 08/16/2024 - 11:32 AM
Changed: Wed, 10/09/2024 - 11:52 AM

Remote IP address: 128.186.14.101
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Research Mentor Name Steven Lenhert
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? Dr.
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) lenhert@bio.fsu.edu
Position Title Faculty
FSU College (if applicable) Arts and Sciences
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation Biological Science
Headshot (optional) lenhert_headshot.jpg
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) Vincent Tocci, Tracey Bell
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable)
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated)
Title of the Project Lipid-based molecular recognition
Project Keywords chemistry, biology, physics, biosensor, drug discovery
Are you currently looking for research assistants? No
Number of Research Assistants Needed 6
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Engineering
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Partially Remote
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 5-10
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Overall Research Project Description Molecular recognition is a fundamental function of large biological polymers such as proteins and nucleic acids that makes life possible. The ability for these molecules to recognize eachother and other, smaller molecules allows processes such as metabolism, cell signaling, transport, immunology, gene expression, and cell division. In the last hundred years, polymeric molecular recognition has come to be understood in terms of one molecule binding selectively to another by means of the three dimensional shapes of the molecules involved, or molecular fits. A well studied example is antibody binding to antigens, which is crucial for immunology and has found a variety of biotechnological applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.
Our group has demonstrated another kind of molecular recognition that is based on the partitioning of molecules between two phases such as oil and water. This type of molecular recognition is based on aggregates of small molecules such as lipid bilayers or lipid droplets. This project uses model systems composed of organic oil droplets in water to characterize the molecular recognition capabilities.1-5 In addition to providing insights into the organization and function of biological molecules in cells, the project has technological applications for new lipid-based drug targets and biosensors for diagnostic and environmental detection.6
References:
1. S. Liu, K. Kumar, T. Bell, A. Ramamoorthy, D. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Lipid-Based Catalysis Demonstrated by Bilayer-Enabled Ester Hydrolysis. Membranes 14, 168 (2024).
2. H. Zhou, E. Shiel, T. Bell, S. Lin, S. Lenhert, Kinetic Mechanism of Surfactant-Based Molecular Recognition: Selective Permeability across an Oil–Water Interface Regulated by Supramolecular Aggregates. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, (2023).
3. T. W. Lowry, A. E. Kusi-Appiah, D. A. Fadool, S. Lenhert, Odor Discrimination by Lipid Membranes. Membranes 13, 151 (2023).
4. S. Liu, A.-T. Wei, H. Wang, D. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Combinatorial Mixtures of Organic Solutes for Improved Liquid/Liquid Extraction of Ions. Soft Matter 19, 6903-6910 (2023).
5. T. N. Bell, K. Feng, G. Calvin, D. H. Van Winkle, S. Lenhert, Organic Composomes as Supramolecular Aptamers. ACS Omega 5, 27393-27400 (2020).
6. S. Lenhert, E. Shiel, H. Zhou, Two Phase Indicator Displacement Assay, US Patent Pending, US20230333127A1
Research Tasks Relevant literature will be read and experimental design carried out. Droplet arrays containing various solutes will be produced and exposed to analytes. The partitioning will be measured using an optical detection system available in the lab. Data will be analyzed and graphs plotted to determine the partitioining as a function of droplet composition. Further details related to the tasks will be determined based on the student’s abilities and availability. An ideal result of this project would be coauthorship on a paper that makes use of the data produced during the project.
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required: Basic chemistry or molecular biology
Recommended: Data analysis, microscopy
Mentoring Philosophy I seek to understand student’s goals and current abilities and to provide guidance to enable them to achieve their goals. This involves providing opportunities as they appear. Examples of opportunities could be an experiment that the student could carry out, coauthorship on a publication, or involvement in a collaboration. As an interdisciplinary scientist, I value different ways of thinking and approaching research tasks. When working in groups I look for synergy. If I’m teaching a student a skill that I have myself, then I demonstrate it and then let the student repeat it. I also tend to think of my students as collaborators and appreciate learning from them as well. I use, and encourage use of deliberate practice, which is an approach to developing expertise based on solving well designed achievable goals using feedback and guidance from a mentor. I meet at least once a week with my research group where we discuss our research, get feedback from each other, and identify achievable goals. Examples of research goals could be to take steps towards constructing a device, design or carry out an experiment, analyze a data set, search the literature for relevant papers, work on some scientific writing and communication. I continue to practice these skills myself and to improve my mentoring as well, doing my best to be a good example. As Isaac Asimov once wrote, “education is not something that can be finished.”
Reference:
https://jasonhaaheim.com/how-did-scientist-become-timpanist-met-orchestra/
Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://www.bio.fsu.edu/lenhertgroup/publications.php
Please add any additional information here (if applicable):
Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes
Roundtable times and Zoom links Tuesday Sept 3, 2:30-3:00 pm
https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93514430344
Recording:
https://fsu.zoom.us/rec/share/-9DGE2TwlUR0Ed3sAjOg9MN8i7I5gwH1so2y4keeWkyxKBZloTA-LI5PvqrybSaO.L6Sk8DL8oTLgqqju
Roundtable Info
Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation Yes
Materials Grant Yes
UROP Poster Presentation Yes
Year 2024
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