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at VCUVCU

VCU Facts• More than 31,000 students, > 2200 faculty• More than 5400 graduate students

• Located in historic Richmond, the capital since 1779

• Population of Richmond metropolitan area: > 1.2 million

• $270 million in sponsored research funding

• VCU occupies 174 buildings; over 140 acres

• Medical, Dental, Pharmacy Schools

• 110 countries represented; more than 171,000 alumni

• Now offers two new interdisciplinary Ph.D programs in Nanoscience and Chemical Biology

VCU Chemistry Facts• 19 Tenured or Tenure track faculty

• 3 Facility Directors; 1 Advising Director

• ~ 81 total graduate students

• ~ 70 papers published each year

• 11 PhD degrees awarded (5 in CHEM, 6 in Nano), 2015-16

• 109 BS Chemistry degrees, 2015-2016

• Location: T. Edward Temple Building and Oliver Hall-Physical Sciences

• Focus areas in: Biological/Biophysical, Analytical, Inorganic, Physical, and Organic Chemistry,

Chemical Physics, Materials, and Nanoscience

• Home of Nobel Laureate, the late John Fenn

Did you Know?• VCU Chemistry was the home institution of 2002 Nobel

Laureate in Chemistry, the late Dr. John B. Fenn

• Two VCU graduate students have been selected to attend the International Meeting of Nobel Laureates

• Two Chemistry faculty have served as Jefferson Science Fellows at the US Department of State

• Two Chemistry faculty are fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

• VCU, in conjunction with the State of Virginia and the National Science Foundation, has invested $2.5 million in materials characterization equipment, $600,000 in NMR, and $1.2 million in Mass Spectroscopy facilities

The Faculty

•19 Tenure-track faculty

•21 Term (3 Facility Directors, 1 Advising Director, 1 Safety officer/Stockroom Manager, 8 Instructional).

•12 were hired (8 TT) in last 8 years (nearly 50%).

Most of our faculty have funding from: NSF, NIH, DOE, NASA, foundations/industry

External Funding: ~ 4.5 million (2015)

Published Papers: ~ 50-60/year

Undergraduate Research• 494 undergraduate chemistry majors

• Revised curriculum concentrations include a research intensive option, Professional Chemist With Honors, leading to undergraduate chemistry theses and departmental research seminars Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to work in research labs.

• NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program (1999-2004 & 2006-2015) involved over 16 faculty from 4 departments and over 100 students in summer research projects.

• Participated in International REU US-Brazil Program (3 students)

VCU Practices and PerspectivesSummer Undergraduate Research Experience

Graduate Research• Degrees offered

• Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemistry• Ph.D. in Nanoscience• Ph.D. in Chemical Biology

• ~ 70 graduate students

• 11 PhD degrees and 2 MS degreesawarded in 2015-2016

• TA and RA positions available

• Research Areas: Biological/Biophysical, Analytical, Inorganic, Physical, and Organic Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Materials, and Nanoscience

(www.nano.vcu.edu)

(http://www.chemistry.vcu.edu/)

Instrumentation• Three major instrumentation facilities

(each staffed by a PhD):

• GeneralVarious IR, UV-Vis and GC-MS

instrumentation

• NMR300, 400, & 600 MHz, multi-nuclear.

• Mass spectrometryQuadrupole ion trap and q-TOF. Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer -ideal for proteomics.

•Access to Nanomaterials Core Characterization Facility

http://www.chemistry.vcu.edu/research/facilities.html

Nanomaterials Instrumentation (NCC)

www.nano.vcu.edu

Veeco ICON AFM

PANalytical XRD

ThermoFisher ESCAlab 250 XPS

Zeiss Libra 120 TEM

Jeol SEM

Hitachi Su-70 FE-SEM

Ellipsometer

Nikon Microscope

Raman Microscope

State-of-the art facility for Nanomaterials Characterization

Interested in Graduate School ?

Chemistry (PhD): ~ 62 studentsNanoscience (PhD): ~ 10 studentsChemical Biology (PhD): ~ 9 students

Consider the following:

Who to Contact: Dr. Maryanne Collinson (Chemistry)Dr. Everett Carpenter (Nanoscience)Dr. Nicholas Farrell (Chemical Biology)

For general information on Graduate Studies in Chemistry

Email: gradchem@vcu.edu Phone: (804) 828-1298

•Full Time•Part Time

Research Faculty

AnalyticalCollinsonAlvarezRutan

GronertDhakal

OrganicSidorovGronertHartmanGuptonCropp

PhysicalLuzarBratko

El-ShallAlvarezTerner

Biological/BiophysicalFarrell

HartmanTernerLuzar

AlvarezSidorovGronertBratkoCroppLucasDhakalTibbets

InorganicFarrell

CarpenterEl-Kaderi

ArachchigeLucas

Materials/NanoscienceCollinsonCarpenter

AlvarezArachchige

El-ShallBratkoLuzar

El-KaderiTibbettsDhakal

Chemical PhysicsLuzarBratko

El-ShallCarpenterTibbetts

Research in the Dhakal GroupAnalytical, Nanoscience, Chemical Biology, Biophysical

We combine DNA nanotechnology and modern analytical methods to achieve two majorresearch goals; (i) develop multiplex sensors for biologically relevant small molecules such asbiomarkers and (ii) investigate DNA mechanics in complex with protein. The researchapproach is interdisciplinary — it spans from DNA nanotechnology to single-moleculefluorescence microscopy, single-molecule force spectroscopy, and chemical biology.

Aptasensing; a multiplex sensor Protein-DNA mechanics Single enzyme activity

The three major areas of interest:

Probe and ControlGas-Phase Reactions

Synthesize Metal Nanoparticlesfor Catalytic Applications

O

O

parent, Pm/z=120

benzoyl, Bm/z=105

butadienyl, Bum/z=51

phenyl, Phm/z=77

acylium, Am/z=43

O

- e-

13

Research in the Tibbetts Group

Project IIRational Design ofLight-Initiated Metallodrugs

Goals of the Lucas Research Lab

Project III Contribution of Transition Metals to Olfaction

Chemical Biology – Synthetic Inorganic – Biophysics/Biochemistry

Does metal imbalance lead to the loss of smell?

Are human olfactory receptors metalloproteins?

Project IPhysiological Metal Imbalance, Neurodegeneration, and Aging

Therapeutic Targets

Physical; Biological/Biophysical; Materials and Nanoscience; Chemical PhysicsSolvation processes in bio-systems and materials are exceedingly complex, involving a range of time and length scales.

Multifaceted problem requires a multifaceted approach, and that’s what we do!

“In silico”/ Computer experimentson computer workstations and

supercomputers

Neutron scattering experiments on world’s most powerful

neutron source

HYDRATION PROCESSES IN NATURAL & SYNTHETIC

SYSTEMS

Statistical mechanics- relation between macroscopic and

microscopic world

Molecular modeling

Condensed phase chemical dynamics

Coarse grained modeling

HIGLHIGHTS: Students in our group: Work on exciting projects relevant to everyday phenomena in biochemistry and materials science (e. g. biological hydration and organization, action of detergents, intermolecular recognition)

•Develop new theoretical perspectives and methods and learn how to independently write computer programs

•Get international research experience early in their careers.

Minimalist models

Reactors in

UK & France

Scientific computing

http://www.chemistry.vcu.edu/people/bio/luzar.html

The El-Shall Research Group

Ion-mobility mass spectrometry

Laser vaporizationTime-of-flight

mass spectrometry

Physical; Materials & Nanoscience; Chemical PhysicsThe

CNNLaboratory

Our research interests are in the general areas of molecular clusters, gas phase and cluster polymerization, nucleation phenomena and nanostructured materials. The major goal is to gain insights as to how the properties of matter evolve as the size of a material system ranges from molecular to macroscopic dimensions.

Clusters Nanoparticles

Nucleation

Stru

ctur

e

Binding Energy

Kinetics

4 0 0 6 0 0 8 0 0 1 0 0 00

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

1 0 0

1 2 0

3 0

2 8

2 1 S i+ (H 2O ) n

Ion

Inte

nsity

M a s s (a m u )

Ge nanowires with controlled diameters

Nanowires

Au-Ag Nanoparticles

Assembly of ZnS rods

Catalysis

Nd:YAG Laser

nn*

W*

W(n)

RT

nucleus ( 100-200 molecules )

LiquidDroplets( 1-5 µm)

J. Phys. Chem. B. 109, 17350 (2005)J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 6164 (2005) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 7053 (2005) J. Chem. Phys. 123, 104704 (2005)

10 nm

Analytical, Inorganic, Materials, Nanoscience“Better Materials through Chemistry”

Si(OR’)4 + R-Si(OR’)3

OO

OSi

SiO

O

OOH

Si O

OH

O

R

O

Si

SiO Si

O

ROO

OSi

SiR

OOR

OSi O

R

Si OSi

O

OO

R

SiROO

OSi

SiO

O

OOH

Si O

OH

O

R

O

Si

SiO Si

O

ROO

OSi

SiR

OOR

OSi O

R

Si OSi

O

OO

R

SiR

R = CH3,…

H2O

Sol-Gel Chemistry High Surface Area Materials

Gradient Surfaces

For:Chemical SensorsBiomedicineChromatography

powders

films

monoliths

Hierarchical template Hierarchical pore in gold1D Nitrogen Gradient

XPSN1s

Tools of the trade: SEM, AFM, XPS, FTIR, Electrochemistry, Fluorescence

Funding: National Science Foundation

MakeCharacterize

Utilize

Hierarchical and nanoporous gold films

Gradients in HydrophobicityGradients for Chromatography

Multi-Component Charge Gradients

Research in the Collinson Group

The Gronert Research GroupMass Spectrometry Lab

Organic, Biological/Biophysical, and Analytical

Label/Digest

LC/MS of peptides

Database analysis

Proteomics Studies of Protein Modifications

Modified protein

Modification site map

Projects in diabetes and aging research

Gas-Phase Organic Reaction Mechanisms

Projects focused on substitution and elimination reactions

QuickTime™ and aNone decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aNone decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aNone decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

RatesStereoselectivity Isotope Effects Substituent Effects Computational Modeling

Gas-phase studies probe intrinsic mechanism and give insight into solvation effects

Catalysis: Mechanisms and Stereoselectivity

N N

O O

R R

R RM

OR' R*

N N

O O

R R

R RM

OR"

R"OR"

R"

R'OR*

Using mass spectrometry to probe the binding properties of catalyst intermediates that cannot be isolated in solution

Projects focused on alkene epoxidations and other oxidations

Research efforts in our group are focused on thedesign and synthesis of novel nanoscale materialswith unique and tunable physiochemical properties.

The research is highly interdisciplinary, with theaim to develop a fundamental understanding ofhow structure, particle size, shape, atomiccomposition are related in order to advancetechnologies such as information storage, sensors,energy conversion, and catalysis.

Research in the Arachchige Group

GlassITO NCs Al

Au

NCsAl Au

NCsAl

A B C

(c) Sol‐Gel Assembly of Nanomaterials into porous network structures.

(a)  Quantum Dot Materials for Solar Cell  Applications.

(b) Nanoscale Materials for Information Storage,  Catalysis, Sensing and Imaging.

50 nm

2 nm

Inorganic, Nanoscience, Materials

Research in the Hartman GroupN N

NNH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

NH

HN

NH

HN

NH

HNO

HN

O O

Cl

ClO

O

O

OHO

O

O

ONH2

OHOH

HOO

HO

O OHOH

OHO

O

OHNH2

HO

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

Cell permeability

Large libraries of cyclic peptidesselected for cell permeability

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

We prepare enormous natural-product-like cyclic-peptide libraries through the use of mRNA display, libraries far larger than thosemade by any other approach. We are working on overcomingtwo obstacles in this approach: cell permeability and buildingblock diversity. Ultimately, we hope to be able to find inhibitorsof many protein-protein interactions involved in cancer biology.

Molecules like cyclosporin A and vancomycin are peptide natural products with potent biological activity. Unfortunately, the complexity of these molecules renders it difficult to make large numbers of variants.

Cyclosporin AVancomycin

P

mRNA-peptide fusion formation

Unnaturalamino acids

Chemoselectiveligations

tRNAsUnnatural aminoacyl-tRNAs

PP

cyclization

In vitro translation

1013 unnatural cyclic peptideswhich will be used to find

inhibitors of protein-protein and receptor-ligand interactions

Building block diversity

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

N NN

NH

N

N

O

O

O

O

O

NH O

NNH

O

NH

N

O

OO

OHH

O

Our research efforts are devoted to the development of highly porous polymers for use in clean energy applications; H2 storage and purification, and catalytic processes that utilize open-metal sights or deposited metal nanoclusters for the production of separate molecules like methanol or long chain polymers. The group is also interested in organometallic complexes for use in homogenous catalysis and activation of small molecules such as N2 and CO2.

Projects: New porous organic and inorganic polymers:

Design and Modeling Synthesis and Characterization Applications: Storage, Catalysis, etc.

Metal-doped polymers using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and other related techniques:

Materials (Fullerenes, MOFs, COFs) CVD Materials with enhanced storage and catalytic properties

Metal-polydentate ligand complexes for ethylene polymerization and activation of small molecules:

Ligand design and synthesis Organometallic complexes Reactivity studies

Research in the El-Kaderi GroupMaterials Design, Inorganic, Nanoscience, Organometallics

MOFs: Yaghi, Nature 2004, 427, 523

M@Fullerenes: JACS2006, 128, 9741

COFs: El-Kaderi, H. M. et al, Science 2007, 316, 268

Research in the Rutan GroupAnalytical, Biological/Biophysical

http://www.people.vcu.edu/~srutan/ Development of two-dimensional liquid

chromatographic methods for metabolomic applications

Evaluation of informing power of chromatographic methods

Analysis of multi-way data from LCxLC/DAD instrumentation

2nd

Dim

ensio

n Sl

ices

J3

2

1

Sam

ple L

# of C

ompo

nent

s4

3 2

1

Component 2

Component 1

Component 1

Component 2

Component 1

Component 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Sample 1Sample 2Sample 3Sample 4 Sample L4 6 8 10 12

11

12

13

14

15

16

1st Chromatography Dimension (min)

N3 14N6

N5N4

8

15 11

1318

3

1

2

N9N2

N1

5

1617

7

62ndCh

romatograph

y Dim

ension

 (sec)

N12N16N10

N11

N7

12

10 & N8

9, N14 & N154 & N13

T

to waste

from 1D column

to 2D columnfrom pumps

1st

loop2nd

loop

Potential at E2 / V-0.30-0.20-0.100.000.100.200.30

i2 / A

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00 Chemical Coupling (E1 on)

No Chemical Coupling (E1 off)

Research in the Alvarez GroupThe research in our group revolves around the development of novel approaches for electrochemical detection and electrocatalysis using the chemical coupling principle in micro and nanostructures.

General focus areas: Analytical, Physical, Biological/Biophysical and Nanomaterials.

Laminar Flow

Ascorbic Acid Product + 2H+ H+ + Analyte Product

Electrode 1 Electrode 2

25 m

200 m

The Chemical coupling Principle:One helps the other !An upstream electrode 1 in a microfluidic channeldrives a reaction that produces protons so thatthe reaction at the downstream electrode 2becomes thermodynamically or kinetically viable.The shift in the redox potential allows the analyteto be detected in conditions in which it would otherwise be undetectable.

Mechanical AnalogyGB° < 0

Spontaneous

B

GA° > 0Non spontaneous

A

GA° GB° G°NETSpontaneous if

G°NET < 0

A

B

Without mechanicalcoupling

With mechanical coupling

Khalid, M. I., Pu, Q., Alvarez, J. C.; “Thermodynamic and Kinetic Enhancement of Electrochemical Sensitivity by Chemical Coupling In Microfluidic Systems”, Angew. Chemie., Int. Ed. Engl., 2006, 45, in press.

Research in the Farrell GroupNew Paradigms in Platinum Chemotherapy. The goal of the laboratory is to produce new anti-cancer drugs based on platinum. Our laboratory designs

platinum compounds (Pt-Pt, TPA) structurally distinct from cisplatin. In this way, we induce different DNA conformational changes leading to different

“downstream” cellular effects such as protein recognition.

electron micrograph of amyloid fibrils

PNAS 102, 11692 (2005)JACS 128, 1683 (2006)

Reverse micelle in AOTH2O-in-oil microemulsion

coarse-grained

simulation

orderly or disorderedprotein aggregates

Free-energy landscape of a multi-protein system

DNA

http://www.chemistry.vcu.edu/people/bio/bratko.html

Research in the Bratko GroupPhysical, Biological and Biophysical, Materials and Nanoscience, Chemical Physics

We use analytical and computer modeling to:

help uncover physics of colloids, polyelectrolytes, biopolymersand ionic fluids

enable control or optimization of their properties for applicationsYou are invited to join projects in molecular simulations andmean-field modeling of:

• surfactant colloids, e.g. reverse micelles as -reactors

• polyelectrolytes such as DNA and ionic colloids with focus on understanding specific salt effects

• coarse-grained modeling of interacting proteins and their association

• disordered materials

osmotic pressure vs ionization degree

osmotic

saturation

Research in the Sidorov GroupWe are developing receptors for organic substrates exhibiting their activity in biological membranes

Nanosize Devices Based on Liposomes Modified with the Receptors

Active Transport of Vital Substrates into Cellular Cytosol Biomembrane

- Active Receptors

Development of Biomembrane Assays

ΔΨ ΔΨ

flip

Receptors capable of selective uniport ofions across biomembranes induce thetransmembrane potential that causescationic lipids to flip from the outer bilayerleaflet into the inner leaflet. This appro-ach has a promise in the improvement ofnon-viral gene delivery.

Simultaneous induction of opposite trans-membrane potentials into two popula-tions of fusogenic liposomes results in acontrolled cross-fusion. This highly cont-rolled fusiogenic system is utilized in bio-compatible nanoreactors

In our team, we are working in a highly interdisciplinary environment. The individual projects cover a wide variety ofdisciplines and methods of study, ranging from wet organic synthesis to state of the art electrophysiological assays. Ourstudents have an opportunity to learn numerous spectroscopic techniques applicable to all aspects of modern chemistry.

Na+

SO

SSO

OO

OO

O

OO

O

O

N

S

O

NNN N

O

N

S

O

HH

N H NH

OO

NHS

NH

NaphNaph

Our receptors capable of strong selective binding of fluorescent dyes are utilized in new biomembrane assays essential to understanding the mechanisms of actions of the developmental drugs.

X

Y

X

Y

X X

Y Y

O ON

OO

O Y = -NHCONHR

S

Na+Na+

K+

S

Na+

K+

X =

Active transport utilizes the K+/Na+

transmembrane gradient maintained in living cells. We are synthesizing ditopic ligands that are able to bind a target substrate and Na+ but not K+

cooperatively. These receptors are capable of transport of substrates from Na+-rich extracellular medium into K+-rich cytosol. This approach has promise in developing therapies agains hereditary diseases and multi-drug resistant tumors.

Atomic Engineering LaboratoryCarpenter Research Team

The focus of the Atomic Engineering Laboratory is the development of novel synthetic techniques and novel magnetic nanoparticles. Our goals are focused on a simple question with a very difficult answer: How can I engineer physical properties like electrical and magnetic properties during the synthesis? How does the structure and morphology affect properties like catalytic behavior, stability, and frequency response?

Currently materials developed in the AEL are targeted for the following application areas:Electronic components (inductors and capacitors), communication arrays (RADAR), semiconductor/computer industry (Magnetic media) biomedical applications (drug delivery, MRI Imaging). All these areas benefit from the same type of magnetic nanoparticles.

Using novel synthesis techniques such as reverse micelle synthesis it is possible to tailor the size, shape, and composition of the resulting nanoparticle

Atomic engineering allows for mutually exclusive properties, ie resistance and magnetization, to be tailored in one nanoparticle through a core-shell approach. Core-shell nanoparticles allow for high magnetic moment of a metal, to be coated with a high resistance material like metal oxide.

Research in the J. Terner Group

Physical Bio-Inorganic Chemistry

Time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopyof porphyrins and heme enzyme intermediates.

Dr. Frank GuptonDept. of Chemistry

Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering

Pharmaceutical Drug Synthesis

Heterogeneous Cross‐Coupling CatalysisContinuous Flow in MicroreactorsBr B(OH)2

+ Pd(0)

K2CO3H2O/EtOH

N

N

N

N

OOH

O

OOH

Cl N

N MeCl

OHC

NN

NNTrt

Telmisartan

LosartanAtovaquone

Suzuki Reaction

Gupton Research Group

The Faces of ChemistryVCU Faculty

The Faces of Chemistry

StudentsVCUVCU

and Youhttp://chemistry.vcu.edu/

Visitors Welcome

VCUVCU

Visitors Welcome

http://chemistry.vcu.edu/

http://chemistry.vcu.edu/graduate-programs/graduate-admissions/

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