Page 22 - UMN Chemnews December 2020

Research news... continued from page 23 research group is contributing to the overall
center mission by bringing Carlson’s deep expertise in chemical biology and antibiotic resistance to the area of sustainable nanotech- nology. For example, her team conducted a first-of-its-kind study showing that non-anti- bacterial nanoparticles can cause resistance in bacteria.
“Working with this scientifically diverse group of researchers has enabled us to rapidly push the boundaries in this field in ways that none of us could as individual laboratories,” Carlson said.
The NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology has already had a broad im- pact on science research and will push toward exciting new chemistry insights in the coming five years.
“The NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCIs) are transforming the way we do science by engaging interdisciplinary, multi-institu- tional teams to take on grand challenges in
the field,” said David Berkowitz, director of the NSF Division of Chemistry. “The NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, one of the CCIs, is performing important research that will guide the development of sustainable nanotechnologies, a key element of the indus- tries of the future.”
The NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology focuses on fundamental science and involves collaboration among researchers at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, nine other universities, and two government labs. Researchers apply what is
“The NSF Center for Sustainable Nano- technology engages my students in professional development and science communication activities that make them well-rounded scientific leaders. I wish I’d been able to do my chemistry training in a center like this.”
—Professor Christy Haynes, CSN Associate Director
learned, work to mitigate problems associated with nanomaterials such as lithium ion bat- teries and other electronic waste, and design and synthesize nanomaterials, which may offer benefits to the environment such as those that improve plant health and reduce the need for pesticides and fungicides.
“Naturally occurring nanomaterials, like
sand, are things to which our bodies and the environment have adapted,” said Hamers, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor
of chemistry and NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology director. “Engineered nano- materials have not been in the environment for a long time, so biological systems have not adapted to challenges they present, leaving the potential for greater environmental impacts.”
Haynes pointed out that the NSF support goes beyond the science. The grant to the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology supports five University of Minnesota graduate students per year in addition to undergraduates, equipment, and lab ex- changes for University of Minnesota students to visit other NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology institutions.
“The NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology engages my students in pro- fessional development and science communi- cation activities that make them well-rounded scientific leaders. I wish I’d been able to do
my chemistry training in a center like this,” Haynes said.
The University of Minnesota is also home
to one of two NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology leadership staff, Miriam Krause, Ph.D., who serves as director of Education, Outreach, and Diversity. Excellent examples of the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology’s outreach efforts include the Sustainable-Nano.com and Nano-Sostenible. com blogs, which are primarily written by graduate students in the center.
The center is focused on chemical science, outreach, and workforce development, serving as a strong professional development program for training graduate students, and incorpo- rates a focus on improving diversity in STEM.
Chemistry students and researchers in-
volved in the CSN include Meghan Cahill, Alessandra Gavin, Riley Lewis, Stephanie Mitchell, Andrew Northwick, Tana O’Keefe, Deepti Sharan, Ph.D., Rebeca Rodriguez, Eleni Spanolios, Beza Tuga, and Xiaoxiao Yao.
Reprinted with permission from the College of Science & Engineering, Rhonda Zurn, Communications Director, with additions by Eileen Harvala, chemistry communications coordinator.
22 Chemnews December 2020
One example of research conducted at the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology is to examine the impact of nanomaterials in lithium ion batteries on Shewanella oneidensis, a ubiquitous soil bacterium.
Credit: NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology
NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology graduate students Alessandra Gavin (left) and Beza Tuga (center) conducted a nanotechnol- ogy demonstration at the Science Museum of Minnesota in January 2020.
Credit: NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology