Miranda Limbach
Do Laboratory, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Agilent / ACS Analytical Graduate Research Fellowship
The primary objective of my PhD research is to identify the underlying principles governing the membrane permeability of N-methylated macrocyclic peptides using high-resolution 2D-NMR and IMS-MS. During the fellowship period, I will study members of the cyclosporine family to uncover the roles that water molecules and biologically relevant metal cations play in conformational stability and interconversion. These findings not only have direct applications in drug discovery and design but also address a fundamental gap in chemistry and pave the way for designing targeted analytical methodologies to capture and analyze elusive conformers.
Lauren Fields
Li Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Eli Lilly and Company / ACS Analytical Graduate Research Fellowship
My research focuses on developing analytical and computational methodologies for the identification and quantitation of neuropeptides, dynamic signaling molecules that are traditionally elusive, due in-part to their low in vivo abundance and high susceptibility to rapid degradation. I am working to develop sensitive data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) methods, coupled with isobaric labeling strategies for improved quantitative accuracy, for comprehensive profiling of the crustacean neuropeptidome. These data are then interpreted through a robust neuropeptide-specific spectral library, gleaning identifications and performing quantitation through a novel software platform I have built, EndoGenius. Through the combination of DIA-MS, isobaric labeling, spectral library searching, and EndoGenius, which out-performs commercial software in this arena, I aim to comprehensively characterize crustacean neuropeptidome perturbations in response to feeding activity, particularly relevant to conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Joshua Davis
Roper Laboratory, Florida State University
Eastman / ACS Analytical Graduate Research Fellowship
I am a 3rd year PhD student at Florida State University. My research interests, as a member of the Roper Research Lab, include instrumentation, microfluidics, and liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of peptide hormones released from islets of Langerhans. My project focuses on creating an automated system to monitor multiple peptide hormones utilizing LC-MS/MS for the study of diabetes. With the completion of this work, I aim to understand the secretory relationship between these hormones and why secretion goes awry in diabetes. Ultimately, I would like my work to be applied for potential therapeutic research and development.
Rahuljeet Chadha
Wei Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Pittcon / ACS Analytical Graduate Research Fellowship
I’m currently a 3rd-year chemistry Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Lu Wei’s at Caltech where my research projects are focused on metabolic imaging using non-invasive stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy. During the fellowship period, I will continue working on investigating metabolic changes that underlie diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction leveraging the capabilities of SRS microscopy, transcriptomics, and mass spectrometry. By using a synergistic approach of Raman-guided chemometrics, we aim to uncover the interplay between metabolic changes and vascular health. Ultimately, this approach aims to identify new therapeutic targets for diabetes-related endothelial dysfunction.
Honorable Mention
Malek Hassan, Oleschuk Lab, Queen’s University
Seungheon Lee, Samanta Lab, University of Texas-Austin
Zachary Miller, Williams Lab, University of California-Berkeley
Michael Pence, RodrÃguez López Lab, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign