As our global population continues to grow and demand more resources, development of more advanced methods of chemical production and catalysis in an efficient manner are paramount. One such route to advancing catalysis in transition metal chemistry is to utilize not only abundant, inexpensive first-row transition metals, but also utilize more complex means of controlling chemistry around these metal centers.

In combating the global warming crisis, there is a particular interest in mitigating fossil fuel use as it remains a significant source of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. One solution for reducing fossil fuel emissions is the development of alternative fuel sources that are clean and renewable such as hydrogen gas (H₂). Natural systems have evolved efficient machinery utilizing cheap, earth-abundant metals that can provide sources of alternative fuel.

The increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance underscores the pressing need for studies aimed at understanding its underlying mechanisms. Bacterial membrane lipids provide an avenue for studies, as they are crucial for maintaining the integrity and functionality of bacterial cell membranes. However, in-depth studies on the involvement of bacterial membrane lipids require working with numerous bacterial samples, which necessitates the need for a high-throughput lipid extraction method.

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) - polypeptides that lack a defined three-dimensional structure – are commonplace in eukaryotic proteomes and often have critical impact on correct functioning of biological processes. IDPs can mediate low affinity interactions between proteins and serve as a scaffold or intermediate binding agent.

Surgical resection remains a primary treatment for solid tumors. However, achieving tumor-free margins during surgery is challenging. Residual cancer cells at surgical margins are associated with increased recurrence and reduced survival rates. Intraoperative evaluation of surgical margins could enable more complete resection and reduce positive margins. Traditional frozen section histopathology has limitations including time-consumption, sampling errors, and availability of expertise.

Thioglycosides and thiasugars both have a long history in bioorganic and medicinal chemistry ^1-7 but it is widely considered that they are less “active” than the parent sugars.

Peptide cyclization methods are useful in the development of therapeutic peptide leads with improved metabolic stability properties. To develop residue-selective peptide cyclization strategies, we draw inspiration from cyclic and lassoed peptide natural product scaffolds that exhibit diverse biological activities.

The Department of Chemistry will host an Open House on Thursday, August 24, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in the breezeway between the iSTEM-1 and iSTEM-2 buildings. If you've ever considered majoring in Chemistry or adding it as a minor, or are simply curious about what UGA Chemistry has to offer, this is the event for you! 

Offerings at the Open House include: