Glycopolymer is an important class of synthetic molecules that emulate many biological and structural characteristics of cell-surface glycoproteins or glycolipids.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) carbohydrates are long, linear, acidic polysaccharide chains abundant on the surface of virtually all mammalian cells[1,2]. Non-template driven modifications affect many biological functions through protein-binding interactions[3]. The complex structure and low natural abundance of GAG oligomers remains a significant analytical challenge.

Despite medical advancements to eradicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) around the world, HIV is still among the top leading causes of death in untreated newborn in resourcelimited countries.

Over the last decade, the field of single-molecule detection has grown rapidly because technical and methodological developments increased sensitivity and gave access to biological processes not observable before. Single molecule detection unveils the short-lived intermediates, the heterogeneous behavior of individual enzymes and stochastic multistep processes like protein folding.¹ Currently, single-molecule detection mostly relies on fluorescence.

Combustion research aims to produce fundamental science that enables the development of advanced technologies for cleaner-burning and more-efficient energy conversion, including next-generation internal combustion engines. One primary target is understanding complex chemistry at low-temperature oxidation conditions (< 1200 K) where the formation of NOx is avoided.

HER2-positive breast cancers affect roughly 25% of patients and are extremely aggressive.

While treatments specifically targeting the HER2 receptors are quite successful, they require an

accurate diagnosis of HER2 overexpression. Current detection methods of immunohistochemical

staining (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) do not give a global view of the cancer. They

are limited to the metastases biopsied and may lead to misdiagnosis. While the use of antibodies as

I will report our latest developments of multireference methods with special focus on multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) [1] and its application to understanding the properties and reactivity of electronically excited states [2] and transition metal-containing systems.[3] MC-PDFT combines mutireference wave functions and density functional theory methods to treat strongly correlated systems.

Dr. Patrick Scannon of Berkeley, California has been selected to receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the UGA Chemistry Department in 2018.  The Award will be presented at the Alumni Banquet on April 27 at the Georgia Center on campus.