Materials Research Institute
An integrated research facilities turns product to prototype
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Photonics has provided the basic platform to test many fundamental theories of contemporary physics and to build novel technologies utilizing them. In this talk, I will discuss examples of how concepts such as entanglement, entangled networks and Parity-Time-symmetry can be realized in simple optical setups, highlight some of the unanswered questions, and how collaboration among different disciplines (e.g., optics, materials science, physics and engineering, etc) can provide new insights towards scalable and feasible quantum photonic networks as well as high-performance optical devices and systems.
The iSuperSEED team of the Center for Nanoscale Science (Penn State MRSEC) pursues compelling new research opportunities in applying Rules of Life principles to adapt the highly-sophisticated synthesis and assembly machinery of living systems to the production of new symmetry-enabled functional materials that cannot be synthesized or fabricated through conventional engineering methods. The research team will leverage plant biology research of the DOE-funded Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF), which seeks a deeper understanding of the plant cell wall, in part by adapting methods of materials research in service of biology to conversely induce biological systems to create new materials. As an initial step, the team will utilize genotype and extracellular environment to control the structure, composition, and crystalline order of cellulose across length scales in search of new modes of symmetry-enabled materials response such as piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, and electro-optic effects.
Understanding the function of bio-systems (e.g., cells and tissues) and their interaction with exogenous compounds requires the ability to visualize spatial distribution of the biomolecules (e.g., lipids, small metabolites) and compounds at subcellular resolution. However, the routine laboratory assays are largely done by bulk analysis on extraction from dissociated cells and tissues, in which the spatial distribution is lost. We have been developing cluster ToF-SIMS to map the chemistry on the frozen-hydrated biological samples with high resolution (< 1µm) and mass range up to m/z 5000. This recent development opens new opportunities for multi-omics, cell heterogeneity and disease mark and target, leading to the further understanding of disease progress and new treatment development.
Since 2011 the Morombe Archaeological Project has undertaken archaeological survey, excavation and oral history recording in the Velondriake Marine Protected Area of southwest Madagascar. The project’s aims are to investigate diachronic human-environment dynamics and refine our understanding of the region’s settlement history by leveraging multiple scientific techniques and the collective historical and socio-ecological knowledge base of Velondriake’s living communities. In this presentation I describe the outcomes of the project’s approach to integrate diverse community members and collective knowledge in all aspects of the research and promote this approach as necessary for understanding the region’s rapidly shifting landscapes.
Although many scientific disciplines routinely use the term “hydrophobic,” understanding this concept often remains a challenge. Inspired by pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry efforts to describe hydrophobic drugs, this presentation highlights a computational strategy to predict and guide the synthesis of polymers.
Engineers have been solving problems, overcoming threats, and driving progress for over a millennium but with an inward focus on the connection between engineering and technology. To solve today’s challenges, engineers must partner with experts in all disciplines to build human-centric, culturally appropriate, engaged solutions to societal problems. This is a call to action to encourage Penn State engineers to take a leadership role within the engineering community so that, in partnership with all disciplines, humanity can emerge from today’s chaos stronger and prepared for the next 1000 years.
The Millennium Science Complex maintenance week is July 30 - August 3. Café will resume August 7.
In situ analysis of bacterial response to various environmental stressors is fundamentally important in fields ranging from life sciences to generation of sustainable energy using microbial fuels. Being scalable, electronic/electrochemical sensing can enable label-free analysis of bacterial behavior to stress, in situ. In this talk, I will discuss how the response of bacterial cells to stress (osmotic and heat stress as examples) can be monitored using time-dependent impedance spectroscopy, highlight some of the unanswered questions, and how collaboration can hopefully provide new insights.
While radiocarbon (14C) measurement is usually associated with archaeological or paleontological chronology building, the technique has creative applications in astrophysics, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, hydrology, forensics, art history, aerosol and hydrocarbon research, biofuels, soils science, drug enforcement, wildlife conservation, and more. Penn State’s AMS 14C laboratory gives researchers access to high-precision AMS 14C measurements and interdisciplinary collaboration. This talk will give a sense of the varied and unexpected uses of AMS 14C that may surprise you.
Strategic planning has paved the way for Penn State's ascension among the ranks of the world’s great research universities. Since the 1980s, Penn State has engaged in strategic planning to strengthen its ability to make careful, informed choices, and to allocate resources based on evidence, judgment, and long-term priorities. In 2016, Penn State published its five-year strategic plan, titled “Our Commitment to Impact,” and plan implementation is underway across the university. In this presentation, Provost Jones will share details about the plan implementation process and some recently funded initiatives that reveal how real-world activities support Penn State’s strategic priorities. Also covered: best practices in strategic planning, as well as pitfalls to avoid; how engagement, collaboration, and innovation by researchers and others university-wide are driving meaningful change; and some key takeaways Dr. Jones has gleaned from his work in higher education leadership.
Modern smart-phones come equipped with sophisticated optics that can be used to record scientific phenomena. This talk provides an overview of how to extract scientific data from images recorded using smart-phone cameras and other sophisticated imaging devices. Applications including object shape/surface-topography analyses, understanding complex material phenomena, and using smart phones as visual aids will be discussed.
Dielectrics are a broad class of materials that do not have significant electronic or ionic conduction. They are critical in many applications that require high voltage or controlled electromagnetic wave propagation. The fundamental properties of dielectric materials will be discussed along with example applications in hybrid electric vehicles and magnetic resonance imaging.
There will be no Café on 7/3 – we’ll see you on 7/10.
Semipermeable membranes are used throughout the downstream purification of all biotherapeutics, e.g., monoclonal antibodies which have current sales in excess of $100 billion / year. This talk will provide a short overview of the key applications of membrane systems in bioprocessing with a specific focus on the use of membrane filtration for the removal of contaminating viruses. The ability of these membranes to provide highly selective separations is determined by their nanoscale pore structure – recent results from our laboratory using confocal microscopy and SEM provide new insights into the complex virus capture behavior of these porous membranes.
This talk shares a vision for sustainability at PSU, it explains what sustainability is in terms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and how we plan to achieve them through collaborations across disciplines, colleges and campuses. We invite collaboration on experiential learning, transdisciplinary sustainability solutions, and creating "living labs" at the Sustainability Experience Center.
Due to a situation outside of our control the Millennium Café is cancelled for 6/19. We’ll see you on 6/26 for more interdisciplinary goodness.
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