MSI member Carl Brozek was named a 2022 Cottrell Scholar for his lab’s research in water purification and his practical teaching methods. See more at https://around.uoregon.edu/content/chemistry-prof-honored-research-innovation-teaching
The UO National Research Traineeship graduate training program has a new website, https://blogs.uoregon.edu/uonrt/. The NRT program provides graduate student support and training aimed at creating a diverse and collaborative environment to tackle pressing problems in biological and environmental sensing in complex media as well as multimodal imaging. Collaboration across academic disciplines and with non-academic partners empowers students to build a strong foundation to support future careers working in diverse team-based environments that bridge the gaps between academia, industry or other agencies, and entrepreneurship.
Using high-resolution imaging and 3D computer modeling, a University of Oregon research team has found that the branching arms of neurons weave through space in a way that balances their need to connect to other neurons with the costs of doing so. “Around the O” March 2, 2021 http://bit.ly/30cG0Ql
6/15/2020
The Materials Science Institute (MSI) strives to be a welcoming place to all people. We categorically condemn systematic, institutionalized racism and the acts of state violence which have targeted the people of color in our community and in communities throughout this nation; violence which serves only to perpetuate existing racial injustice. Black lives matter.
MSI echoes the recent statement by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS: https://www.sacnas.org/2020/06/08/sacnas-stands-in-solidarity-with-black-communities-condemns-racial-injustice/) in our commitment and dedication to advancing populations who have historically been excluded or marginalized in STEM fields: We join their call to support Black communities and address racial injustice through our respective platforms. Each one of us, as an ally to Black communities everywhere, has a continual duty to reflect on our institutions and demand accountability for their actions, dismantle those things which serve to oppress anyone based on their race, gender identity, creed, sex, ability, age, citizenship or sexual orientation, and reform them to be inclusive. We encourage the rest of the STEM community to join us in reflecting and reforming the ways in which we have inadvertently held up the systematic barriers which have barred people of color from full participation in the scientific community. This includes categorically rejecting the hateful and hurtful opinions expressed in a recently published and quickly retracted article in Angew. Chem. by a chemistry professor at Brock University.
We also recognize that the recent murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, coupled with the uneven impact of COVID-19, which has fallen particularly hard on Black, Latinx and Native communities, are sources of severe and legitimate additional stress to many people. Please be patient with both yourself and others as we engage in the self-care needed to handle the current harsh reality as well as the action we will take in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
Sincerely,
Darren Johnson
Director, Materials Science Institute
Bradshaw and Holzapfel Research Professor in Transformational Science and Mathematics
US Pat No 10315185 was issued to Professor Darren Johnson, Kara Nell & @PNNLab for a functionalized solid support surface to remove metals from water. This can help recover rare earth elements and create clean water. http://ow.ly/2WCI50uK6Jm
US Pat No 9964531 was issued to Prof. Michael Haley, Prof. Darren Johnson, Dr. Jeffrey Engle & Dr. Calden Carroll for compounds that bind & help to detect target molecules. This system is reusable detection of possible toxic materials in the environment. http://ow.ly/VUiU50uEs9I
US Pat No 9960008 was issued to Prof. Benjamin McMorran and Research Associate Tyler Harvey for a device to measure electron orbital angular momentum states. This allows for a wholly new type of electron spectroscopy.http://ow.ly/UM4g50uEso5
Their new form of measurement may help doctors find clues about our health related to aging. http://bit.ly/2KCULFk
In her research, Prof. Amanda Cook is working to refine the production of chemicals like acrylate that are used in tens of thousands of products, to make them more sustainable. http://bit.ly/2ufK425
With a couple of chemical tweaks, University of Oregon chemists have taken a step forward in efforts to harness organic molecules as a cheaper alternative to traditional silicon-based conductors in digital storage devices. http://bit.ly/2SbolU2
“New Microscope Show the Quantum World in Crazy Detail” in Wired Magazine highlights the work of Prof. Benjamin McMorran and Ph.D. student Fehmi Yasin. https://www.wired.com/story/new-microscope-shows-the-quantum-world-in-crazy-detail/
Researchers interested in creating a community of UO scientists using machine learning as an analysis tool will be meeting September 20th from 12:30 to 4 pm in the EMU ballroom on Thursday, Sept. 20th. Short talks and conversation will explore specific topics. See https://pages.uoregon.edu/raghu/machine_learning_symposium_2018.html for more information. Registration if free. Please sign up by September 10th at this link.