Dynamics of Electronically Excited States - Biomolecules in the Gas Phase

在这个由化学系实验物理化学项目资助的奖项中，匹兹堡大学的David W.Pratt教授和他的研究生和本科生将对气相生物分子进行高分辨率光谱测量。他的团队将研究各种“推-拉”分子，绿色荧光蛋白的发色团，短肽和核酸序列，以及以上的水团。将使用的一些具体技术包括斯塔克光谱和啁啾脉冲傅里叶变换微波光谱。这些研究的最终目的是为了更深入地了解典型生物分子物种的光物理，并为对生物分子问题感兴趣的理论化学家提供准确的数据。除了被支持的研究的更广泛的科学影响外，普拉特教授继续为他的本科生和研究生提供出色的科学培训，他积极参与为非科学专业本科生开发课程材料，他正与匹兹堡大学学习与研究发展中心、教育学院和匹兹堡公共教育委员会合作，为中学科学教师提供专业发展机会。

In this award, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. David W. Pratt of the University of Pittsburgh and his graduate and undergraduate research students will conduct high resolution spectroscopic measurements of gas phase biomolecules. His group will look at a variety of "push-pull" molecules, the chromophore of green fluorescent protein, short peptide and nucleic acid sequences, and water clusters of the above. Some of the specific techniques to be used include Stark spectroscopy and chirped-pulse Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. The ultimate goals of these studies are to gain a deeper understanding of the photophysics of prototypical biomolecular species and to provide accurate data for theoretical chemists interested in biomolecular problems. Besides the broader scientific impacts of the research being supported, Prof. Pratt continues to provide excellent scientific training to his undergraduate and graduate research students, and he is actively involved in developing curricular materials for undergraduates not majoring in the sciences and he is working with the University of Pittsburgh's Learning & Research Development Center, the School of Education and the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education to provide professional development opportunities for middle school science teachers.