Postdoctoral Fellowship: MPS-Ascend: Quantifying Accelerated Reaction Kinetics in Microdroplets with pH-Jump and Mass Spectrometry: From Small Molecules to Proteins and Beyond

Thien T. Khuu被授予NSF数学和物理科学提升博士后研究奖学金（NSF MPS-Ascend），以开展与扩大STEM中代表性不足的群体参与相关的研究和活动计划。Khuu博士的研究项目名为“MPS-Ascend：用pH-Jump和质谱法定量微滴中的加速反应动力学：从小分子到蛋白质及其他”，在一位赞助科学家的指导下。该奖学金的主办机构是南加州大学（University of Southern California），赞助科学家是Jahan M. Dawlaty博士。本提案旨在研究微滴中的加速化学反应，其中观察到的反应发生速度明显快于溶液。该提案将使用光酸和绿色荧光蛋白作为模型系统，使用超快荧光光谱和互补质谱技术测量微滴中质子转移反应的速率。如果成功，这项研究可以回答关于微滴中生物系统加速反应动力学的基本问题，并可以为未来的学术研究和工业应用开发新技术。PI打算积极参与奇卡诺人/西班牙裔和美国原住民科学促进协会（SACNAS），以扩大洛杉矶地区当地奇卡诺人/西班牙裔和美国原住民学生在科学教育和研究方面的参与。计划的活动包括每月在地方初中和高中进行科学演示、指导和辅导学生、为课外活动组织科学讲习班、为扩大SACNAS@USC社区大学研究奖学金计划筹集资金。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Thien T. Khuu is awarded an NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (NSF MPS-Ascend) to conduct a program of research and activities related to broaden participation by groups underrepresented in STEM. This fellowship to Dr. Khuu supports the research project entitled “MPS-Ascend: Quantifying Accelerated Reaction Kinetics in Microdroplets with pH-Jump and Mass Spectrometry: From Small Molecules to Proteins and Beyond” under the mentorship of a sponsoring scientist. The host institution for the fellowship is the University of Southern California, and the sponsoring scientist is Dr. Jahan M. Dawlaty. This proposal intends to study accelerated chemical reactions in microdroplets where the reactions are observed to occur significantly faster than in the solution phase. The proposal will use photoacids and green fluorescent protein as model systems to measure the rate of proton transfer reactions in microdroplets using ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy and complementary mass spectrometry techniques. If successful, the proposed research could answer fundamental questions on the accelerated reaction kinetics of biological systems in microdroplets and could develop new technologies for future academic research as well as for industrial applications. The PI intends to be actively involved with the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) to broaden participation of local Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans students in the Los Angeles area in science education and research. The proposed activities include monthly science demos at local middle and high schools, mentoring and tutoring of students, organizing science workshops for extracurricular programs, and fundraising for expanding the SACNAS@USC Community College Research Fellowship Program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.