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)，以开展一项与扩大STEM中代表性不足群体的参与相关的研究和活动。Khuu博士的这一奖学金支持在一位赞助科学家的指导下进行的题为“MPS-Ascend：用pH-Jump和质谱学量化微滴中的加速反应动力学：从小分子到蛋白质及更多”的研究项目。该奖学金的主办机构是南加州大学，赞助科学家是贾汉·M·道拉蒂博士。这项建议旨在研究微滴中的加速化学反应，观察到这些反应比溶液相中发生的速度快得多。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仪技术来测量微滴中的质子转移反应速度。如果成功，拟议的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的技术。国际科学促进会打算积极参与奇卡诺人/拉美裔美国人和美洲原住民科学促进会(SACNAS)，以扩大洛杉矶地区当地奇卡诺人/拉美裔和美洲原住民学生对科学教育和研究的参与。建议的活动包括每月在当地初中和高中进行科学演示，指导和辅导学生，为课外计划组织科学研讨会，以及为扩大SACNAS@南加州大学社区学院研究奖学金计划筹集资金。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.