Postdoctoral Fellowship: MPS-Ascend: Photoactive Metal-organic Nanocages for Sequestration and Degradation of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Karla Rosalia Sanchez Lievanos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。该奖学金授予Sanchez Lievanos博士，支持在一位赞助科学家的指导下开展的题为“MPS-Ascend：光活性金属--用于封存和降解聚-和全氟烷基物质的有机纳米笼”的研究项目。该奖学金的主办机构是纽约州立大学布法罗分校，赞助科学家是戴安娜·S·阿加博士。这项建议旨在利用无机化学设计原理来产生一种安全的原型技术，以修复由普遍存在的和持久的多氟烷基物质(PFAS)造成的水污染。建议的工作将开发出具有潜在化学亲和力和催化活性的多孔性和光活性的分子纳米笼，用于选择性隔离和光降解全氟辛烷磺酸。这项工作将集中于研究纳米笼与全氟辛烷磺酸之间的结合作用，评估纳米笼为全氟辛烷磺酸分解产生活性氧物种的光诱导反应性，开发光降解机制，并对选定的纳米笼进行生态毒理学研究，作为潜在扩大安全设计战略的一部分。这项工作的成功实施可能会使功能材料的开发能够可靠和安全地从水中去除PFAS。PI打算与布法罗公立学校系统建立合作伙伴关系，以开发有效的工具来提高表现不佳的社区学校的教育效率。国际保护协会将加入水牛城尼亚加拉保水员组织，为代表不足的少数群体提供关于水质问题和补救工作的研讨会。PI还将与国际青年化学家网络合作，以增加全球对水修复技术的开发和了解的参与。这一奖项反映了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。

Karla Rosalia Sanchez Lievanos 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. Sanchez Lievanos supports the research project entitled “MPS-Ascend: Photoactive Metal-organic Nanocages for Sequestration and Degradation of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances” under the mentorship of a sponsoring scientist. The host institution for the fellowship is the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the sponsoring scientist is Dr. Diana S. Aga. This proposal aims to utilize inorganic chemistry design principles to generate a safe prototype technology to remediate water pollution caused by ubiquitous and persistent poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The proposed work will develop robust porous and photoactive molecular nanocages with potential chemical affinity and catalytic activity for selective sequestration and photo-degradation of PFAS. The work will focus on studying the binding interactions between the nanocages and PFAS, evaluating the photo-induced reactivity of the nanocages to generate reactive oxygen species for PFAS decomposition, developing a mechanism of photo-degradation, and performing ecotoxicology studies on selected nanocages as part of a safe-by-design strategy for potential scale-up. Successful implementation of this work may allow for the development of functional materials that reliably and safely remove PFAS from water.The PI intends to establish a partnership with the Buffalo Public School system to develop efficient tools to improve educational efficiency in underperforming Community Schools. The PI will join the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper organization to offer seminars to underrepresented minority groups on water quality issues and remediation efforts. The PI will also partner with the International Younger Chemist Network to increase global participation in developing and understanding water remediation technologies.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.