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

卡拉罗萨利亚桑切斯Lievanos被授予美国国家科学基金会数学和物理科学上升博士后研究奖学金（NSF MPS-Ascend）进行相关的研究和活动，以扩大在干代表性不足的群体的参与计划。Sanchez Lievanos博士的奖学金支持在赞助科学家的指导下进行的题为“MPS-Ascend：用于多氟烷基和全氟烷基物质螯合和降解的光活性金属有机纳米笼”的研究项目。该研究金的主办机构是布法罗的纽约州立大学，赞助科学家是Diana S.阿加。 该提案旨在利用无机化学设计原理生成安全的原型技术，以修复普遍存在的持久性聚和全氟烷基物质（PFAS）造成的水污染。本研究将开发具有潜在化学亲和性和催化活性的多孔性和光活性分子纳米笼，用于PFAS的选择性螯合和光降解。这项工作将侧重于研究纳米笼和PFAS之间的结合相互作用，评估纳米笼的光诱导反应性，以产生用于PFAS分解的活性氧，开发光降解机制，并对选定的纳米笼进行生态毒理学研究，作为潜在规模扩大的安全设计策略的一部分。这项工作的成功实施可以允许开发可靠且安全地从水中去除PFAS的功能材料。PI打算与布法罗公立学校系统建立伙伴关系，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。PI将加入布法罗尼亚加拉护水人组织，为代表性不足的少数群体提供关于水质问题和补救措施的研讨会。PI还将与国际青年化学家网络合作，以提高全球参与开发和理解水修复技术。该奖项反映了NSF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。

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.