CAREER: Luminescent Lanthanide Probes for Biological Imaging of Metal Ions

化学系化学测量和成像项目的职业奖支持Valerie C.皮埃尔的明尼苏达大学化学系，双城开发和公布新的发光传感器的神经元中的碱离子的研究。该方法采用配位化学和镧系元素配合物的独特的生物物理性质作为预测设计策略中的I族离子的新传感器的开发中的组件，以及这些传感器在细胞成像中的应用。 最终目标是生产新的工具，使组织中的多种碱金属阳离子的同时和选择性的时空成像。这项工作通过研究其敏化发光的电子和几何要求推进了镧系元素化学领域，通过研究新的结合模式推进了分子识别领域。该计划涉及研究生和本科生，包括代表性不足的少数民族，在跨学科的研究和教育。教育活动是促进科学和研究的本科生，无论是从明尼苏达大学和附近的社区学院，在他们的职业生涯早期，同时培养他们的科学创造力，并通过创建一系列的研讨会灌输一个坚实的基础的研究方法。在学期中，一小群大二和大三本科化学专业的学生将被指导开发自己的研究项目，他们随后将在部门的研究小组中进行。在皮埃尔教授小组工作的学生预计将通过参加区域和国家会议向更广泛的科学界介绍他们的研究，并在广泛发行和受人尊敬的期刊上发表结果。

The CAREER Award by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program of the Chemistry Division supports research and educational activities of Professor Valerie C. Pierre of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities to develop and promulgate novel luminescent sensors for the study of alkali ions in neurons. The approach employs coordination chemistry and the unique photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes as components in a predictive design strategy in the development of new sensors for group I ions, and the application of these sensors in cellular imaging. The ultimate goal is to produce new tools enabling the simultaneous and selective spatio-temporal imaging of multiple alkali cations in tissues. This work advances the field of lanthanide chemistry by investigating the electronic and geometric requirements of their sensitized luminescence, and the field of molecular recognition by investigating novel binding modes. The program involves graduate and undergraduate students, including underrepresented minorities, in interdisciplinary research and education.The educational activities are to promote science and research to undergraduate students, both from University of Minnesota and nearby community colleges, early in their career while nurturing their scientific creativity and instilling a solid foundation of research methodology via the creation of a series of workshops. During the semester, a small group of sophomore and junior undergraduate chemistry majors will be mentored into developing their own research project which they will subsequently perform in research groups in the Department. Students working in the group of Professor Pierre are expected to present their research to the broader scientific community through participation in regional and national meetings, and to publish results in widely circulated and respected journals.