October 21, 2021
ASU Regents Professor receives prestigious award for excellence in aerosol research, technology
Regents Professor Peter Buseck is the 2021 recipient of the David Sinclair Award from the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR), the leading international scientific research organization for the study of aerosols, with emphasis on atmospheric chemistry. This significant honor recognizes the sustained excellence of an active, established scientist who has made a lasting impact in aerosol research and technology throughout their career.
October 14, 2021
Garbage into gold: Circular economy research makes plastic more sustainable
Developing a viable plan for a circular plastics economy is the key focus of a National Science Foundation Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation, or EFRI, project Long is leading with an interdisciplinary team of researchers.
October 14, 2021
New theories and materials aid the transition to clean energy
In a new study, Gary Moore and his research group explore different approaches to catalysis, a chemical process that plays an essential role in biological reactions, as well as many industrial applications.
October 14, 2021
Improvements in microscopy home in on biology's elusive details
Researchers at Arizona State University's Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and School of Molecular Sciences, as part of a multi-institutional research collaboration, are carrying the field of microscopy a step further, refining a technique known as cryogenic electron microscopy, or cryo-EM.
October 12, 2021
Lincoln Scholar Miriam Goras exemplifies this commitment while studying abroad in Germany with the department of molecular neurobiology at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, conducting research on sphingomyelin synthase inhibitors and their ability to induce controlled autophagy in vitro.
October 6, 2021
Celebrating ASU history: Carleton Moore, meteorites and moon rocks
In recognition of Moore’s many notable achievements, Asteroid 5046 Carletonmoore was named in his honor in 1981. In 2021, a new mineral found in a large, rare meteorite was named “carletonmooreite,” also in recognition of Moore’s importance to meteorite research throughout his career.
October 6, 2021
Included in the collection is a paper published by scientists from Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences and the Biodesign Institute in Nature Communications that helps clarify the contributions to an ion channel’s temperature-dependent activation. This in turn should aid in the development of new types of nonaddictive pain therapies.
September 29, 2021
The 'FORCE' is with ASU, thanks to a $13.7M NSF grant
The National Science Foundation has just announced the award of $13.7 million to Arizona State University to build a one-of-a-kind high-pressure research facility, the FORCE (Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment).
September 29, 2021
How low did it go? Study seeks to settle debate about oxygen in Earth's early atmosphere
A team of scientists, led by former Arizona State University doctoral student Aleisha Johnson, has been working to unravel the mystery of how the stage was set for the Great Oxidation Event.
September 28, 2021
ASU President's Professor Ariel Anbar elected as an AGU fellow
Arizona State University Professor Ariel Anbar has been elected as an American Geophysical Union (AGU) fellow. He joins 59 other individuals in the 2021 Class of Fellows.
September 24, 2021
School of Molecular Sciences graduate student Gafaru Adam dies in accident
Gafaru Adam, who arrived from Ghana at the end of July to begin a PhD in biochemistry in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University, died in a tragic accident off campus on Sept. 13.
September 24, 2021
In memoriam: Regents Professor George 'Bob' Pettit
It is with sadness that the ASU School of Molecular Sciences announces the death of Regents Professor George “Bob” Pettit, who died on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Pettit was a giant in the field of natural products and anti-cancer research, holding nearly 70 patents on anti-cancer compounds.
September 14, 2021
Study explores a unique material with tunable properties
In a new study, Scott Sayres and Jacob Garcia, use mass spectroscopy and ultrafast laser pulses to interrogate chromium oxides in unprecedented detail.
September 14, 2021
Alexandra Navrotsky increases ASU donation to $10M to help ensure future of materials science
In addition to the leadership and internationally recognized scholarship that Alex brings to ASU, she has made a personal $10 million investment which will ensure the long-term growth of materials science in this area at ASU.
September 8, 2021
Inspired by photosynthesis, scientists double reaction quantum efficiency
Regents Professors Tom Moore and Ana Moore and their groups have introduced a bioinspired catalyst that lengthens the productive state of some chemical reactions.
September 8, 2021
Computational protein design utilizes unnatural amino acids
Assistant Professor Jeremy Mills and his group have just published their research in the journal Biochemistry and present a novel solution to this problem.
September 7, 2021
Professor's work on polymers recognized through NSF grant and American Chemical Society Award
To tackle this and other challenges, Arizona State University's Tim Long, brings together research in chemistry, chemical engineering, health sciences and mechanical engineering.
September 3, 2021
SMS alum receives prestigious NIH early-career award
Arizona State University alumnus Chris Gisriel, currently a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Chemistry at Yale University, was recently awarded a Pathway to Independence Award by the National Institutes of Health.
September 3, 2021
New research advances clean energy solutions
Gary Moore, a researcher at Arizona State University's Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, thinks chemistry will play a vital role in the development of clean solutions to the world’s mounting energy dilemma.
August 19, 2021
ASU researchers develop artificial enzyme to harness light for renewable energy systems
Using an artificial enzyme embedded in a transparent, conductive material, researchers at Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences report in Catalysts their success in developing a highly efficient system to convert light energy into chemical energy.
July 28, 2021
Chloe Truong and Po-Lin Chiu of ASU's School of Molecular Sciences and The Biodesign Institute, along with Mayo Clinic biochemically characterize the protein-protein interactions of a huge DNA repair enzyme, DNA polymerase zeta, which is responsible for repair across damaged DNA, known as DNA translesion synthesis (TLS).
July 23, 2021
ASU student first author on dynamic water-protein interactions research article
ASU online School of Molecular Sciences alumna Tawny Fajardo and School of Molecular Sciences Assistant Professor Matthias Heyden, through computer simulations of a small peptide, studied the underlying components of the potential energy and entropy that determine the peptide’s structural and dynamical properties.
July 21, 2021
Seed grants bring ASU, Mayo Clinic researchers together to advance patient care
Two researchers are trying to find a way to identify biomarkers for specific diseases by studying the differences between patients who lose their sense of smell from either infectious diseases or neurodegenerative ones. The project is one of seven pilot studies that will be explored through the 2021 Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University seed grant program.
July 16, 2021
ASU researchers collaborate to develop innovative manufacturing for modern industries
Alternative diluents that are more environmentally friendly and can be used in manufacturing are a focus of research in Timothy Long’s laboratory in Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences.
July 15, 2021
New study targets molecular culprit of liver disease
In a new study, the research team, under the directorship of co-author Petra Fromme, at Arizona State University's Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and colleagues from the Biodesign Center for Innovations in Medicine, ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences and researchers at Mayo Clinic use nuclear magnetic resonance technology to probe a protein known as G0S2. By understanding the molecular structure in minute detail, researchers hope to develop drugs capable of targeting this protein and alleviating symptoms of NAFLD, or perhaps preventing the disease altogether.
July 15, 2021
SMS announces Tijana Rajh as new director
Tijana Rajh has been announced as the new director of Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences. She comes to ASU from a 25-year career at Argonne National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center of the U.S. Department of Energy.
June 30, 2021
Arizona State University researchers Tushar Modi and Banu Ozkan of the Department of Physics, and Wade Van Horn and Mubark Mebrat, both of the School of Molecular Sciences, along with colleagues from other institutions, report on a breakthrough that improves understanding of the relationship between protein structure, dynamics and function.
June 25, 2021
ASU researchers aim to expand possibilities for restoring human health
Effective diagnostics, therapies and treatments for diseases and infections could increasingly involve reengineering the body’s internal biomechanisms at their most basic chemical and molecular foundations.
June 25, 2021
Earth's oldest photosynthetic organisms provide insight into clean energy solutions
ASU scientists, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Michigan, studied the reaction center from heliobacteria — the simplest, and most similar to the earliest photosynthetic reaction centers that first appeared on Earth over 3 billion years ago.
June 16, 2021
Congratulations to Ara Austin and Orenda Griffin on their recent promotions.
May 28, 2021
Inclusion, diversity focus of School of Molecular Sciences JEDI Grant Award
The College established JEDI seed grants to promote an environment of equity and inclusion. The School of Molecular Sciences partners with the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Life Sciences on the award and the grant’s fulfillment.
May 28, 2021
Faculty promotions announced in the School of Molecular Sciences
Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences recognizes and congratulates its faculty member promotions, as announced by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These promotions will take effect in August of this year.
May 20, 2021
ASU professor Tim Steimle retires after fulfilling career of nearly four decades
Professor Timothy Steimle has enjoyed a productive career at Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences for nearly 40 years.
May 19, 2021
ASU alumnus Spencer Silver lived life as an inventor
ASU chemistry and biochemistry alumnus Spencer Silver died May 8 at age 80. Silver was a research organic and polymer chemist at the 3M corporation who invented the adhesive used in Post-it Notes.
May 17, 2021
American Chemical Society awards bridge program to ASU's School of Molecular Sciences
Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences is one of three institutions nationwide selected this year to join the American Chemical Society’s Bridge Program.
May 4, 2021
Graduates fueled by ASU Biodesign research experiences credit opportunity, mentor trust
SMS PhD graduate Swarup Dey was recently offered a position as a postdoctoral candidate at Harvard Medical School. “I want to solve real-world problems, and I see this field as a very apt way to make a difference in human life."
April 30, 2021
Clinical Assistant Professor Ara Austin receives outstanding educator award
Austin’s passion and skill for teaching and her tireless efforts were recognized by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, awarding her with this year’s Outstanding Lecturer/Clinical Professor Award.
April 22, 2021
Study paves the way for new photosensitive materials
In new research appearing in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Arizona State University Assistant Professor Scott Sayres and his research group describe their investigations into the molecular dynamics of titania clusters.
April 22, 2021
Beating detectors at their own game: How to catch a fast molecule in action
Arizona State University researcher Steve Pressé and co-authors report a new mathematical method to extract changes in biomolecular shapes that occur on timescales that exceed detector exposure times.
April 13, 2021
In memoriam: Associate Research Professional Paul Liddell
Arizona State University employs many unsung heroes, like Paul Liddell, who devote their lives and careers not only to research, but to helping others. Liddell, an associate research professional in the School of Molecular Sciences, died in late February.
April 12, 2021
Fromme's pioneering efforts in X-ray crystallography honored with prestigious Anfinsen Award
Arizona State University researcher Petra Fromme has received the 2021 Christian B. Anfinsen Award. The honor is bestowed by the Protein Society, the premier international association dedicated to supporting protein research.
March 22, 2021
Variances in critical protein may guide fate of those infected with SARS CoV-2
A new study by Karen Anderson, Abhishek Singharoy and their colleagues at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, may offer some tentative clues. Their research explores MHC-I, a critical protein component of the human adaptive immune system.
March 19, 2021
Austen Angell left legacy of exploration
Austen Angell, a world-renowned Regents Professor of chemistry who plumbed into the behaviors and physical properties of glass-forming liquids, died on March 12 after fighting cancer for the past 17 years.
March 17, 2021
ASU researcher Gary Moore exemplifies scientific leadership through energy research
SMS Associate Professor Gary Moore and his research team seek to understand and advance the science of molecular materials for applications in transducing solar energy.
March 11, 2021
Double-masking the right way
ASU aerosol expert Pierre Herckes provides advice on the practice of wearing two face masks simultaneously.
February 22, 2021
ASU academic advisers excel during pandemic
Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences academic advisers are excelling and helping a record number of students.
February 18, 2021
School of Molecular Sciences faculty bring attention to diversity, equity, inclusion in academia
School of Molecular Sciences assistant professors Laura Ackerman-Biegasiewicz and Kyle Biegasiewicz to look inward at their own spheres of influence and examine sources of injustice and inequity in academia.
February 15, 2021
Mineral 'carletonmooreite' named for founder of ASU Center for Meteorite Studies
A new mineral has been named for Arizona State University Emeritus Regents Professor Carleton Moore, the founding director of ASU’s Center for Meteorite Studies.
February 12, 2021
ASU researchers unraveling protein structure to understand and fight disease
Abhishek Singharoy, assistant professor with ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences, led the CryoFold team.
February 8, 2021
ASU alumna designing vaccines at Moderna
Ana Julia Narvaez, a 2003 biochemistry PhD graduate from the School of Molecular Sciences is designing vaccines at ModernaTx.