Engineered nanomaterials demonstrate novel physical and chemical behaviors and are used in fields ranging from chemical sensing to medical therapeutics to energy conversion. While engineered nanomaterials have great potential to benefit society in these and other applications, the increasing amount of nanomaterial waste in the environment requires that we understand the interactions between engineered nanomaterials and biological systems and the broader environmental consequences of these interactions. To this end, we combine chemical and biological perspectives to probe the interactions of engineered nanomaterials with biological systems of varying levels of complexity (e.g. artificial lipid bilayers, unicellular organisms, and multicellular organisms). Our goal is to understand these interactions at the molecular level in order to predict and control the impact of engineered nanomaterials on the environment.
At the conclusion of my presentation, I’ll share my experiences with the graduate school application process and the life of a chemistry graduate student at the University of Minnesota.