The Analytical and Surface Chemistry (ASC) program of the Division of Chemistry will support the research program of Prof. Feimeng Zhou of California State University at Los Angeles, a Research Undergraduate Institution (RUI). Prof. Zhou and his students will combine scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to study redox-induced protein conformational changes in highly localized surface regions. They will utilize the high sensitivity of SPR and take advantage of the high spatial resolution provided by the microelectrode tip of the SECM to measure infinitesimal structural and conformational changes of surface-confined biomolecules. The group will fabricate microarray chips that could be used to analyze biologically important species with a high sample throughput. The study will provide an excellent training opportunity for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in an interdisciplinary field at the forefront of scientific research towards the development of advanced biosensors and analytical instrumentation.
