NCMN in the national news, June 2020

Xiao Cheng Zeng was elected to the Chemistry Division of the European Academy of Sciences, an independent organization of the most distinguished scholars and engineers who are at the forefront of research and development of advanced technologies. (7/6/20)

Top Awards from Public Sponsors, May 2020

These are awards from public entities, including all arts and humanities grants of $10,000 or more and all other grants of $200,000 or more between March 16 and April 15, 2020, as reported through NUgrant. NCMN recipients:

• David Berkowitz (and colleagues M. Wilson, W. Nui); CHEM; $603,881; National Science Foundation; Engineering Enzymes for New Stereoselective and Stereodynamic Processes: An Integrated Chemistry-Bioengineering-X-Ray Crystallography-Molecular Dynamics Approach
• Dennis Alexander, Christos Argyropoulos (and colleagues C. Zuhlke, G. Gogos, N. Ianno, J.Shield); ECE; $385,240; Department of Defense-Office of Naval Research-Defense University Research Instrumentation Program; Femtosecond Streak Camera for Studying the Role of Laser Induced Plasmas in Ultrafast Light-Matter Interactions
• Ozan Ciftci (and colleagues Y. Menese Gonzalez, R. Moreau, D. Rose); FDST; $468,000; USDA-NIFA; An Innovative Approach to Increasing Bioavailability of Curcumin using Nanoporous Starch Bioaerogels

U.S.-Issued Patents, April-June 2020

The following U.S.-issued patents were granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020, as reported by NUtech Ventures:

• Christopher Exstrom (and colleagues J. Huang, B. Mao); Patent 10,680,125; Synthesis of Air Stable Pyrite Nanocrystals for Photovoltaic Application

NCMN in the national news, June 2020

David Berkowtiz was featured in Chemistry World’s “Chemists Amid Coronavirus” series on June 16. He recently began his appointment as director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Chemistry. He also continues to conduct research at Nebraska. (7/2/20)

Hage team helping develop COVID-19 antibody test

David Hage and his graduate students are part of a nationwide team, led by ni2o Inc., that is repurposing patented technologies to develop and manufacture a fast-acting COVID-19 antibody test. Hage’s team is using his own previously patented research (a support material that helps compounds rapidly bind together, along with a method for using the material in clinical testing) to develop a faster antibody test that is easy to use in a clinical setting. Right now they are just focusing on identifying any COVID-19 antibodies, but hope to progress to where the test can identify different types of antibodies. Hage’s progress was featured on KETV Omaha. (6/22/20)