Wirth research group
front row: Eric Ross, Michael Legg, John Kirk, Scott Long, Takahira Tokimoto, Scott Cowell
(not shown: Ben Heitz, Barbara Mooney, Bongi Bishop)
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information on the students.
Our
group is researching the analytical chemistry of membrane proteins.
Membrane proteins represent a frontier area
of
multidisciplinary research that is vitally important. Membrane
proteins are
the targets of most pharmaceuticals, they are involved in
photosynthesis,
and they represent an opportunity for biomimetic design of
nanomaterials. The analytical techniques to separate and isolate
them, and to determine their
structures
and functions, are all in their infancy. We
are
combining chemistry, materials science, physics, and biology to create
new
analytical techniques for addressing these crucial needs.
Students in our group gain an understanding of an important and
interesting research area, acquire a wide range of modern skills,
develop the
ability to work across scientific disciplines, and learn about
real-world uses
for their innovations. The research is valuable for career paths
than
span many avenues of industry, academics, and government. Our
contacts in
industry and government are exceptionally strong.
One question many students ask is what sort of background does one need
in
chemistry, materials science, physics, or biology for this research. What a student needs is a solid academic
background in any one of these, natural curiosity and a desire and
ambition to
work hard on something important. We
are recruiting a diverse group of students to bring us diverse
expertise and viewpoints. If you don't
want to be pigeon-holed academically, if you want to have a spectrum of
interesting career options, and if you believe the world is your
oyster, this
might be the group for you.
Our research is funded by grants from the National Institutes of
Health, the
National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy.
Research projects Facilities and equipment Collaborators Former students
last updated: June, 2006