Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

John Herbert: Not All Science is Going to Take Us to the Moon – And That’s Okay

by

John Herbert, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, discusses his work in computational molecular quantum mechanics and quantum chemistry with host David Staley. Herbert describes machine learning, cost-effective training data for AI models and the need for low-cost computational methods, which he calls “computing for the proletariat”. Professor Herbert also shares his insights on the culture of academic science, advocating for a reevaluation of the current “great man approach” towards research and innovation.

VoE – John HerbertDownload

Dehua Pei: How Do Large Molecules Pass Through Cell Membranes?

by

Dehua Pei, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, discusses his groundbreaking research on how biomolecules, particularly large proteins, traverse cell membranes. This fundamental question has significant implications for drug discovery. His team has identified a new mechanism they call vesicle budding and collapse (VBC) and is exploring its potential to deliver therapeutic agents for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Pei and host David Staley discuss the importance of combining curiosity-driven research with societal needs, aiming to solve “undruggable” diseases (those lacking drug treatments) and improve sustainable agriculture. He also describes his journey from doing fundamental research to founding four biotech companies.

VoE – Dehua PeiDownload

Christo Sevov: Pushing the Limits of Catalysis

by

Dr. Christo Sevov, Associate Professor in the The Ohio State University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, shares his research interests. Dr. Sevov explains the significance of catalysis, particularly homogeneous catalysis, and how it accelerates chemical reactions by using abundant, affordable metals like nickel and copper. He describes his research in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), its inherent instability, and the strategies his lab uses to make it more robust. Dr. Sevov outlines his lab’s contributions to pharmaceuticals, such as developing new tools for drug synthesis that reduce waste.

VoE_Cristo-Sevov-podcastDownload

Robert Baker: From Laser Tag to Laser Lab

by

Voices 200th episode!

Dr. Robert Baker, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has had a life-long fascination with light, culminating in his work co-creating the National Science Foundation-Ohio State University NeXUS Laboratory. Baker’s current research focuses on electron dynamics and catalytic energy conversion. The NeXUS Laboratory houses a groundbreaking laser system capable of taking attosecond (10-18) measurements. “Voices” host David Staley and Baker tour the NeXUS lab, exploring its three main beamlines and discussing the facility’s role in advancing fields such as quantum information processing and material science. Dr. Baker describes the collaborative nature of the facility, involving graduate students, postdocs, and researchers from around the world.

VoE_Robert-Baker-2024Download

Professor Shiyu Zhang: “I Love Making New Molecules”

by

Shiyu Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, researches sustainability within chemistry, specifically the production of sustainable batteries made from organic material. He talks with host David Staley about his love for making new molecules, the applications of machine learning in his laboratory, and how chemistry is “kind of like cooking”.

VoE – Shiyu ZhangDownload

Kotaro Nakanishi: How Errors In Protein Formation Lead To Diseases

by

Kotaro Nakanishi, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, studies Argonaute proteins and how they join with microRNA to form complexes in cells. Errors in this process can lead to many different types of diseases, including cancer and autism.

Heather Allen and Researching the Underpinnings of Science

by

Heather Allen, Dow Professor and Ohio State Distinguished Scholar in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, researches molecular organization, ion pairing, and hydration at aqueous interfaces. She describes her work as taking the very basic units of life and asking, “How do they respond to an electric field or slight changes in pH and environment?”

When Proteins Go Wrong: Amanda Hummon’s Cancer Research

by

Amanda Hummon, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, researches the intersection of analytical chemistry and chemical biology with a focus on cancer biology, especially its origins and how different drugs can impact tumor growth. Join Dr. Hummon for her discussion with David Staley on this week’s Voices of Excellence.

VoE – Amanda HummonDownload

One Cool CATalyst: Robert Baker Works to Convert CO2 to a Fuel

by

L. Robert Baker is an Assistant Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences. He is a recipient of a US Department of Energy Early Career Award and researches ways to make a fuel from CO2.

One-Cool-CATalyst_-Robert-Baker-Works-to-Convert-CO2-to-a-Fuel_otter_aiDownload

Hannah Shafaat Looks Deep into the Oceans and Gets Answers

by

Professor of Chemistry Hannah Shafaat knows what lurks way below the ocean’s surface and she’ll talk about the research that garnered her a Department of Energy Early Career Award.

Hannah-Shafaat-Looks-Deep-into-the-Oceans-and-Gets-Answers_otter_aiDownload

Abraham Badu Looks for Affordable Diagnostic Tools

by

Professor Abraham Badu-Tawiah is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Ohio State University where he studies photochemistry in droplets and disease diagnosis. He’s a recipient of an Early Career Award from the Department of Energy, an Eli Lilly Young Investigator Award in Analytical Chemistry, and most recently an American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Arthur F. Findeis Award for Achievements by a Young Analytical Scientist.

Abraham Badu Looks for Affordable Diagnostic Tools_otter_aiDownload