Researchers are working to leverage bacteria and nanomaterials to mimic photosynthesis and produce clean-burning hydrogen fuel.

Kara Bren, the Richard S. Eisenberg Professor in Chemistry, and Todd Krauss, a professor of chemistry, demonstrate in PNAS that the bacteria Shewanella oneidensis offer an effectively free, yet efficient, way to provide electrons to their artificial photosynthesis system.

Their goal is to mimic the natural process of photosynthesis using bacteria to deliver electrons to a nanocrystal semiconductor photocatalyst.

Bren and Krauss are working with Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor of biology, and Andrew White, an associate professor of chemical engineering, to create a “living bio-nano system” to produce solar hydrogen. They’ve received a nearly $2 million, three-year grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue this goal.

By leveraging the unique properties of both microorganisms and nanomaterials, the project has the potential to replace current approaches that derive hydrogen from fossil fuels, revolutionizing the way hydrogen fuel is produced and unlocking a powerful source of renewable energy.

“Hydrogen is definitely a fuel of high interest for the DOE right now,” says Bren, who leads the team. “If we can figure out a way to efficiently extract hydrogen from water, this could lead to an incredible amount of growth in clean energy.”

Learn more about their efforts to produce this “ideal fuel.”

(Photo by Daniel Jensen on Unsplash)

Quality of life, health, and longevity are being increasingly tied to someone’s zip code rather than their genetic code. Cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and even our ability to fight infection are linked to the myriad of chemicals we are exposed to, often unwittingly, over the course of our lives.

The University of Rochester’s leadership in the field of environmental medicine (which stretches back to toxicology research programs developed under the Manhattan Project) along with sustained funding over the decades led to the creation of the new Institute for Human Health and the Environment.

Paige Lawrence, the Wright Family Research Professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine, is the founding director of the institute. “Genetics only explains 10 to 15 percent of human health, which leaves the rest to the environment,” she says. “If we really want to have an impact on health, environmental influences need to be front and center.”

The new Institute will help power a team of neurologists, neuroscientists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and researchers at Rochester who are examining the impact of environmental chemical exposure on the brain. One disease in particular stands out: Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in the world, and a growing number of scientists are linking the disease’s rise to air pollution, pesticides, and a ubiquitous chemical pollutant.

Read more about the link between Parkinson’s disease and air pollution.

Combing through literature on gender bias among American voters, Morgan Gillespie, a political science major graduating this weekend, found a curious gap. While many researchers agreed that a candidate’s gender influences prospective voters—the nagging question of how and in which ways had not been answered satisfactorily. Moreover, she found little scholarship that sought to measure voters’ perceptions of ideological differences between men and women seeking public office.

With help from her honors thesis advisor Scott Abramson, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science, she devised and conducted an experiment that examines the connection between a politician’s gender and voters’ perceptions of that politician’s policy preferences.

Gillespie’s findings are preliminary but promising—and this summer, she and Abramson will widen the study and prepare a paper for submission to a top peer-reviewed journal. As her advisor puts it, Gillespie has produced “a kick-ass honors thesis” that will serve as “a pilot for a more comprehensive experiment based on a nationally representative sample.”

Why Gillespie’s initial discoveries are so striking.

Monday, May 15, noon
Helen Wood Hall, Room 1W-501
“Methods for Microglia Image Analysis”
Advisor: Dr. Matthew McCall

Monday, May 15, noon–1:30 p.m.
School of Medicine and Dentistry, Louise Slaughter Conference Room 1-9555

Graduate students and postdocs are invited to learn about NIH fellowships during this free event as part of myHub, a centralized home of professional development resources. Register here.

Tuesday, May 16, 2–3 p.m. EDT
Virtual

This workshop will give an overview of the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing and guide you through the steps to effectively create a Data Management and Sharing Plan. From data management strategies to selecting the right repository, experts will provide the tools and guidance you need to succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to ensure your research meets the NIH’s high standards for data sharing. Register to receive a Zoom link.

Tuesday, May 16, 4–5 p.m.
UR Medicine Memory Care Program, Conference Rooms 552/553

Interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and current research opportunities? Join Anton Porsteinsson, director of the University of Rochester Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Research, and Education Program (AD-CARE), for an informative in-person presentation about Alzheimer’s disease, research developments, and prevention research opportunities. Registration is required as space is limited. Masks are required. To RSVP, please call the AD-CARE program at (585) 602-5200 or email ADCARE@URMC.Rochester.edu.

Apply by July 25

Graduate students in the fields of biomedical engineering, brain and cognitive sciences, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, neuroscience, or optics can apply for Rochester’s PhD Training Program on Virtual and Augmented Reality. The program is looking for PhD candidates who desire cross-training experience to pair with their existing studies. The application deadline for paid fellowships is July 25. Get the details and apply.