Smart Materials Programmed
to Operate in Living Systems
Wednesday, May 27 - Thursday, May 28, 2020


In a time when typical scientific meetings can't be held in person, this online conference aims to be a means to discuss the latest research across multidisciplinary fields, institutions, and time zones.
Join us from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day for exciting research presentations with the goal of learning new approaches, communicating the latest findings, and fostering new collaborations. Additionally, skill development workshops will be led by research communication experts to share the best approaches to transitioning this work for a broader audience.
No registration is required. All are welcome to drop in to attend any and all talks.
This conference will take place on Webex. Click here to download this program.
To join the conference, click here or enter meeting number 618 868 084.
Welcome
Rick Tankersley, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Automated designing of functional DNA nanorobots using MENDEL
Prof. Reza Zadegan
JSNN, North Carolina A&T State University
rzadegan[at]ncat.edu
Automated designing of functional DNA nanorobots using MENDEL
Jorge Eduardo Guerrero, Ph.D. Candidate
JSNN, North Carolina A&T State University
jeguerrero[at]aggies.ncat.edu
Recent Uses of Small-Angle X-ray Scattering in Probing Nucleic Acid Nanotechnology Structure and Function
Lewis Alex Rolband, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
lrolband[at]uncc.edu
Neutron scattering with contrast matching on nucleic acid aptamer/protein complexes allows for observation of structural rearrangements within each component of the complex individually
Prof. Joanna Krueger
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Joanna.Krueger[at]uncc.edu
Salt responsive behavior of polyelectrolyte micelles and gels
Prof. Yaroslava Yingling
North Carolina State University
yara_yingling[at]ncsu.edu
Resolving ssDNA structure using simulations, SAXS and machine learning
Thomas Oweida, Ph.D. Candidate
North Carolina State University
tjoweida[at]ncsu.edu
Keynote Talk: Molecular Design for Research and Therapeutics
Prof. Nikolay Dokholyan
Penn State University
nxd338[at]psu.edu
Lunch
Lesley Brown, Director of the Center for Research Excellence
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Investigation of light-matter interaction in Van der Waals heterostructures
Prof. Tetyana Ignatova
JSNN, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
t_ignato[at]uncg.edu
Study of Gene Delivery Systems Utilizing Functionalized Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Adeyinka Adesina, Ph.D. Candidate
JSNN, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
aoadesin[at]uncg.edu
Bacteria assisted self cleaning of graphene
Olubunmi Ayodele, Ph.D.
JSNN, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Smart Silica-Based Nanomaterials for Multimodal Treatment of Cancer
Prof. Juan Vivero-Escoto
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Juan.Vivero-Escoto[at]uncc.edu
Exosome Delivery of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles
Victoria Portnoy, Ph.D.
System Biosciences, Inc.
vportnoy[at]systembio.com
Lynn Roberson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Director of Communications
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Plasticity of telomerase RNA folding determined by SHAPE-Map
Prof. Kausik Chakrabarti
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
K.Chakrabarti[at]uncc.edu
Dynamic Nanostructures Made of Nucleic Acids
Seraphim Kozlov
Urbana High School, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Electron Microscopy in Biology
Damian Beasock, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
dbeasock[at]uncc.edu
10:00 AM
10:16 AM
10:36 AM
10:47 AM
10:57 AM
11:18 AM
11:38 AM
11:49 AM
12:20 PM
1:50 PM
2:32 PM
2:52 PM
3:02 PM
3:13 PM
3:34 PM
3:55 PM
4:32 PM
4:53 PM
4:59 PM
Computational and Structural Studies
Cellular Interactions and Delivery
Wednesday, May 27
Welcome
Nanoscale Science Program: The Past, The Present, and The Future
Prof. Bernadette Donovan-Merkert, Chair of Chemistry, Director of Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
bdonovan[at]uncc.edu
Identifying Altered Signaling Systems in Brain Disorders
Prof. Elizabeth Proctor
Penn State University
exp412[at]psu.edu
Glial Detection of Nucleic Acids: RIG-Ing the immune response
Prof. Brittany Johnson
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
mjohn398[at]uncc.edu
Lymphocyte 3D Amoeboid Motility is a Peristaltic Cytoplasm and Nucleus Propulsion Between Multiple Septin-Induced Cell Segments
Prof. Erdem Tabdanov
Penn State University
ekt5171[at]psu.edu
Chemical and structural modifications of nucleic acid nanoparticles for modulating an immune response
Justin Halman, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
jhalman[at]uncc.edu
Immune stimulation by functionalized RNA nanorings
Yelixza Avila, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
yavila[at]uncc.edu
Lunch
Immune mediated adverse reactions to nanotechnology formulated drugs
Marina Dobrovolskaia, Ph.D.
Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, NIH/NCI
marina[at]mail.nih.gov
Smart Polymers for Biomedical Applications
Prof. Darlene Taylor
North Carolina Central University
dtaylor[at]nccu.edu
Surface Passivation and Chemical Modification of Nanodots with Smart Polymers
Timothy Lane Webster, M.S. Candidate
North Carolina Central University
twebste8[at]eagles.nccu.edu
Design and Fabrication of Simple and Combinatorial Logic Gate Complexes Based on Light-up RNA Aptamers
Prof. Emil Khisamutdinov
Ball State University
kemil[at]bsu.edu
Functional nano-assemblies of fluorescent silver nanoclusters
Prof. Alexey Krasnoslobodtsev
University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center
akrasnos[at]unomaha.edu
TBA
Weina Ke, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
wke[at]uncc.edu
Controlled Receptor Torque Mechanosensing for Human Lymphocyte Activation
Morgan Chandler, Ph.D. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
mchand11[at]uncc.edu
Jim Hathaway, Research Communications Specialist
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Using Quantum Dots to Mimic SARS/COV-2
Prof. Nate Wymer
North Carolina Central University
nwymer[at]nccu.edu
DNA-RNA hybrid nanocubes allow fine-tuning of immune responses
Jessica McMillan, M.S. Candidate
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
jmcmil25[at]uncc.edu
Closing Remarks
10:00 AM
10:15 AM
10:46 AM
11:07 AM
11:28 AM
11:49 AM
11:59 AM
12:10 PM
1:40 PM
2:12 PM
2:42 PM
2:53 PM
3:14 PM
3:35 PM
3:45 PM
3:55 PM
4:32 PM
4:53 PM
5:03 PM
Systemic Interactions
Programmable Polymers and Smart Materials
Thursday, May 28