Clayborne becomes Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Affiliate
Chemistry and Biochemistry Assistant Professor Andre Clayborne recently accepted an invitation to become a Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (CSN) Affiliate. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the CSN's primary goal connects the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry's three research thrust areas: (1) biomedical, (2) materials sustainability —energy storage and conversion, and (3) environmental sustainability.
The CSN is a multi-institutional collaborative of faculty researchers, senior investigators, postdoctoral researchers and students, engaged in developing “a molecular-level understanding of nanomaterial-biological interactions to enable development of sustainable, societally beneficial nanotechnologies”. In particular, the role of nanoparticles in existing and emerging technologies is of interest, i.e., new medical diagnostics and targeted treatments for cancer or other diseases, fuel cells and advanced batteries for hybrid/electric vehicles, new generation solar cells, minimizing our environmental footprint (industrial level down to household level). Participants drawn upon the resources of the collective, thereby maximizing impact and progress. In addition, a network of professionals is able to co-advise graduate students on research projects.
Dr. Clayborne is already realizing the benefits from being a CSN Affiliate, citing two immediate and very large benefits---- the laboratory exchanges between his laboratory and other laboratories within the CSN and funded student opportunities. Two students from Mason are already participating with the CSN. Moon-Jung “Melony” Kim and Annieka Reno were both recommended to him by Dr. Pritha Roy. Both students are receiving stipends. Kim is performing research in nanoscience education and Reno’s research involves computational nanoscience. Reno is receiving a stipend from CSN, while performing research in the Clayborne Lab on the properties of small, ligated gold clusters that will provide insight into larger nanoparticle systems.
