News: Faculty

2024

Moellering Lab finds single-cell chemoproteomics reveal enzyme signature in aggressive breast cancers

November 13, 2024

Symbol of breast cancer awareness

A landmark study published in Science Advances by the Ray Moellering lab has introduced a novel method for analyzing enzyme activity in individual cells within breast cancers.


Odd fluids, odder behavior: Breaking the rules of physics in liquid form

November 13, 2024

Portrait of Carlos Floyd

In a new study published in Physical Review Research, Carlos Floyd, a postdoctoral fellow working with the Suri Vaikuntanathan group, investigates non-equilibrium materials, shedding light on their unique properties and potential implications for understanding biological systems.


Professor Emeritus James Norris to receive inaugural “Spin Chemistry Lifetime Achievement Award” at the RSC ESR Conference 2025

November 13, 2024

Portrait of Prof. Norris

Professor Emeritus James Norris received the inaugural "Spin Chemistry Lifetime Achievement Award" from the ESR Spectroscopy group of the Royal Society of Chemistry. This award is designed to honor scientists who have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of spectroscopy.


Rainwater’s role in stabilizing protocells: postdoc Aman Agrawal pens new perspective on life’s origins

November 13, 2024

Photo of Agrawal

In a new interview, postdoctoral scholar Aman Agrawal discusses his work in the Jack Szostak lab exploring the origins of life on Earth, focusing on early cellular structures and examining the potential impact of rainwater in stabilizing these primitive forms of life.


Making plastic more recyclable

November 13, 2024

Photo of Marsden

Graduate student Sam Marsden is working on creating a new form of polymer that will be as strong as polyethylene but as recyclable as PET. Mardsen is currently part of the Rowan Group, which focuses on supramolecular chemistry research.


STEM summer abroad

November 12, 2024

Fellows holding NTU signs

An exchange program between Chicago and Taiwan helps students gain cultural and research experience.


UChicago researchers unlock a ‘new synthetic frontier’ for quantum dots

November 9, 2024

Image of colloidal solutions

UChicago’s Talapin Lab has developed a landmark technique that replaces organic solvents with molten salt, allowing researchers to grow “previously unimaginable nanocrystals.” 


Rebecca Willett receives the SIAM Activity Group on Data Science Career Prize

November 9, 2024

Portrait of Dr. Willett

UChicago Professor of Computer Science Rebecca Willett is the 2024 recipient of the SIAM Activity Group on Data Science Career Prize, for “her work in physics-informed machine learning and data science and for her service and leadership in the data science community.”


At 2024 Chicago Quantum Summit, leaders temper hype, hail momentum of global quantum effort

November 9, 2024

Photo of Chicago Quantum Summit

The 2024 Chicago Quantum Summit featured discussions about commercialization, workforce building, and need for continued investment.


For how much longer can life continue on this troubled planet?

November 9, 2024

Outline of a planet in space

For a while, a range of events in the distant future of the universe have been accepted with varying degrees of certainty. In a new study, UChicago researchers have proposed a crucial update to the universe's timeline. 


How AI protein structure prediction and design won the Nobel prize

November 9, 2024

Icon of protein structure

David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper won this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Jumper attended grad school at UChicago, where he worked alongside biochemist Tobin Sosnick and theoretical chemist Karl Freed.


Five questions with Weixin Tang

November 9, 2024

Photo of Tang

UChicago's Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry discusses her current research.


‘Quantum CD’ could hold up to 1,000 times more data than today’s optical disks

November 9, 2024

Photo of CD

A new study, co-authored by Prof. Giulia Galli, explores how the properties of quantum mechanics might help develop a new type of data storage device.


New device ‘zaps’ bacteria on the skin, potentially preventing infections

November 9, 2024

Photo of patch

Early experiments suggest a patch that delivers harmless electric currents into the skin can thwart certain bacterial infections. UChicago Prof. Bozhi Tian who co-authored this new study, comments on the possibilities opened up by this work and next steps for the research.


At TED AI 2024, experts grapple with AI’s growing pains

November 9, 2024

Photo of Zhao on-stage

TED AI 2024 featured a wide range of distinguished speakers who spoke on the impact of AI on science, art, and our society. UChicago Professor Ben Zhao, who is also a leader in the Glaze and Nightshade projects, spoke on the consequences AI is having in the art world and art education.