Physical Biosciences Division One Stop
Heinz Frei: Inorganic Nanoscale Assemblies for Artificial Photosynthesis
Sunlight is an unlimited source of energy for converting carbon dioxide and water to a transportable fuel. In an effort to develop a system that generates renewable fuel using sunlight, we are developing an inorganic artificial assembly made of Earth abundant, robust materials. All-inorganic binuclear units anchored in a nanoporous silica scaffold serve as visible light absorbers driving catalysts for water oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction. Nano-structured Co oxide (Co3O4) or mixed-phase Mn oxide clusters inside the silica channels evolve oxygen from water efficiently. Structural and mechanistic studies of the photocatalytic units using optical, vibrational, EPR and X-ray spectroscopic tools provide key insights for advancing the design of the components and assembly of the system. Methods are explored for the efficient coupling of the photoactive components across a product-separating nanoscale membrane. Watch Here>
NSF interviews pioneering bioengineer Seung-Wuk Lee
Using a simple, single-step process, PBD scientists recently developed a technique to direct benign, filamentous viruses called M13 phages to serve as structural building blocks for materials with a wide range of properties.
The materials created could eventually be used to create complex biological tissues, such as cornea, skin and bones, or to manufacture materials with tunable optical, biomedical and mechanical properties.
The scientific team, led by PBD Faculty Scientist and UC Berkeley bioengineer Seung-Wuk Lee and his student and lead author Woo-Jae Chung, published their findings in the Oct. 20, 2011, issue of Nature. Watch Here>
Joint BioEnergy Institute Overview Video
Video on Joint BioEnergy Institute's (JBEI) mission to advance the development of liquid fuels derived from solar energy stored in plant biomass. JBEI is one of three U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs).
JBEI is a San Francisco Bay Area scientific partnership led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and includes the Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), the University of California (UC) campuses of Berkeley and Davis, the Carnegie Institution for Science, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). For more information, please visit: www.jbei.org Watch Here>
Proposal Opportunities
What's New in Peer Review: Advice for Grant Applications
PBD Invited Speaker: Dr. Cheryl Kitt
Deputy Director of the Center for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LBNL Building 50 Auditorium, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) is the portal for NIH grant applications and their review for scientific merit. CSR receives nearly 80,000 applications per year. For nearly 60 years, this peer review system has enabled NIH to fund cutting-edge research. To keep scientific advances coming, CSR is initiating new efforts to streamline the peer review process that will affect all applicants
This presentation will be of interest to all potential grant applicants and research administrators interested in navigating the ins and outs of peer review at NIH. Watch Here>
