Project funded by the National Science Foundation
Mike Leopold, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Richmond, has received an $85,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue his research on proteins. A total of $255,000 is expected over three years.
The grant supports summer research for Leopold, three undergraduate students, a post-baccalaureate fellow, supplies, and travel to present results.
Leopold's team is researching the use of specialized nanoparticles, known as monolayer-protected clusters, as a functional component of protein monolayer electrochemistry techniques designed to probe the electron transfer properties of immobilized redox proteins. The study is significant to the development of electron transfer model systems and biosensor technology, as well as the understanding of fundamental biological processes such as mitochondrial respiration and photosynthesis.
Since coming to the University of Richmond in 2002, Leopold has received research grants from the American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund, Commonwealth Health Resources Board, and the Thomas F. And Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust.
Leopold has published several articles on interactions between proteins and synthetic nanomaterials. He holds a doctorate in chemistry from North Carolina State University, held a post-doc at UNC-Chapel Hill, and earned a BS in chemistry from James Madison University. He has been awarded the University of Richmond Distinguished Educator Award (2008), Professor of the year Award (2007) and was nominated for Outstanding Mentor (2008).