The current state-of-the-art and fastest detection of deleterious bio-agents relies heavily on specific target molecules (antibodies) and genetic sequencing amplification (PCR).  The drawbacks to these techniques include lack of environmental stability, production cost, and insufficiently fast response time, and any of these precludes their use in dynamic field environments.  Furthermore, engineering attempts to obviate some of these drawbacks encounter production limitations in terms of device fabrication standards.  We are attempting to simultaneous overcome these limitations to realize a true fieldable bio-agent sensor by utilizing the following aspects:  1)  Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) multiplexed arrays for multi-agent detection; 2) novel data science drive algorithms for fast and accurate detection; 3) self-supported curvilinear 3D printed microfluidic devices with concurrent sensing ligand depositions.  We have previously demonstrated the capability of small AMP sensor arrays to discriminate bacterial lipopolysaccharides as well as the performance of 3D printed microfluidic sensor arrays.  Herein the objective is to discover new sets of AMP arrays for specific bio-agent targets including viruses, Gram positive bacteria, and biotoxins.  The candidate will be tasked with developing the ideal AMP sequences, contributing to sensor platform and device design and testing device response to select targets in different media and environments to inform concurrent collaborative data science work to improve sensor target recognition accuracy and response times.

References:

Reichart, T.; Uzarski, J. R.; Mello, C., Differential Presentation of a Single Antimicrobial Peptide is Sufficient to Identify LPS from Distinct Bacterial Samples. The Analyst 2019

Han, X.; Uzarski, J. R.; Mello, C. M.; Chen, Z., Different interfacial behaviors of N-and C-terminus cysteine-modified cecropin P1 chemically immobilized onto polymer surface. Langmuir 2013, 29 (37), 11705-11712

Uzarski, J. R.; Mello, C. M., Detection and classification of related lipopolysaccharides via a small array of immobilized antimicrobial peptides. Anal Chem 2012, 84 (17), 7359-66

Keywords:

Biosensors; Antimicrobial peptides; 3D printed microvfluidics; functional materials; Chem/bio protection;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants