Lucy Shon

 About Lucy

• Advisor: Javier Read de Alaniz
• Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Campus: UCSB
• BioPACIFIC MIP Research: SET 2 - Sequence-Defined Materials

 What is your research focus?

In recent years, peptoids have been a center of interest for many chemists due to their lack of stereochemistry and hydrogen bond donor, opening doors for multiple applications. Our group concentrates on building sequence-defined peptoids and post-functionalize peptoids using Diels-Alder click chemistry. Recent publications demonstrated the use of classic click chemistry, CuAAC. This click chemistry comes with disadvantages. Metal contamination from classic click chemistry would restrict the biological application. Also, the use of azide concerns a safety issue. Diels-Alder click chemistry has countless benefits compared to other classic click chemistry: mild, reversible, and metal-free. Using these benefits, my research focuses on the synthesis of the sequence-defined peptoids to click on different dienes and study the post-functionalized peptoid sequences. My goal is to build a library of clickable peptoids through BioPACIFIC MIP with a spiro-cyclopentadiene functionalized amine as a building block. Using these functionalized peptoids, we are looking forward to applying this in the field of photolithography to create smaller patterns.

 What excites you about NSF BioPACIFIC MIP?

As a starting graduate student researcher, I believe becoming a BioPACIFIC MIP Fellow would be a huge benefit. The BioPACIFIC MIP seminars would allow expanding my studies by introducing comprehensive research fields. Experienced faculty and scientists would be my future mentors and educators, allowing me to learn new ideas and topics through extensive networking. In addition, as my project is in a preliminary stage it would be a tremendous opportunity for me to work with experienced people and have access to research facilities and gain more experience and confidence.