Author: hpanzic

Laura Finzi, a molecular biophysicist who pioneered techniques to study how single molecules act in complex biological processes, has been appointed the inaugural Dr. Waenard L. Miller, Jr. ’69 and Sheila M. Miller Endowed Chair in Medical Biophysics at Clemson University. Finzi joined Clemson on July 1 and holds joint appointments in the Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Bioengineering. She aims to advance medical biophysics research and education by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Finzi brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and student mentorship, previously serving as a professor at Emory University and contributing to graduate programs in chemistry, biomedical engineering, and cancer biology. Her research on DNA transcription mechanics aims to advance understanding of gene regulation and precision medicine, tailoring treatments to individual genetic and environmental factors. Finzi is committed to building programs and fostering collaboration to drive innovation in medical biophysics.

The endowed chair position, one of the highest honors at Clemson University, was established with a $2 million donation from cardiologist Waenard L. Miller ’69 and his wife, Sheila M. Miller, to support medical biophysics research and education. Dr. Miller, a Clemson physics alumnus and co-founder of the Legacy Heart Center in Texas, has an extensive background in medicine, including degrees in nuclear physics, biology, and medical management. Reflecting on his 34-year career, Miller emphasized the transformative impact of scientific and medical advancements and expressed pride in supporting Clemson’s growth in this evolving field, welcoming Dr. Laura Finzi to lead impactful research and innovation.

Laura Finzi describes her journey into medical biophysics as a “progressive evolution.” Initially studying industrial chemistry at the University of Bologna, she was inspired to pursue biophysics after meeting National Academy of Sciences member Carlos Bustamante, who recruited her for graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. After earning her Ph.D. in chemistry, Finzi continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow under Bustamante, eventually joining his lab at the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon, where she thrived in an interdisciplinary environment that brought together biologists, chemists, and physicists. Laura Finzi played a key role in developing the first generation of magnetic tweezers, a tool used to study the mechanical properties of molecules like DNA and proteins in single-molecule experiments. Unlike traditional methods that assume identical behavior among molecules, single-molecule techniques reveal heterogeneities that can underpin diseases. As an American Physical Society fellow, Finzi investigates transcriptional regulation mechanisms using advanced techniques like magnetic tweezers, optical tweezers, and atomic force microscopy, as well as studying DNA supercoiling, a critical regulator of genomic function. Her work highlights the integration of biophysics with emerging technologies, such as machine learning, to explore new avenues in medical research.

Written by David Brandin

Adapted from Laura Finzi named first Dr. Waenard L. Miller, Jr. ’69 and Sheila M. Miller Endowed Chair in Medical Biophysics | Clemson News

Clemson University Ph.D. students Som Dixit and Shinto Francis were awarded $25,000 fellowships by Hitachi High-Tech America Inc. to support their doctoral research in additive manufacturing and quantum computing, respectively. This marks the first time two fellowships have been awarded in the program’s 10-year history.

Dixit, an automotive engineering student, focuses on developing advanced materials like metal-ceramic composites and high-entropy alloys for applications in sectors such as military and energy. His research leverages electron microscopy to analyze microstructures and defects in additively manufactured components, advancing material innovation. He is mentored by Shunyu Liu, assistant professor of automotive engineering.

Francis, a physics and astronomy student, is working on quantum computing, with the aim of reducing interference in qubits by creating nitrogen vacancy centers using focused-ion beam microscopy. His work could enhance quantum computing systems’ stability. Francis is mentored by Ramakrishna Podila, associate professor of physics and astronomy and fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Both researchers use the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility, which Hitachi has supported since the 1990s. The facility houses some of Hitachi’s most advanced microscopes and plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, student training, and industry collaboration. The partnership aligns with Clemson’s goals of advancing research and student experiences.

Written by David Brandin

Adapted from Hitachi awards two fellowships to Clemson Ph.D. students | Clemson News

This artist’s impression of a planet-forming disk surrounding a young star shows a swirling “pancake” of hot gas and dust from which planets form. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a team of researchers obtained detailed images showing the layered, conical structure of disk winds – streams of gas blowing out into space. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)

Using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers such as Clemson University’s Sean Brittain captured the most detailed images yet of protoplanetary disk winds—streams of gas that shape the disks where planets form. These winds may solve the mystery of how disks lose angular momentum, enabling gas to accrete onto young stars much faster than previously thought. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, observed four protoplanetary disk systems: a complex, three-dimensional structure of winds originating from different regions of the disk, which resembles a layered onion.

The findings provide the first tangible evidence supporting the theory that magnetic field-driven winds play a key role in star growth and disk evolution. Thermal winds and X-winds also contribute. By tuning JWST’s detectors to specific molecules, the team traced the layers of these winds and discovered a central hole in the cone-shaped structures, formed by molecular winds. These insights could refine our understanding of planet formation and stellar evolution. The researchers now plan to expand their observations to more disks to deepen their knowledge.

Credit: David Brandin

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James Webb Space Telescope reveals evidence of winds that could solve mystery of how planet-forming disks are shaped | Clemson News

Clemson University researchers, led by Laura Finzi, have uncovered the role of mechanical forces in gene transcription, specifically in RNA polymerase (RNAP) activity during termination. While the traditional view holds that RNAP dissociates from DNA after releasing mRNA, the team demonstrated that force can cause RNAP to slide forward or backward on the DNA template. This force-directed recycling allows genes to be transcribed multiple times or only once, affecting gene expression.

Using magnetic tweezers, the researchers found that RNAP’s ability to switch to oppositely oriented promoters relies on the C-terminal domains of its alpha subunits. Deleting these subunits prevents RNAP from flipping to oppositely oriented promoters. Published in Nature Communications, these findings could inform strategies for regulating transcription and suppressing harmful proteins. Finzi envisions a future where a map of forces on the genome helps predict transcription levels across genes and cells. The study was supported by NIH grants.

Credit: David Brandin

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Research provides new insights into role of mechanical forces in gene expression | Clemson News

Above: a YouTube video related to Dr. Lehmacher’s NASA VortEx rocket launched on 23 March 2023 from Andøya Space Center, Norway.

The video shows a very detailed simulation of the winds and waves over northern Scandinavia based on the actual weather conditions and including the time when we launched two sounding rockets. 

The high-resolution (1.2 km) weather simulation was made at the German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ) by a collaborator, Prof. Claudia Stephan, of Dr. Lehmacher at Clemson University from the Institute for Atmospheric Physics (IAP) at the University of Rostock and covers waves at heights up to 40 km. The waves are excited by winds blowing over the coastal mountains and propagate upward into the stratosphere. The goal of VortEx is the study of mixing effects from these waves at even greater heights, in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, 50 to 120 km. This intermittent mixing can extend even further, to the region where the space station orbits (400 km) and the surrounding ionosphere and become part of our “space weather”.

Want to read more about this research? Read more here: 
Rocket launch could provide insight into how turbulence far above the planet’s surface affects our planet’s atmosphere | Clemson News

“Ramakrishna Podila, a materials physicist in the Clemson University Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a professional society based in the United Kingdom with over 50,000 members worldwide. The designation of Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) is given to those who have made significant contributions to the chemical sciences (including materials chemistry and physics). Fellows are nominated by other members.

Podila’s research is highly interdisciplinary and combines physics, chemistry, biology and materials science.”

“His previous work focused on three broad areas: energy conversion and storage, nano-bio interfaces, and photonics and bioimaging. In addition to these areas, Podila’s group is currently pursuing new research directions in foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum biology.

His research has received support from the highest government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA and the U.S. Army, and many global companies.

Podila has authored more than 100 publications in scholarly journals, including multiple articles in Royal Society of Chemistry journals, that have been extensively cited. Web of Science, an online index that covers journal articles published in various sciences and the arts and humanities, listed one of his papers in materials chemistry in the top 1% of cited articles in the field. He also holds two U.S. patents.”

Credit: Cindy Landrum

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Podila elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry | Clemson News

“Two athletes square off for an intense dance battle. The DJ starts spinning tunes, and the athletes begin twisting, spinning and seemingly defying gravity, respectfully watching each other and taking turns showing off their skill.

The athletes converse through their movements, speaking through a dance that celebrates both athleticism and creativity. While the athletes probably aren’t consciously thinking about the physics behind their movements, these complex and mesmerizing dances demonstrate a variety of different scientific principles.

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, originated in the late 1970s in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Debuting as an Olympic sport in the 2024 Summer Olympics, breaking will showcase its dynamic moves on a global stage. This urban dance style combines hip-hop culture, acrobatic moves and expressive footwork.

Since its inception, breaking has evolved into a competitive art form. An MC narrates the movements, while a DJ mixes songs to create a dynamic atmosphere. The Olympics will feature two events: one for men, called B-boys, and one for women, called B-girls. In these events, athletes will face off in dance battles.”

Credit: Amy Pope and Clemson News

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Paris 2024 Olympics to debut high-level breakdancing — and physics in action | Clemson News

A little over three decades ago, the only planets we could confirm were the ones in our solar system. But with the advent of more powerful telescopes on the ground and new observatories in space, scientists have since discovered the existence of thousands of exoplanets orbiting stars other than our sun. According to Janus Kozdon, a graduate student in the Clemson University Department of Physics and Astronomy, the vast majority of the observed exoplanets orbit older stars, with very few found orbiting young stars, who are still forming protoplanetary disks from gas and dust. Kodzon says detecting planets in these young systems is challenging because the disk can obscure the planet’s signature. Kodzon and his team developed a novel technique to study planets surrounding young stars through disk morphology, which he plans to the June American Astronomical Society meeting in Madison, Wisconsin.

Kodzon’s research, published in the Astronomical Journal in August 2023, focuses on CI Tau, a young star located about 523 light-years away, where an exoplanet was already discovered within its protoplanetary disk. Observing CI Tau for nine nights, Kozdon used spectroscopy and his custom model to analyze carbon monoxide in the disk, revealing its two oppositely oriented components. The findings from this research provided the first empirical evidence of disk eccentricities potentially caused by the embedded planet. Sean Brittain, Clemson’s associate provost and dean of undergraduate learning; Jeffrey Fung, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; and physics graduate students Stanley Jensen and John Kern also worked on the project. This work sheds light on planet-disk interactions and opens new avenues for studying forming planets around young stars.

Researchers/collaborators from the University of Maryland, the National Science Foundation National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, and Texas State University were also involved in the research.

Credit: David Brandin

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Clemson grad student’s study sheds light on planet formation in infant stars | Clemson News

Three Clemson University astrophysicists, Pablo Penil del Campo and Nuria Torres-Alba, postdoctoral fellows, and Stefano Marchesi, an adjunct professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, have been awarded more than $1 million combined in highly competitive grants through the NASA Astrophysics Data Analysis Program to study active galactic nuclei, their obscuring material, and variability and periodicity. Penil will study four blazars that show periodic gamma-ray emissions, using a decade of NASA data to investigate whether these patterns indicate a binary system of supermassive black holes, which could provide new insights into galaxy evolution. Marchesi and Torres-Alba are using NASA’s X-ray telescope data to study dense, cosmic gas environments around supermassive black holes in nearby galaxies, where energetic X-ray photons penetrate gas, allowing researchers to characterize black hole properties and surrounding structures. Marchesi and Torres-Alba are also studying how efficiently supermassive black holes grow by consuming surrounding gas and how this process impacts their nearby and distant environments, providing insights into extreme cosmic phenomena. Marchesi and Torres-Alba are using machine-learning methods developed by Ross Silver and Xiuri Zhao, former graduate students at Clemson, to analyze a vast dataset of X-ray observations, aiming to create the largest sample of obscuration-variable supermassive black holes and gain new insights into black hole structures.

Credit: David Brandin

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Three Clemson astrophysicists get NASA Data Analysis Program grants totaling over $1 million | Clemson News

In our universe, only about 15% of matter is known or seen, while the remaining 85% is known as dark matter, a substance that remains largely unexplained by scientists. Circiello, a graduate research assistant in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University, recently presented his research at the American Physical Society’s April meeting, one of the largest conferences in the field. He explained that dark matter is confirmed to exist through its gravitation effects, despite its elusive nature. Circiello emphasized that since dark matter significantly influences cosmic structures and dynamics, understanding this type of matter is key to solving some of the universe’s largest secrets. The research Circiello presented built on that done by colleague Alex McDaniel, which explored new ways by which to detect dark matter, often through looking at nearby, dark-matter-dominated galaxies.

Credit: David Brandin

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Gamma-rays and galactic mysteries: Clemson astrophysicist studies dark matter’s secrets | Clemson News