News

Latest publication from MSREC

Friday March 20, 2026

Check out the latest study from the Mass Spectrometry Research and Education Center: Advantages of the sulfo-phospho-vanillin assay for lipidomics.

Gut Feeling: UF Scientists Create Synthetic Mucus to Fight IBD

Monday March 16, 2026

Prof. Brent Sumerlin and Microbiology Assoc. Prof. Luis Roesch team up to create synthetic mucus out of sheer-labile interaction polymers. Click to read the UF News article (photo courtesy of UF News).

Loesgen Lab Awarded Grant from the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund

Wednesday March 11, 2026

Prof. Sandra Loesgen won a grant from the Casey DeSantis Florida Cancer Innovation Fund. Her team will work on the preclinical development of mensacarcin for melanoma and pediatric brain cancers. Click to read the Whitney Lab News article.

Ken Wagener Selected For Two Distinguished Lectureships

Sunday March 1, 2026

During the past two years, Emeritus Chemistry Prof. Ken Wagener has been selected for the S. Dexter Squibb Distinguished Lectureship at UNC/Asheville and the H. Garth Spencer Distinguished Scholar Lectureship at Clemson University.

Brent Sumerlin Receives Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement

Wednesday February 18, 2026

Professor Brent Sumerlin has been awarded the Macro Group UK Medal for Outstanding Achievement, an international honor recognizing sustained and influential contributions to polymer science.

Two Florida outreach programs highlighted in recent Issue of Ytori

Tuesday February 17, 2026

Profs. Ashlyn Hale and Adam Veige lead Florida outreach programs turning science into an unforgettable experience for young learners. Click to read more or visit our Outreach page to learn more about Chemathon and Molecular Mania.

New DNA-Based Imaging Technique Promises to Illuminate Cells and Tissues

Monday January 26, 2026

UF researchers have developed a DNA-based imaging method that can visualize dozens of biomolecular targets in cells and tissues in just minutes, eliminating the need for complicated instrumentation. This method opens the door to exploring cellular complexity to study cell and tissue functions.

Electrochemistry Unlocks Low-Temperature Depolymerization

Monday January 19, 2026

A new study from UF Chemistry introduces the first electrochemically initiated depolymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate), enabling efficient monomer recovery at dramatically lower temperatures. Led by graduate student Graham Gilchrist and coadvised by Profs. Brent Sumerlin and Austin Evans, the work establishes electrochemistry as a powerful new tool for closed-loop recycling of commodity plastics.

Prof. Sandra Loesgen wins the inaugural Gator Angel Wing Award

Wednesday December 17, 2025

Through the generous support of Dr. Nicholas Conti and Amy Fox Conti, this award supports bringing innovative research from the lab to the market. Read more here.

FARSIGHT: a new RNA-based light switch speeds disease testing

Thursday December 11, 2025

Asst. Prof. Fan Hong develops a new system, FARSIGHT, to act as a programmable molecular switch that can identify genetic sequences. Click to read the UF News article.

UF researchers identify new cancer-killing compounds

Monday December 8, 2025

UF researchers, including Prof. Ron Castellano, have advanced a promising strategy to selectively target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Click to read the UF Dr. Gator News article.

New technique builds advanced materials out of basic plastics

Tuesday November 4, 2025

The Sumerlin group has devised a novel “subtractive” technique to turn everyday plastics into highly porous, high-surface-area materials. Click to read the UF News article.

UF Chemistry wins big at the AI Research Awards

Friday October 31, 2025

Prof. Adrian Roitberg received the AI Research Excellence Award, Prof. Mingjie Liu and Namindu Rangana De Silva won the HiPerGator Early Career Awards, and
Profs. Alberto Perez and Mingjie Liu and their labs won HiPerGator Pioneering Team Awards. Click to read the UF News article.

Gainesville families explore hands-on science at Molecular Mania

Monday October 27, 2025

This year’s event was the 20th anniversary of Molecular Mania and featured 29 hands-on stations and roughly 180 volunteers.

Michelin Science Scholar, Cesar Dominguez, explores sustainable alternatives to plastics

Tuesday October 7, 2025

Cesar, a 4th year UF Chemistry and Physics double major, and Prof. Austin Evans studies how to process ultra-high molecular weight polymers through powerful electric fields. Click to read the UF News article.