Office of Study Abroad

Mentor: Dr. Abel Baerga

Field of Research: Natural products from tropical organisms

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Laboratory Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

Our laboratory uses mass spectrometry combined with molecular networking data pipelines to identify secondary metabolites from tropical ecosystems. Our main thrust is the discovery of compounds that are important for the producing organisms or for their environment. We are also interested in learning whether these compounds can have human applications as anti-infectives or other therapeutic potential. Toward this end, we have also developed a proteome-wide platform for the search of targets within the human repertoire using a proteome array made by Puerto Rico-based company, CDI Laboratories.

Mentor: Dr. Marvin Bayro

Field of Research: Biophysical Chemistry

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Laboratory Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

The aim of this project is to understand the mechanism of retroviral maturation in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the atomic level. We will produce in vitro models of HIV particles from recombinant proteins prepared in our laboratory. Using these protein systems, we will test current hypotheses regarding the maturation process of HIV, which is an increasingly important therapeutic target against the virus. We will characterize the mechanism of maturation inhibition by small molecules designed and synthesized in our laboratory. We will also examine the effect of cellular co-factors in maturation and analyze the dependence of viral proteolytic processing on the inherent flexibility of HIV structural proteins. 

The Brandeis University student will express and purify proteins, produce protein assemblies in vitro, and investigate protein structure and dynamics via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in solution and in solids. The student will learn protein biochemistry and basic spectroscopic techniques, as well as participate in discussions of the current literature in the fields of nanotechnology, biomaterials, protein NMR spectroscopy, and complementary biophysical techniques.

Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Caro

Field of Research: Organic Chemistry, Marine Natural Products, Drug Discovery & Design

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Laboratory Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

Dr. Caro’s research focuses on the identification of new molecular scaffolds produced by marine organisms, specifically macro and microalgae, to provide targets for total synthesis efforts. Projects revolve around (1) chemical extraction and chromatographic fractionation, 2) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) characterization of marine biomass for natural product de-replication, and (3) chemical synthesis of cyanobacterial natural products and synthetic analogues. 

Mentor: Dr. Eliud Hernandez

Field of Research: Organic chemistry

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Laboratory Location: University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus

Dr. Hernandez’s group specializes in the chemical synthesis of heterocyclic organic compounds. Specifically, his team develops methods to target benzotriazinone derivatives, 5-substituted-4-hydroxy-2-phenylpentanenitrile derivatives, and acrylonitrile derivatives, which display a wide range of biological activities. Potential projects will include (1) synthesizing 3-substituted-1,2,3-benzotriazinones through cycloaddition of aromatic or aliphatic azides with aryl magnesium reagents to create a small library of compounds, (2) C-nucleophilic ring opening of epoxides with benzyl cyanide derivatives, (3) synthesizing vinyl cyanide derivatives, and (4) exploring new chemical entities represented by diverse functionalized benzotriazinones.

Field of Research: Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Project Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center 

PIs: Gerardo Morell and Brad R. Weiner

Objective: Develop high-energy lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries with enhanced stability and energy densities exceeding 250-600 Wh/kg for portable and wearable electronics. 

Background and Rationale: There is a growing demand for developing high-energy batteries. However, LIBs struggle to provide moderate energy of 150-200 Wh/kg, due to the low capacities of oxide cathodes (140-200 mAh/g) and graphite anode (370 mAh/g). To achieve high energy densities exceeding 250 Wh/kg, it is essential to develop high-capacity electrodes, such as alloy- and alloy-conversion-type anodes, and high-nickel oxides. However, the application of these materials faces challenges of structural instability and interfacial degradation. Similarly, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer a theoretical energy of 2600 Wh/kg, making them a highly attractive alternative to LIBs. However, their application is hindered by polysulfide dissolution and shuttle effect, leading to rapid capacity fading and low Coulombic efficiency. Recent research has shown that incorporating functional additives such as ferroelectrics effectively mitigates polysulfide migration by acting as chemical or electrostatic “absorbents.”

Intellectual Merit/Hypotheses: Developing next-generation lithium batteries requires addressing critical limitations in both Li-ion and Li-S systems. Li-ion batteries are constrained by the limited capacity and structural instability of high-nickel cathodes and advanced anodes, which hinder progress beyond 250 Wh/kg. Meanwhile, Li-S batteries face severe capacity fade due to the dissolution and shuttle of lithium polysulfides. We hypothesize that designing high-capacity, structurally stable anodes will allow Li-ion batteries to exceed current energy density limits, and that incorporating ferroelectric nanoparticles into Li-S batteries will suppress polysulfide migration, improving cycling stability and enabling energy densities of 500-600 Wh/kg. This research combines material synthesis, interface engineering, and modeling to develop safer, high-performance lithium batteries for next-generation portable and wearable devices.

Field of research: Chemistry / Biochemistry (Supramolecular Chemistry & Biocatalysis)

Project Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Mentor: José M. Rivera, Ph.D.

Project Description: This project introduces students to supramolecular chemistry as a tool to organize enzymes in new ways. By attaching enzymes to guanosine derivatives, we create self- assembled systems that mimic how nature organizes biochemical reactions. Students will gain hands-on experience with techniques in organic synthesis, enzyme assays, and biophysical characterization. Along the way, they will learn how molecular design can be used to control biological function, preparing them for future work in biochemistry, chemical biology, or biotechnology.

Mentor: Dr. Torsten Stelzer

Field of Research: Materials Science, Chemical engineering, Pharmaceutical Science

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Project Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

Dr. Stelzer’s research focuses on crystallization of organic molecules from purification/separation to novel formulation approaches. The Brandeis student involved in the ongoing research on process intensification will engage, for instance, in (1) fundamental characterization of crystallization processes, in particular continuous crystallization processes for purification of synthesized organic molecules, (2) studies of polymorphism in solid dispersions generated by additive manufacturing of drug products, and (3) integrated end-to-end synthesis, purification, and formulation strategies for advanced manufacturing approaches.

The Brandeis University student will learn materials science, pharmaceutical technology, chemical engineering, and analytical chemistry. They will be taught to create a research summer plan, construct weekly plans, and learn how to design, execute, and analyze experiments, and prepare a final report.

Mentor: Dr. Arthur D. Tinoco

Field of Research: Medicinal Inorganic Chemistry

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Project Location: University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus

Basic research has yielded FDA-approved anticancer drugs and insights into cancer biology, with omics approaches identifying new targets. Yet, drug development remains slow, especially for hard to treat cancers like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 85% of lung cancers and has a 5–10% survival rate. Current anticancer drugs show diversity of activity but suffer from toxicity, resistance, and limited efficacy. A promising strategy is metal-centric drug design, targeting essential metals like copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) that drive cancer proliferation. While Cu/Fe chelators show potential, no approach yet tackles both simultaneously while delivering cytotoxic metals. The Tinoco lab pioneered coupling titanium(IV) to ferric chelators to block intracellular Fe and inhibit DNA synthesis. Building on this, they created a triapine–deferasirox conjugate with strong antiproliferative effects across NCI-60 cell lines and notable Cu(II) affinity. Current efforts aim to evolve this dual chelator into bimetallic compounds combining Fe/Cu chelation with cytotoxic metal release. These compounds are designed to trigger apoptotic and ferroptotic death pathways while clarifying the roles of chelation and metal ions in NSCLC models.

The Brandeis University student will learn organic and coordination chemistry synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and cell-based assays. They will be taught to create a research summer plan, construct weekly plans, and learn how to design, execute, and analyze experiments, and prepare a final report.

Mentor: Dr. Cornelis P. Vlaar

Field of Research: Medicinal Chemistry, organic chemistry, flow chemistry

Prerequisites: Will be posted here soon

Project Location: Molecular Sciences Research Center

The research projects in the Vlaar laboratory are in two main areas:

1. Design and development of novel anti-cancer drugs: Novel inhibitors are designed and synthesized against two different drug targets that are associated with cancer growth. A previously developed dual Rac1/Cdc42 inhibitor is currently in phase 1 clinical trials for breast cancer patients. These are key regulatory proteins in cell migration, and dysregulation can lead to cancer metastases. A second generation of more potent inhibitors selective for either Rac or Cdc42 is being developed. These compounds can be utilized as potential treatment of other cancers or in autoimmune diseases. In a separate project, novel inhibitors for TRIP13 are developed. TRIP13 is an AAA ATPase involved in the spindle assembly complex and mitosis, and it has been identified as a potential target in anti-cancer therapies
2. Flow Chemistry: This project is part of a multi-PI program aimed at developing end-to-end manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. In the Vlaar lab chemical synthesis procedures are developed that are suitable for be implemented in continuous flow reactors.