The Lab

Gabriel Brandt

Dr Brandt's academic training is in physical organic chemistry, molecular neurobiology and structural biology. His non-academic training is lacking, at best. He is interested in reading novels and listening to music but spends most of his time on animal husbandry (house cats, juvenile primates).

Steven Lin

Steven is a senior double majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. When he's not setting crystal trays, he also plays music, but only if there's a bass clef involved.

Sydney Williams

Sydney is a junior studying chemistry and biochemistry and molecular. She joined the reasearch team in 2023. Her non-academic interests include playing the flute for the F&M symphonic wind ensemble.

Toddy Chunyu

Toddy is a senior majoring in Chemistry and Music. In the lab, he's been involved in crystallizing human enzymes and synthesizing analogs of anti-cancer compounds. He's thinking about an MPH next year.

Lyla Loria

Lyla is a sophomore majoring in Public Health (Biology track) and double minoring in Chemistry and Religious Studies. She has been researching malaria in the Brandt Lab since the fall of 2022. Aside from working in the lab, Lyla is the Editor-in-Chief of Epilogue Magazine, Vice President of Marketing of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and Treasurer of Hillel. Lyla's main hobbies are traveling, playing guitar, and photography.

Hudson McNulty

Hudson is a senior, a joint major in Math and Computer Science. His goal in the lab is to crystallize strange mutants of human proteins.

Dimitra Chotidou

Dimitra is Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major who's interested in biomedical research. She's currently working on ruining a perfectly good phosphate-binding site in a human enzyme.

Sachin Balasubramanian

Sachin is also trying to wrangle some human proteins in the lab, seeing if we can learn precisely how they bind their substrates.

Rebekah Disney

Rebekah is currently a first-year student who plans to study biochemistry and molecular biology. She began volunteering with Dr. Brandt's research in February 2024. Outside of the classroom, she is part of ACCSA and plays the Euphonium in the F&M Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Nasos Rakopoulos

Nasos is currently a first-year international student from Greece, planning to double major in Biology and Neuroscience. He began researching with Dr. Brandt's research group on malaria in February 2024.

Maya Brigandi

Maya is majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with a minor in French. In the lab, she's working on understanding how cyanobacteria are able to make and maintain a highly unstable form of amorphous calcium carbonate.

graduates of the lab

Brandtlab graduates

allies of the lab

courses typically taught

CHM111: General Chemistry I: Picturing the Atomic World

In chemistry, we picture the world around us on both the macroscopic level (the things we see with our eyes) and the microscopic level (in which all matter is made of atoms). The different compositions of atoms result in the various elements, each with their own unique properties. Individual atoms combine to create molecules; the structure of atoms and molecules determines how they function. A variety of models will be used to conceptualize and contrast the behavior of individual atoms and molecules relative to the behaviors we observe in various states of matter. We also introduce and apply chemical equations as a way to describe the rearrangement of atoms in chemical transformations. Students will develop problem-solving skills, effective learning strategies, and mathematical reasoning. Lab work focuses on techniques such as synthesis, purification, separation, and identification of substances and begins to develop critical thinking skills that are crucial for scientific research and inquiry. Students will learn methods for data analysis, presentation of data to support a conclusion, and effective writing to communicate results.

CHM112: General Chemistry II: Reactions in the Atomic World

Rearrangement of atoms through chemical reactions drives many of the changes we see around us. Chemical reactions influence biology, geology, and technology; they are central to everything from the functioning of a cell to the weathering of mountainsides to the capacity of solar cells. This course will examine the proportion of starting materials and products in chemical reactions, as described by chemical equilibrium. Quantitative and qualitative models will be developed to understand chemical equilibrium, and these will be applied to crucial facets of chemistry, including ionic precipitation, acid–base, and reduction–oxidation reactions. Models will be introduced to describe rates of reactions through studying kinetics. Students will enhance the problem-solving skills, effective learning strategies, and mathematical reasoning introduced in General Chemistry I. Lab work builds additional qualitative and quantitative skills and focuses on techniques to identify unknown chemicals and to monitor the speed or extent of reactions. Students will work to improve their abilities to make and defend scientific arguments, with a focus on clear and effective visualization of quantitative data.

CHM351: Introduction to Biochemistry: Chemistry of Life

This course explores the structures and functions of biological molecules including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. The chemical transformations performed by enzymes, the cellular machines that create and break down molecules, are examined in terms of intermolecular forces, reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and structure. Students will investigate the molecular underpinnings of a disease through scientific writing of a short literature report that will include work on visual design of figures. The goal of the laboratory is for students to carry out novel experiments focused on protein biochemistry—creating and purifying a recombinant version of a protein of interest, determining its activity and attempting to solve its crystal structure.

CHM451: Biochemistry II: Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques

Students will apply and integrate their prior chemistry and biochemistry knowledge to explore biological systems through reading recent scientific papers. This capstone course is designed to help students transition out of formal education and prepare them for the next step in their careers. The capabilities and limitations of modern experimental tools will be a theme throughout. Students will practice identifying and quickly learning new concepts as needed. Not only will students develop original research ideas, they will learn to communicate their ideas in compelling and convincing ways to different audiences. The course will provide practice in communication skills such as oral presentation and visual design. Open to senior Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors.

NSP172: Chemistry of Perception

Whether you're petting a cat, looking out the window, drinking coffee, listening to music, or doing all four at once, your five senses are engaged. They're converting information from the outside world into chemical signals for your brain to work with. This chemical signaling explains why vanilla smells different than chocolate, why we say that jalapeños are hot, and why people see colors differently. In this course, we'll take a detailed look at these chemical signals. We'll consider ideas of molecular shape and receptor binding, of isomers and ion channels. We'll see how cascades of signaling molecules can affect the nature and amplitude of sensory signals. We'll look at how photons of light interact with molecules and how mechanosensation works. For each of the five senses, we'll follow the chemical pathway from the outer world to the brain. We'll touch on technical questions, such as how fast chemical signals can travel and how quickly senses can respond to changing stimuli. We'll also discuss practical applications, such as flavor and perfume chemistry, synthetic eyeballs, and artificial muscles.
text
The Man Who Tasted Words (Leschziner)

Page updated

Report abuse