Physical Chemistry of Biological Interfaces
Research in the Webb group seeks to understand and manipulate the mechanisms of interaction, organization, and self-assembly of biological macromolecules that lead to the complex and emergent properties of living systems. We are interested in these topics for two principal reasons. First, understanding the organization of biological systems is of vital biomedical importance. Second, we seek to exploit the weak but long-range interactions involved in noncovalent organization of biological macromolecules at prepared surfaces and interfaces with the ultimate goal of integrating biological and inorganic materials in a controlled and robust manner.
Research in the Webb group is multidisciplinary and employs a variety of physical and analytical techniques. We study the physical chemistry of electrostatic fields at protein-protein interfaces using vibrational spectroscopy coupled with computational methods; and we prepare and characterize chemically modified surfaces that interact specifically with folded, functional proteins using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and surface spectroscopic techniques.
Please visit our research page to learn more about specific projects underway in the Webb group. If you would like to learn more or are interested in joining the group, please contact Dr. Lauren Webb.
Webb Group News
2024:
11/8: Frank’s paper is accepted in Biochemistry. Congratulations!
10/15: Rowan joins the group. Welcome and we can’t wait to work with you!
9/23: Haley and her team of collaborators have received a Research Award in Planetary Habitability. Great job and we look forward to seeing what they learn!
6/18: Jake’s paper is accepted by Biochemistry. Congrats!
4/30: Diane passed her qualifying exam. Congrats!
4/8: Robert receives a Summer Chemistry Department Research Fellowship. Congrats!
4/4: Jessica receives a Chemistry Department Summer Research Fellowship to support undergraduate research. Congratulations!
4/3: Frank successfully defends his PhD thesis. Congratulations!
4/2: Paul successfully defends his PhD thesis. Congratulations!
3/8: Paul’s paper is accepted for publication at ACS Applied Biomaterials. Congrats!
2023:
12/14: Haley and Taylor join the Webb group. Welcome!
11/9: Frank’s paper is accepted by Biochemistry. Congrats!
9/12: Josh’s paper with Vernita Gordon’s laboratory is accepted by Nature Biofilms and Microbiomes. This is our first collaboration with the Gordon laboratory. Congratulations all!
8/23: Our collaboration with Ron Mittler is published in Cell Death Discovery. Great work everyone!
7/7: Sydney’s paper on microscopy of giant vesicles is published in JPCLett. Congratulations!
6/23: Josh and Diane’s paper is accepted by Langmuir. Congratulations!
6/13: Sydney’s paper is accepted by JPCLett. This is our first manuscript on asymmetric vesicles. Great work!
6/1: Yu-Chun’s paper with our collaborator Pengyu Ren is accepted by JPCB. Congratulations!
4/21: Erich completes his MA. Congratulations!
4/20: Josh successfully defends his PhD thesis. Congratulations!
4/4: Yu-Chun and Sydney both successfully defend their PhDs. Congratulations!
2/12: Chad’s paper is accepted by JPCB. This is our first collaboration with Jenee Cyran. Congratulations!
2/2: Chad leaves the group for a new job at ExxonMobil. Good luck!
1/17: Robert passed his qualifying exam. Congrats!
2022:
11/28: Paul’s paper is accepted by ACS Appl. Bio. Mater. Congratulations!
11/15: Robert wins the Faraday Teaching Award from the Department of Chemistry. Congratulations!
11/1: Diane joins the Webb group. Welcome!
9/15: Congratulations to Yu-Chun for her publication in JPCB. This is our first report of our collaboration with Pengyu Ren.
8/9: Sydney and Molly’s paper in collaboration with the Elber group on cell-penetrating peptides is accepted by JPCB. Congratulations!
8/9: Josh and Paul’s review on characterization methods for protein-surface interactions is published in JCP. Congrats!
6/17: Sydney receives the Kahmer Fellowship and a BSF Travel Grant. Congratulations!
5/15: Paul and Josh both receive fellowships from the Department of Chemistry. Congratulations to you both!
4/18: Our paper describing our collaboration with the Elber, Nuchushtai, and Mittler laboratories is published in Chem. Sci.
4/14: Robert is awarded a Henze Teaching Award for his outstanding work teaching our undergraduates. Congratulations!
03/28: Chad’s paper describing our collaboration with the Elber, Mittler, and Nechushtai groups is published in JPCB. Congrats!
02/25: Josh’s paper is published in Langmuir. This is our first demonstration of an active protein on an inorganic surface. Great work!
02/24: Henry’s paper is accepted by JPCB. This expands our collaboration with the Keitz and Taylor laboratories.
02/21: Please enjoy Sydney’s crossword puzzle on chemical and laboratory safety.
02/15: Erich passed his second year candidacy exam. Congrats!
