International: Duke - Aarhus DNA NanoTech Collaboration

          Self-assembling DNA nanostructures have been used successfully at Duke University to implement molecular computers, organize proteins
and metallic nanoparticles, and fabricate nanomaterials with programmable molecular patterns. DNA-guided chemistry is being developed at the
University of Aarhus for programmed synthesis of covalent organic compounds larger and more complex than possible by conventional methods. This
proposal seeks funding to improve research training at the interface between complex DNA nanostructures and DNA guided chemistry by enabling the
budding collaboration between DNA nanotech groups at Duke and Aarhus. Cooperation between these two complementary teams, especially the melding
of Aarhus conjugation chemistry for coupling diverse compounds to oligonucleotides with Duke design and implementation of complex nanostructures,
is likely to produce important outcomes. Research results and research training experiences of both teams will benefit greatly by the interaction.
         Funding provided by the IRES program will be used to take a vertically integrated team (members from all education levels from high school to 
post-doctoral) from the Duke DNA NanoTech group to Aarhus Univeristy in Denmark to pursue joint research projects in nanochemistry, molecular 
self-assembly, and DNA-based fabrication. A capstone experience for the US team will be attendance at the annual iNANO autumn school in Aarhus.
Duke and Aarhus PIs have applied for funding through the Danish National Research Foundation which would, if granted, primarily fund Danish students
and post-docs both at home and on visits to the Duke lab. IRES funding would complement the Danish investment by allowing US students and
researchers to participate in research at Aarhus.
        Intellectual Merit: An important goal of biomimetic materials science is the efficient “bottom-up” assembly of complex nanostructures 
with diverse chemical, biological, photonic, or electronic functions. This area of research is highly interdisciplinary and requires the cooperation of
diverse teams of students and researchers in order to adequately cover the panoply of laboratory skills necessary for successful completion of truly 
novel advances. Recent molecular engineering successes in the field of DNA-based nanotechnology have demonstrated an impressive ability to organize
nano-materials. Future workers in this interdisciplinary area would particularly benefit from seeing the field from a new point of view. The 
cross-pollination provided by the proposed international travel will lead to molecular engineering advances which could impact applications in molecular 
and nano-electronics, nanochemistry, biosensors, and other biomedical areas.
        Broader Impacts: The proposed studies will provide support not only for international research travel, but also for interdisciplinary 
mentoring, research-based learning, and academic education for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as post-doctoral and faculty
level personnel. This cross-disciplinary works requires knowledge of techniques in synthetic chemistry, DNA structural engineering, protein biochemistry,
materials science, and molecular biology; the project will therefore provide opportunities for very broad-based educational experiences to the 
participants. The team strives to include individuals from groups commonly underrepresented in science and engineering disciplines including women and
minority students by participation in programs such as Project SEED (Summer Education Experience for the Disadvantaged). The proposed international 
research training experiences will provide all members of the vertically integrated team with unique opportunities to enlarge their scientific network
and hopefully begin teaching them the lifelong benefits of well planned collaborations.

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