Lauren Buchanan

(A) Energy diagram depicting coupling between the propagated polariton evanescent mode and the targeted vibrational bond mode in PMMA. (B) Basic schematic of a Fabry–Perot cavity. (C) Schematic of the cavity design used, which includes a silicon substrate coated with a layer of gold, topped with a layer of PMMA… Read More

We are proud to welcome our 2026 cohort of summer interns, marking the 15th year of the NSF REU program alongside the continued growth of the Summer Tech Crew, established in 2016. Together, these programs provide students with hands-on research and facility experience that supports innovation in nanoscale science and… Read More

Courtney Ragle Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Materials Science Lauren Buchanan Research Group When I started graduate school, I knew I wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the scientific community, but I wasn’t exactly sure how. During my undergraduate years, I realized my passion lies in research. After… Read More

Lauren Buchanan, assistant professor of chemistry, has received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award. Her CAREER project, “Understanding Nanoparticle-induced Changes to Protein Structure,” will address a critical gap in our understanding of protein-nanoparticle interactions: the detailed surface-induced changes to protein structure and dynamics that that potentially impact protein function. The five-year,… Read More

Learn more about Dr. Lauren Buchanan and her group. The Buchanan group employs ultrafast two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to gain a deeper understanding of protein misfolding pathways relative to disease and to determine how protein structure and dynamics are affected by interactions with materials such as nanoparticles. Read More

About the author: William Weeks is a PhD candidate in Chemistry under direction of Dr. Lauren Buchanan. In this article, Will and Dr. Buchanan determine how N-terminal acetylation causes aggregates of a model amphiphilic peptide, KFE8, to shift from a flat to a twisted ribbon structure.  By utilizing… Read More

Thirteen outstanding faculty members from across the university have been awarded a Provost Research Studio for the 2019-20 academic year. The goal of the Provost Research Studios is to support the professional development of full-time faculty (tenured, tenure track, and non-tenure track) who are not full professors or otherwise at… Read More