Exciting Minds to Make them Shine: An Undergraduate Hands-On Training Program in Biophysics

Abstract

The limited application of luminescence spectroscopy in directly monitoring foods and pharmaceuticals can be attributed to two causes: a) most useful fluorophores are either toxic, expensive, have limited availability or selective solubility, and b) detailed photophysical characterization of edible fluorophores is limited.We have attempted to fill this void with an educational program that involves student-led research by undergraduates. This hands-on training program focuses on photophysically characterizing and cataloging generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) chromophores normally present in or routinely added to foods. This program creates a database of edible fluorescent and/or phosphorescent probes while also identifying potential applications of the probes as intrinsic sensors of quality and safety in foods and pharmaceuticals. These objectives require a full integration and understanding of biophysical concepts from formation of excited electronic states and transfer of excitation energy within biophysical systems to the effect of physical state of biological materials on photophysical responses.Within this program ∼15 compounds have been tested and characterized in the last few years by a team of >15 undergraduates working individually and collaboratively. The involvement of such a large pool of undergraduate students enables the testing of a broad set of potential chromophores while also providing training in biophysical research methods and techniques to a group of potential scientists. This project additionally promotes mentoring skills among the collaborating graduate students and senior undergraduates. The results of this project have been used to inform and successfully obtain federal grant funding. We believe this program serves as a useful platform for introducing biophysics research to undergraduates. The strategies that have been developed during its implementation can be extrapolated to teach biophysical concepts in other areas.