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SAS Early Career Interest Group
About Us: In 2021, the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) created an Early Career Interest Group (ECIG) and membership category to serve scientists who have graduated with their final degree (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) within the last ten years. The SAS-ECIG is a diverse committee that is dedicated to providing members with a unique experience to help promote and succeed in their career. Together, we aim to support the professional development of early career scientists through award schemes as well as opportunities in leadership, outreach, networking, mentorship, volunteering, formal certification, and employment.
Mission Statement: The Society of Applied Spectroscopy Early Career Interest Group (SAS-ECIG) aims to support the professional development of early career scientists through award schemes, as well as opportunities in leadership, outreach, networking, mentorship, volunteering, formal certification, and employment.
The primary objectives of SAS-ECIG are to:
Committee Members: Fay Nicolson (founding chair), Andrew Whitley, Beauty Chabuka, Anthony Stender, Heather Juzwa, Sam Mabbott, and Will Skinner. 2024 SAS Early Career Travel Grant Recipients Name: Yeran Bai Affiliation: University of Arizona, Wyant College of Optical Sciences Dr. Yeran Bai will join the Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor in January 2025. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and enhanced her expertise with postdoctoral work at Boston University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her graduate and postdoc studies, she focused on the development and application of photothermal infrared imaging. Dr. Bai's current and future research interests lie in biomedical optics, particularly in developing advanced vibrational spectroscopic imaging techniques for biomedical applications. She has significantly improved mid-infrared photothermal microscopy imaging in terms of resolution, speed, and specificity, and has applied these advancements to study various biomedical questions, from microbial responses to drugs to metabolic changes in neurological disorders. Title of SciX talk: Exploring Metabolism: Advanced Insights from Photothermal Infrared Microscopy in Biomedical Research Abstract: Understanding metabolic processes is crucial for unraveling intricate biological systems. Investigating these processes provides key insights into cellular functions and their dysregulation across various pathologies. Optical imaging techniques, recognized for their superior resolution and specificity, have significantly advanced this field. Among these, vibrational spectroscopic imaging, particularly mid-infrared photothermal (MIP) imaging, stands out as a powerful tool. This label-free technique captures inherent chemical bond vibrations and utilizes photothermal effects induced by mid-infrared (IR) absorption with a visible beam, thus enhancing spatial resolution in far-field mid-IR imaging. It enables sub-micrometer and depth-resolved visualization of living cells and entire organisms. In this presentation, I will discuss the recent advancements in MIP technology, with a particular emphasis on its application to metabolic research. I will highlight our studies in areas such as microbiology, stem cell research, and neurodegeneration, demonstrating the transformative potential of MIP technology in paving new paths for groundbreaking discoveries in metabolic research.
Name: Jay Kitt
Affiliation: University of Utah Jay P. Kitt, is Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah in the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Kitt received his BS (2012) and PhD (2016) in chemistry from the University of Utah, where he was awarded an NSF-IGERT Research Fellowship, receiving interdisciplinary research training in nanoscience. He recently completed his MS in Biomedical Informatics, where his research and educational pursuits were supported by an NIH-NLM Postdoctoral Fellowship. His research interests include the use of big data techniques and multivariate analysis for translational research in medical informatics and for analysis of vibrational spectroscopy data in interfacial chemistry. Dr. Kitt has been recognized internationally for his research by the Coblentz Society with their Graduate Student Award and by the Society for Applied Spectroscopy with the Barbara Stull Graduate Student Award. And for service to the SAS with the Presidential Service Award. At the University of Utah, he was honored with the Cheves T. Walling Award for his dissertation research and with the W.W. Epstein Outstanding Educator Award for his teaching. Dr. Kitt has authored or co-authored 28 peer-reviewed publications, presented or co-authored more than 75 talks and posters at scientific meetings, and presented 14 invited talks and seminars. He is an active participant in the broader scientific community, as a Parliamentarian and Publications Committee member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, as a reviewer for 8 scientific journals, as a poster judge at the SciX analytical chemistry conference, and as a regular judge for local school science fairs. Title of SciX talk: Self-Modeling Curve Resolution Analysis of Raman Spectra from Mixed Deuterated and Protiated Phospholipid Membranes Reveals Isotopically-Segregated Lipid Domains Abstract: Deuterated phospholipids are often employed as “non-perturbing” probes of phospholipid membrane structure in vibrational spectroscopy, allowing resolution of frequency-shifted vibrational modes of deuterated phospholipids in mixed-phospholipid membranes. Calorimetry of deuterated-phospholipid vesicles has shown lower-temperature melting transitions and reduced cooperative melting, in deuterated lipids. A study combining infrared spectroscopy and molecular-dynamics simulations shows evidence that incorporation of deuterated phospholipids into protiated lipid membranes induces phase-segregation, where two distinct melting transitions occur in calorimetric thermograms. In the current work, phase segregation in individual, mixed deuterated and protiated lipid vesicles is investigated by Raman microscopy. Raman spectra of mixed-lipid vesicles, collected as a function of deuterated-lipid fraction, were examined by self-modeling curve resolution, allowing model-free resolution of spectral vectors and corresponding temperature-dependent composition profiles. The resulting spectral vectors point to microdomain formation in the membrane, indicated by Raman modes in CH- and CD-stretching regions. As the CD/CH composition is varied, domain size increases linearly with deuterated lipid fraction. Deuterated and non-deuterated lipid segregation allows short-range vibrational coupling within pure-lipid domains. To study the impact of dipolar coupling on lipid-domain structure, mixed-lipid vesicles were monitored as a function of temperature. Two distinct melting transitions are observed, and the melting-transition-temperature of each lipid is shifted from that of a pure sample. Interestingly, dipolar coupling is observed in each lipid type until completion of the phase transition, suggesting that coupling between neighboring phospholipids may contribute to phase-separation during the transition. These results question the assumption that deuterated phospholipids are non-perturbing and suggest caution using deuterated phospholipids in membrane research.
Past Webinars
Thursday February 24 2022 at 11 am EST Event Overview: Are you wondering what career path to pursue once you finish your studies? Or considering switching from the path you have followed so far? Or just wondering what it’s like to work in different types of institutions or roles? Then this webinar is for you! The SAS Early Career Interest Group has gathered spectroscopists that represent a wide variety of different career trajectories to discuss their own personal career paths and experiences. This webinar includes spectroscopists representing careers in academia and government institutions, industry, including multi-national corporations, clinical trials management, business development, biotechnology, science communication, sales, and working abroad. Speakers will give a 5-7 minute presentation detailing their career so far followed by a panel discussion, and attendees will be able to pose questions to any of the panelists. Key Learning Objectives:
Who Should Attend:
For any questions please contact Preranna Singh: [email protected]
Past events:
Event Overview: Proactive Mentorship and Networking: This webinar will focus on informing attendees on how to grow and self-manage their professional network, and as well as manage mentor relationships. Attendees will review mentorship do’s and don’ts for effective mentor-mentee relationship and how to find and connect with a mentor through meaningful networking strategies. Attendees will also learn how to be proactive in managing relationships and mentorships in order to benefit their professional career development. Registration is free and open to anyone: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3361171/907A30010BDB5F689033CB1D404A2D22?partnerref=SAS
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