Derrick J. Swinton, Ph.D. Associate Professor/Associate Director LEAPS ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY OFFICE: 109 Grimm Hall LAB: 108 Grimm Hall PHONE: (484) 365-7470 E-MAIL: dswinton@lincoln.edu   EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC HISTORY: B.S. Lincoln University (1990)  Ph.D. University of Delaware (2001)  AWARDS: Glenn S. Skinner Memorial Prize in Chemistry (2001) Theodore Wolf Prize for Outstanding Dissertation (2002) Publications

Research Interests:

There are many studies reporting on the mechanisms by which biomolecules adsorb at chemical interfaces. These studies report on ways to reduce and possibly eliminate non-specific adsorption by chemically modifying the substrate with organic molecules. Although these studies have been successful, a unifying model or theory explaining this phenomenon has not been reported. Also, very few projects have reported on how adsorption to the surface influences the structure and dynamics of adsorbed biomolecules.  To date, very limited experimental and quantitative data is available that discusses this phenomenon. Thus there is a need to investigate the mechanisms of adsorption of biomolecules at chemical interfaces. Also, an investigation into whether or not adsorption to the surface influences the structure and dynamics of adsorbed biomolecules is needed. My research uses single-molecule spectroscopy to study these phenomena. My goal is to develop a model to quantitatively report on the interactions of proteins and their structural dynamics while adsorbed at chemical interfaces.

Research Lab: Single Molecule Spectroscopy and Microscopy Equipment