Dr. Del Lucent

Dr. Lucent is a Biophysics 研究er, who recently joined the Division of Engineering and 理论物理ics, as an Assistant Professor in 理论物理ics and Bioengineering. He specializes in the rational design of enzymes using computational techniques. He has used these enzymes for bioremediation efforts including detoxification of pesticides believed to be responsible for bee colony collapse. He conducted his research in Australia’s national laboratory, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial 研究 Organization) in Melbourne, Australia, for the past three years prior to joining our Division.

Wilkes students will benefit from Dr. Lucent’s other excellent research experience stemming from his Ph.D. studies at Stanford University analyzing the forces and mechanisms activating the self-assembly process of protein folding. His research is critical for opening pathways to the understanding, preventing, and curing of Alzheimer’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Parkinson’s and other diseases caused by faulty protein folding.

Dr. Lucent’s addition to our Division brings our students access to Stanford University’s “folding at home” computer network, (folding.斯坦福大学.edu), allowing students to engage in hands-on, computational-simulations and cutting-edge research with other scientists worldwide, a capability unavailable at most other engineering schools, especially at an undergraduate level.

Dr. Lucent will be joining Wilkes’ physics professor, Dr. Walter Placek, to spearhead the Division’s new B.A. in 理论物理ics degree, launching this semester. The degree will be offered along with a minor in education in order to fill the need for high school physics teachers. His goal is to implement a program that has the flexibility to allow students to pursue interdisciplinary physics research at the undergraduate level. He will also be an instructor in the M.A. Bioengineering program.

1. Lucent D, Vishal V, Pande VS: Protein folding under confinement: a role for solvent. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2007, 104:10430-10434.
2. England J, Lucent D, Pande VS: A role for confined water in chaperonin function. J Am Chem Soc. 2008 130(36):11838-9
3. Lucent D, England J, Pande VS: Inside the chaperonin toolbox:theoretical and computational models for chaperonin mechanism. 理论物理. 医学杂志. 2009 6(1):15003.
4. Lucent D, Snow C, Aitken C, Pande VS: Solvent dynamics in the ribosome exit tunnel. PLoS Comp. 医学杂志. 2010 6(10):e1000963.

• “Simulations of protein folding using distributed computing” Wilkes University 2005 (Invited talk)
• “Protein folding under confinement: a new role for solvent?” UCSF, Dill group 2006 (Invited talk)
• "That’s not a moon, it’s a macromolecule! Studying solvent dynamics in the ribosome exit tunnel” Stanford University Department of Structural 生物学 Annual Retreat 2008 (Invited Talk)
• “Computational enzyme design: Computers and pipettes united for a common cause!” Protein Expression Workshop CSIRO 2011 (Invited Talk)

• 1999-2003 Undergraduate 研究. Advisor: William Terzaghi, Wilkes University Dept. 生物学
• 2002-2003 Undergraduate 研究, Advisor: John Orehotsky, Wilkes University Dept. of 理论物理ics and Engineering
• 2004 – 2009 Graduate 研究, Advisor: Vijay Pande, Stanford University Dept. of Chemistry, Dept. of Structural 生物学
• 2010 – 2012 OCE Postdoctoral Fellow, Advisor: Tom Peat, CSIRO MSE, Parkville, Biophysics 集团

• American Society of Plant 医学杂志ogists Undergraduate 研究 Fellowship (2001)
• Outstanding 生物学 Graduate (2003)
• Outstanding Student 研究er (2003)
• Outstanding Graduate in the School of Humanities and Sciences (2003)
• Magna cum laude, Wilkes University
• Office of the Chief Executive Post Doctoral Fellowship (2009)