A University of Houston (UH) chemist who is developing materials for detecting and
repelling E. coli has published papers in two high-impact journals this month.
Rigoberto “Gobet” Advincula, a polymer chemist, says he and his colleagues have developed
two different materials that are both equally effective against E. coli. He discusses
the findings in the June issues of Chemical Communications (ChemComm) and Chemistry
of Materials.
The ChemComm paper, Advincula says, describes a graphene material that is proving
to be an effective antimicrobial, while the research appearing in the journal Chemistry
of Materials uses a conducting polymer that can repel E. coli. He says his team has
created a smart film that not only can be used to turn bacterial adhesion on and off,
but also may be used for detecting bacteria. The work was done in collaboration with
Debora Rodrigues and her group from UH’s department of civil and environmental engineering.
Additionally, Advincula was recently inducted as a fellow of the American Chemical
Society (ACS), as well as being named a fellow in two of its technical divisions –
the Polymer Chemistry Division and the Polymer Materials Science and Engineering Division.
The ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources
of authoritative scientific information. Achieving fellow status is a competitive
process, based on research, contribution and service accomplishments to science and
society.
“It is a rare distinction to become a triple fellow with the ACS, which has more than
163,000 members,” Advincula said. “With only one out of every 1,000 members qualifying
for selection as a fellow, I am extremely honored to achieve this trifecta for my
work in advancing polymer and nanomaterial research and applications.”
He asserts that much of this is really a tribute to his research group at UH, saying
that his discovery-driven laboratory provides an environment that allows for readily
filing patents, authoring publications and mentoring future scholars and inventors.
He says the joy of working with students and budding scientists and engineers is reflected
in his record of mentoring, with nearly 20 Ph.D. students, 50 undergraduates and dozens
of high school students coming through his lab over the years.
“It is an extraordinary achievement to be named a fellow of the ACS and two ACS divisions,”
said David Hoffman, professor and chair of the chemistry department in the College
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at UH. “The honors are a reflection of the respect
Gobet’s colleagues have for him personally and for his scientific work.”
In addition to his lab research, Advincula has been active in ACS, giving hundreds
of presentations, organizing symposia and serving on the editorial advisory board
of several scientific journals. He has nine U.S. patents and has authored more than
300 papers. Advincula, who is both a professor of chemistry and chemical engineering,
has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation, Robert A. Welch Foundation
and several companies interested in the applications of his work.
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Editorial Note: High-resolution photos of Gobet Advincula are available to media by
contacting Lisa Merkl.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university
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About the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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