Faculty Profile
Name: Alex Angerhofer
Homepage: http://web.chem.ufl.edu/people/faculty/contact.php?id=56
Research Interests:
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) as applied to problems in biology, medicine, and materials research.
Currently we are working on the following projects:
1) Elucidating the enzymatic mechanism of bacterial oxalate decarboxylase,
2) Investigating the free radical reactions by which uric acid is oxidized and degraded in the human body.
3) Study of the interactions between titanium nanoparticles and hydrogen with potential applications in new hydrogen storage materials.
4) Localization of manganese ion dopants in CdS/ZnS core-shell nanoparticles with potential applications in improving their luminescent properties.
5) Use of hydrogen atoms encapsulated in silica nanoparticles as high-field EPR standards.

Current Running Projects:
Medical - Magnetic Field Effects on Uric Acid Metabolism
This project will test the hypothesis that radical reactions involving uric acid are responsible for cellular disfunction. Adipocytes (fat cells)will be grown in a magnetic field with various levels of uric acid in the growth medium. Control cells will be grown without a magnetic field. Since radical reactions are sensitive to an externally applied magnetic field the cells will react differently if uric acid decays via a radical pathway.

Requirements: General Chemistry and General Physics courses (and lab classes) should be completed.

Time Commitment: 1/2 - 1 day/week
Independent Study: Not Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Not Available
Volunteer: Available
[Hide Details]