Dr. Wei awarded for transformational work in the field of bio-imaging
MELVILLE, N.Y., March 17, 2024 — AIP Publishing is honored to announce the Journal of Chemical Physics (JCP) and APS Division of Chemical Physics (DCP) have named Dr. Lu Wei the recipient of the 2024 JCP-DCP Future of Chemical Physics Lectureship.
Dr. Wei, an assistant professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, received her B.S. in Chemistry from China’s Nanjing University in 2010 before obtaining her Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry from Columbia University in 2015 working alongside the decorated Prof. Wei Min. She continued her postdoctoral training at Columbia before joining the California Institute of Technology in 2018.
Dr. Wei’s work is focused on the development of next-generation functional optical microscopy techniques using advanced vibrational spectroscopy strategies to address emergent key challenges in the field of bio-imaging. Her laboratory seeks to visualize dynamic subcellular processes with high molecular precision and super-revolved spatial and temporal resolution at the ultimate single molecule sensitivity — and, through those approaches, provide important new insights into subcellular metabolism, protein aggregation, local cellular electrostatic environments, and the fundamental behaviors of molecular vibrations.
The work has potential applications in cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease research, and Dr. Wei considers the JCP-DCP Future of Chemical Physics Lectureship a sign to continue expanding the scope of our understanding.
“This award means a lot to me,” said Dr. Wei. “It is a tremendous honor for me and my team — and truly a testament for our work. This recognition only makes us more excited to push the boundaries of our research further.”
The JCP-DCP Future of Chemical Physics Lectureship selection committee consists of DCP representatives, JCP associate editors, and members of the JCP Editorial Advisory Board. Recipients are invited to speak in the DCP Award Session at the upcoming APS March Meeting. They also receive a $2,000 travel stipend, as well as an invitation to submit a perspective, tutorial, or review to JCP.
According to Dr. Wei, her team will not be resting on their laurels. They’re in the process of pushing their investigations further to uncover fundamental regulations of live subcellular biology.
“We’re going to achieve this through the synergistic efforts of designing new experiments to extract functional information from the measurements, developing more sensitive reporter molecules, designing effective labeling strategies, and upgrading our microscope instrumentation,” she said.
About the JCP-DCP Future of Chemical Physics Lectureship
The JCP-DCP Future of Chemical Physics Lectureship recognizes early career scientists paving the path forward in the areas of chemical physics and physical chemistry. The recipient of this annual lectureship is invited to give a talk at the Division of Chemical Physics (DCP) Award Session at the APS March Meeting and receives a 2,000 USD travel stipend, as well as an invitation to submit a perspective, tutorial, or review to JCP.
About the APS Division of Chemical Physics
The Division of Chemical Physics advances the understanding of subjects of chemical interest whose development depends strongly on modern physical theories or techniques. Join DCP or learn of upcoming events and awards here: https://engage.aps.org/dcp/home.
About The Journal of Chemical Physics
The Journal of Chemical Physics is an international journal that publishes cutting edge research in all areas of modern physical chemistry and chemical physics.
About AIP Publishing
AIP Publishing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). AIP Publishing’s mission is to support the charitable, scientific, and educational purposes of AIP through scholarly publishing activities in the fields of the physical and related sciences on its own behalf and on behalf of our publishing partners to help them proactively advance their missions.
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Contact:
Rob Press, Communications Manager
rpress@aip.org