Episode #14 Accelerating the Discovery of Abiotic Vesicles

In this episode, host Tan Deleon is joined by Sarah Maurer, professor of chemistry at Central Connecticut State University, to share insights into the work she is doing on the origins of life, why the public should be aware of abiotic vesicles, how artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated the discovery and study of abiotic vesicles, and how Sarah knew she wanted to be a scientist while still in kindergarten (spoiler alert: Albert Einstein's hairstyle had something to do with it).

Guest & Host Biographies

Sarah Maurer

Sarah Maurer, CASE Podcast guestDr. Sarah Maurer uses liposomes to understand the origins of life both here on Earth and its possibilities elsewhere in the Universe. As a bioanalytical chemist, she combines traditional methods (LC-MS, fluorescence assays, etc.) with automation to understand aggregation behaviors of chemical mixtures that could serve as protocells. Her PhD was a travelling adventure. Officially from University of California, Santa Cruz, but most of the research was performed at both Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Southern Denmark, where she built a photocatalytic protocell that could grow and divide. Her post-doctoral experience in University of Akron’s Polymer Science Department allowed her to explore mineral-membrane interactions. Her current lab at Central Connecticut State University combines interdisciplinary research to generate protocell models that explore how composition is related to function in simple cell models.

 

Tanimu Deleon, Host

Tanimu Deleon, Host of CASE PodcastTanimu Deleon has a BS, and MS in Computer Engineering, and a PhD. in Biomedical Engineering.  Dr. Deleon has well over a decade of experience in research and development, information technology, submarine design & manufacturing, sustainable investments, and human factors. Dr. Deleon is a Principal Engineer and Technical Lead for Human Factors Engineering and Warfighter Performance at General Dynamics Electric Boat. In this capacity Deleon works across various disciplines to ensure the human element is factored into the boats design.