header
Terentis Research Group, Summer 2019 (L to R): Venkata, Kendrick, Jesse, Andreus, Tim, Kim, Dr. Terentis

Dr. Andrew Terentis Raman Spectroscopy (RS) Laboratory

The main emphasis of our research group is on applications of RS and other optical spectroscopic techniques to determine the characteristics of biological systems. The systems that we study include cell-penetrating peptides, oligonucleotides, enzymes, carbon nanomaterials, cancer cells, and skin cancer tissue. The group collaborates with numerous other research groups across FAU and around the world. The RS lab is well equipped with two Raman spectrometers. The first is the Horiba LabRam HR-800, equipped with an Olympus IX71 inverted microscope and scanning stage for performing imaging and live cell studies, and a home-built macro-sampling system for solution studies. The system is coupled to Ar/Kr ion and diode lasers covering the deep blue to near-IR wavelengths range. The second system is the Horiba XploRa, equipped with Olympus BX51 upright microscope with scanning stage and visible and near-IR lasers. The RS lab is also equipped with a full cell culture facility, a UV-visible spectrophotometer, and an inverted fluorescence microscope. We also have full access to all of the core facilities of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at FAU. Our research utilizes a range of RS approaches, including normal, surface-enhanced Raman, and resonance Raman, as well as fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption, FTIR, and circular dichroism. We also utilize modern molecular biology techniques in our research to transfect mammalian cells and to overexpress proteins. To complement our experiments, we perform quantum mechanics (QM) calculations on FAU’s high-performance computing cluster, Koko, and utilize machine learning computational approaches to interpret large and complex RS data sets while developing models for cancer detection. Four doctoral and one master’s student have earned their degrees working in the RS lab. There are many opportunities in the RS laboratory for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in leading edge research.