Gold nanorods (NRs) attractive for biology Changing NR surface chemistry: Improves cell uptake

1. s s s s s s s s s s s s S S S S S S S S S Engineering nanorod surfacesKimberly Hamad-Schifferli, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DMR 0906838 NRs HaCatcells NRs in HaCat cells • Gold nanorods (NRs) attractive for biology • Changing NR surface chemistry: • Improves cell uptake • Reduces toxicity • NRs can be imaged in cells • In collaboration with AFRL • Lasers can heat NRs for photothermal applications • Changing NR surface chemistry: • Affects thermal dissipation MHDA NR-CTAB - - - - MUDA - - - - PEG5000 MHA PEG1000 - - - - PEG352

2. Increasing the Visibility of Women Faculty in Science & EngineeringKimberly Hamad-Schifferli, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DMR 0906838 • Women are underrepresented in academia in science and engineering • Issue of tenure coinciding with child-bearing years major factor • Outreach to inform women graduate students/postdocs considering academia and raising a family • Selected Topics: • Stopping the tenure clock for a maternity leave • Maintaining academic visibility as a mother • Child care situations • Work-life balance Tenure clock vs. Biological clock? • “Pursuing an Academic Career While Starting a Family: Work-Life Balance Issues”1st panel held January 2010 • Featuring a panel of professors: • Rebecca Carrier, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University. • Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli, Biological and Mechanical Engineering, MIT • Kristala Prather-Jones, Chemical Engineering, MIT • Annalisa Weigel, Aeronautical and Astronomical Engineering and Engineering Systems Division, MIT