Petr Šulc, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences and the Biodesign Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, has recently earned a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.

Šulc's lab is highly interdisciplinary and applies broadly the methods of statistical physics and computational modeling to problems in chemistry, biology and nanotechnology. The group develops new multiscale models to study interactions between biomolecules, particularly in the context of design and simulations of DNA and RNA nanostructures and devices. Petr Šulc is an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences and the Biodesign Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics. Photo courtesy ASU Download Full Image

“This research award will allow our lab to expand the scope of systems that we study and allow us to design a new class of nanodevices and nanomaterials that incorporate DNA, RNA and proteins, as well as other molecules,” explained Šulc. “Just as complex machines in our everyday use — planes, cars and chips in electronics — require sophisticated computer-aided design tools to make sure they perform a desired function, there is a pressing need to have access to such methods in the molecular sciences.”

Professor Tijana Rajh, director of the School of Molecular Sciences, said, “Petr Šulc and his group are doing extremely innovative molecular science, using the methods of computational chemistry and physics to study DNA and RNA molecules in the context of biology as well as nanotechnology. Our younger faculty members in the School of Molecular Sciences have an extraordinary record of achievement, and Professor Šulc is an exemplar in this regard.”

The prestigious CAREER program supports the early career development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the mission of their organization. It provides five-year research grants to each recipient.

Bio-nanotechnology

DNA and RNA are the basic molecules of life. They fulfill many functions, including information storage and information transfer in living cells. They also have promising applications in the field of nanotechnology where designed DNA and RNA strands are used to assemble nanoscale structures and devices. As Šulc explains, “It is a little bit like playing with Lego blocks except that each Lego block is only a few nanometers (a millionth of a millimeter) in size, and instead of putting each block into the place where it should go, you put them inside a box and shake it randomly until only the desired structure comes out.”

This process is called self-assembly, and Šulc and his colleagues use computational modeling and design software to come up with the building blocks that reliably assemble into the shape one wants at nanoscale resolution.

“The promising applications of this field include diagnostics, therapeutics and building of new materials,” says Šulc. “My lab has developed the software to design these blocks, and we work closely with experimental groups at ASU as well as other universities in the U.S. and Europe. “

They are also interested in the application of machine learning methods to biological sequence ensembles and use neural networks to design DNA or RNA sequences that will specifically bind to a target protein of interest, such as the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

The challenges

Computer-aided design software is often used in our macroscale world to design computer chips, cars and planes so that the device operation can initially be tested and optimized in simulation. Construction at the nanoscale, however, presents multiple challenges. As opposed to our macroworld, nanostructures are typically obtained by self-assembly, where individual components randomly diffuse until they meet and assemble into a target structure.

In order to obtain more complex structures that will self-assemble in high yields, there is a need for a new simulation framework that can efficiently and, at the same time, accurately represent the assembly and function of the nanostructures.

Šulc’s lab will develop a new modeling framework that is capable of simulating self-assembled DNA nanostructures. 

The research team will use this new framework to optimize nanostructure assembly for high yield and computationally design new types of reconfigurable nanostructures. Next, the team will extend the modeling platform to allow for the incorporation of other organic/inorganic molecules and materials.

Overall, this award will facilitate the creation of new nanodevices capable of performing complex tasks that would be difficult to realize experimentally without a sophisticated modeling platform. It will bring the field closer to large-scale industrial applications.

To realize the education component of the project, Šulc’s lab will develop new learning opportunities for university students and the general public. The main effort will involve developing an online citizen-science platform, where users can use the simulation platform to design and optimize structures themselves, enabling crowdsourcing of nanotechnology designs.

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University ranks 15th overall for best online engineering graduate programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. 

The recently released rankings for 2023 reflect the Fulton Schools’ sustained leadership in engineering education across a range of fields, particularly through its online and remote-learning modalities. The No. 15 spot puts the Fulton Schools ahead of the University of Maryland — College Park, Cornell University and Virginia Tech.   U.S. News ranks No. 15 overall for best online engineering programs with three ASU online engineering specialties among the top 10 in the nation. These rankings reflect the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering’s sustained leadership in engineering education. Download Full Image

“Our students — no matter their geographic location — have access to the faculty, resources and comprehensive programs that make (Fulton Schools) a top choice for learners who want skills and knowledge that lead to a successful career,” says Kyle Squires, dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and ASU’s vice provost of engineering, computing and technology. “The U.S. News results are an external measure of what our students get to experience every day owing to our faculty’s deep commitment to excellence for both in-person and remote learners.”

Internet-based learning technologies are key to enabling students from more than 156 countries to take advantage of the Fulton Schools’ high-quality programming, innovative coursework and adaptive learning environments. ASU Online learners engage with the same award-winning faculty as in-person students and have access to the resources and curriculum that meet the demands of individual, societal and industry needs.

The Fulton Schools of Engineering earned top 10 rankings in three key specialty areas:

• No. 2 in electrical engineering, ahead of Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. The online delivery of ASU’s electrical engineering master’s degree program achieved a top two ranking for the third consecutive year. Through the program, students gain advanced and specialized training in a variety of in-demand subject areas such as circuit theory, microelectronics, semiconductor technology, nanostructures and energy systems. 

• No. 3 in engineering management, ahead of the University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, Texas A&M University — College Station and UCLA. Through a unique combination of analytical skills, leadership and technical engineering expertise, remote learners in the engineering management program gain the skills to lead engineering and technical projects.

• No. 6 in industrial engineering, ahead of Cornell University, Texas A&M University – College Station and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Industrial engineering online students learn to create solutions that meet the needs of rapid globalization and technological innovation by synthesizing insights from the physical, mathematical and social sciences to design efficient systems. These skills allow graduates to explore and design efficient manufacturing and service environments.

Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College reached another historical high this year as its online master’s degree programs climbed the rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Graduate Education Programs. 

Overall, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College ranked No. 7 — ahead of Michigan State University, University of Kansas and Ohio State University — and three programs ranked in the top two. The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College on the Tempe campus. Download Full Image

Meredith Toth, assistant dean for digital learning at the college, noted that the excellence of the college’s programs “extends not only to curriculum but also to student support. We've put a lot of effort into making the same outstanding student support services our campus-based students receive available to all our online students." 

Two of the college’s online education programs ranked No. 1, while one came in at No. 2.  

• The Master of Education in educational leadership (principalship) is ranked No. 1 among Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision Programs, ahead of Michigan State University, the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin.
• The Master of Education in learning design and technologies is ranked No. 1 among Best Online Master’s in Educational Instruction and Media Design Programs, ahead of the University of Florida, Michigan State University and the University of Virginia.
• Early childhood education and gifted education helped Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College to the No. 2 ranking among Best Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction Programs, ahead of Ohio State University, the University of Florida and the University of Wisconsin.

In addition, the college’s programs in autism spectrum disorders and applied behavior analysis received a No. 11 ranking among Online Master’s in Special Education Programs, tied with the University of Virginia, the University of Kentucky and George Mason University.

Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College also ranked No. 7 for Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for Veterans, ahead of Florida State University, North Carolina State and the University of Kansas.

MORE: US News ranks ASU among best in nation for online programs  

Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College offers its graduate-level teacher preparation programs in two online formats. Arizona residents can choose between either the asynchronous format delivered via ASU Online or a synchronous format via ASU Sync. Students who reside outside Arizona can take classes asynchronously. In both modalities, students complete professional residencies in person in schools near where they live.

“We are committed to making the excellence and quality of our graduate programs available to as many people as possible,” said Dean Carole Basile.

Written by Anna Cearley-Rivas

The online master’s degree program offered by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University continues for a ninth consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 10 such courses of study, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings. The online Master of Arts degree program earned a No. 6 ranking for 2023 in a tie with Michigan State University and the University of New Haven.

ASU’s No. 6 ranking is higher than those of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Nebraska — Omaha and the University of Southern California. The online master’s degree program offered by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University continues for a ninth consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 10 such courses of study, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings. Download Full Image

In addition, the online master’s degree program rose to No. 4 from No. 5 in 2022 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice for Veterans category, ahead of the University of Nebraska — Omaha, Boston University and the University of Southern California.

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions Dean and President’s Professor Cynthia Lietz said the school’s continued top-level rankings confirm its history of offering high-quality programs online.

“These recent rankings, focused specifically on the master’s degree in criminal justice, speak to the quality of this online program that is accessible to students far beyond Arizona,” Lietz said. “To know that the program is of particular benefit to veterans speaks to our shared commitment to public service. Congratulations to our faculty, staff and students, whose work is being recognized in this way.”

MORE: US News ranks ASU among best in nation for online programs

Watts Endowed Professor for Public Safety Beth Huebner, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said the school has taken great care to ensure that its online graduate programs meet the needs of the ever-changing workforce.

“We continue to innovate and enhance our course offerings to meet the needs of current and emerging leaders in the criminal justice field,” Huebner said. “We are particularly honored by our recognition as a leader in the higher-education space for veterans, and we hope to continue to support this group of people who are dedicated to public service.”

Most of the online graduate program’s more than 200 currently enrolled students are criminal justice professionals who seek an advanced degree to improve their career potential.