Stefan Tsonchev, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Advisor
Office:
BBH 218E
Phone:
(773) 442-5573
Email:
s-tsonchev@neiu.edu
Office Hours:
FALL SABBATICAL
Country:
United States
CHEM 103, CHEM 311, CHEM 312
Research Interests
Professor Tsonchev鈥檚 current research is focused on self-assembly of biologically-active macromolecules such as peptide amphiphiles which assemble to form scaffolds intended for tissue regeneration. He is developing new mathematical models and algorithms to study the stability of such systems and to make possible their design based on certain desired characteristics of the final structures that they form. This work is done in collaboration with colleagues from Northwestern University and Loyola University. Another project on which he is working on involves imaging Bacteriophytochromes (Bphs) using scanning probe microscopy techniques. This project is done in collaboration with Ken Nicholson (Chemistry) and Emina Stojkovic (Biology) from NEIU. Their goal is to study the conformational changes between the light-adapted and dark-adapted states of the Bphs, which are used, for example, as light switches controlling the metabolism of bacteria. Professor Tsonchev has also done work on the statistical mechanics of polyelectrolytes and on polymer translocation through narrow pores. He has studied the dynamics of quantum dissipation and the quantum theory of confined systems.
Education
Columbia University | Ph.D. - Chemistry
Selected Publications
F. G. Tobias, A. Gawedzka, M. S. Goldmeier, A. C. Sakols, E. A. Stojkovic, S. Tsonchev, and K.T. Nicholson, 鈥淪canning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red-Light Photoreceptors鈥, MRS Online Proceedings Library, 2012, 1465, mrss12-1465-ss07. (doi:10.1557/opl.2012.1006)
J.W. Ciszek, L. Huang, S. Tsonchev, Y. Wang, K.R. Shull, G.C. Schatz, M.A. Ratner, and C. Mirkin, 鈥淎ssembly of Nanorods into Designer Superstructures: the Role of Templating, Capillary Forces, Adhesion, and Polymer Hydration,鈥 ACS Nano, 4, 259 (2010).
S. Tsonchev, K.L. Niece, G.C. Schatz, M.A. Ratner, and S.I. Stupp, 鈥淧hase Diagram for Assembly of Biologically-Active Peptide Amphiphiles,鈥 J. Phys. Chem. B, 112, 441 (2008).
S. Tsonchev, R.D. Coalson, A. Liu, and T.L. Beck, 鈥淔lexible Polyelectrolyte Simulations at the Poisson Boltzmann Level: A Comparison of the Kink-Jump and the Configurational Bias Monte Carlo Methods,鈥 J. Chem. Phys. 120, 9817 (2004).
S. Tsonchev, A. Troisi, G.C. Schatz, and M.A. Ratner, 鈥淎ll-Atom Numerical Studies of Zwitterionic Peptide Amphiphiles, J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 15278 (2004).
S. Tsonchev, G.C. Schatz, and M.A. Ratner, 鈥淓lectrostatically-Directed Self-Assembly of Cylindrical Peptide Amphiphile Nanostructures,鈥 J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 8817 (2004).
S. Tsonchev, A. Troisi, G.C. Schatzz, and M.A. Ratner, 鈥淥n the Structure and Stability of Self-Assembled Zwitterionic Peptide Amphiphiles: A Theoretical Study,鈥 Nano Lett 4, 427 (2004).
S. Tsonchev, G.C. Schatz, and M.A. Ratner, 鈥淪creened Multipole Electrostatic Interactions at the Debye-Hueckel Level,鈥 Chem. Phys. Lett. 400, 221 (2004).
Selected Exhibitions
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Fernando G. Tobias, Anna Gawedzka, Max S. Goldmeier, Alexandra C. Sakols, Sarah M. Vorpahl, Emina A. Stojkovic, Kenneth T. Nicholson, and Stefan Tsonchev, 鈥淪canning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red-Light Photoreceptors鈥, NEIU 3nd Annual Faculty Research & Creative Activities Symposium, November 2012
鈥Assembly of Nanorods into Designer Superstructures: the Role of Templating, Capillary Forces, Adhesion, and Polymer Hydration,鈥 2011 Central Regional Meeting of the ACS, Indianapolis, IN, June 2011
seminar at 秘密研究所s State University, Normal, IL, April, 2011
NEIU First Faculty Research Symposium, NEIU, November 2010
," in Carbondale, 秘密研究所s, May 2009
, 39th Midwest Theoretical Chemistry Conference, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, June 2007
Students from the group have presented at multiple venues, such as the SACNAS National and Regional Conferences, Conference in Chicago Heights, IL, February 2010, SCSE Summer Research Symposia at NEIU, Twentieth Annual 秘密研究所s Student Research Conference in Chicago, April 2009, at DePaul University in March, 2010, the Annual NEIU Student Research Symposia, and others.