HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 27, 2011 – Jason H. Hafner applies tools from chemistry and physics to study biological systems.  Among his breakthroughs:  discovering a new type of nanostructure, gold nanostars, which are proving useful for sensing, imaging and medicine, and developing a means to measure, for the first time, a large electrical field inside cell membranes.  For his innovative approach to basic research, the associate professor at Rice University is being honored as this year's "rising star" with The Welch Foundation's Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research.

            "Dr. Hafner is known for approaching questions from unusual angles," said Ernest H. Cockrell, chair of The Welch Foundation.  "His creative thinking, careful experiments and willingness to tap into research tools from a variety of disciplines have led to breakthroughs in several areas and epitomize the type of scientist this award was created to recognize." 

            “I've always known I wanted to be a scientist; nothing gets me more excited than figuring out how things work," Dr. Hafner said.  "To be recognized for doing what I love - especially with an award named after Norman Hackerman, a man who gave so much to science - is a very special honor."  He will be presented the award today at a luncheon where he will receive $100,000 and a glass sculpture commemorating the award.

            As a graduate student, Dr. Hafner worked with Nobel laureate Richard Smalley at Rice in the early days of nanotechnology and there began developing his interest in applying nanomaterials and nanoscale tools to study biological systems. 

            Half physicist and half chemist, the Rice professor studies how to modify the surface chemistry of metal nanoparticles to affect how they grow and how they interact with living cells.  This is important since the resulting size and shape of the nanoparticles determine their optical properties.  In this process, he created gold nanostars, a complex new structure whose many elongated points absorb and scatter light at varying wavelengths.  He has mapped the optical properties of the stars and how they may be used for imaging (by scattering light) and sensing (by tracking changes in optical properties caused by the environment).  The gold nanostars also are expected to have important therapeutic applications.  For example, Dr. Hafner collaborates with Rice colleague Dmitri Lapotko who uses lasers to create nanobubbles from the nanostars that can pinpoint and kill individual cancer cells.

            On the analytical front, he is using the tip of an atomic force microscope to detect the large electrical field inside lipid membranes, where most of the cell's work is done.  Created by molecular dipoles, this membrane property is thought to be important, but its biological role is largely unexplored since it is difficult to measure.  Dr. Hafner has mapped the spatial variation of the dipole moment of membranes, and is now trying to see how that membrane parameter may affect the interactions os small biomolecules with the membrane.  In a related effort, he also hopes to develop a more traditional optical method to measure the dipole moment so that it may be more broadly studied.

             Other analytical research involves applying his expertise with nanomaterials, surface chemistry and optics to make Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) a more reliable and quantitative tool.

             "Jason is an example of the best of today's researchers - those men and women who work across disciplinary boundaries to pursue interesting problems, using persistence, thoughtfully designed experiments, smart thinking and an open mind to find the answers," noted James L. Kinsey, chair of the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board.  "He also gives back to science beyond his own research as an inspiring teacher and mentor to the next generations of scientists."

             The Texas native grew up south of Dallas and earned a undergraduate degree in physics at Trinity University.  After graduate school at Rice, he completed postdoctoral work at Harvard University before returning to Rice as a faculty member. 

            A dedicated teacher, Dr. Hafner is known for the creative classroom demonstrations that bring science alive for his students.  He is married to pediatrician Jennifer Trotter and father to George, 9, and Henry, 7.