繊維学部研究紹介_英語版

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45Yoshinori NishiiAssociate ProfessorApplied Molecular ChemistryUtilizing organic chemistry to solve biological phenomena: Searching for biologically active substances and developing new reactions and medicinesDepartment of Chemistry and MaterialsI use organic chemistry as a surgeon's knife to delve into life and biological phenomena. For instance, my lab successfully synthesized a natural substance with antiviral and blood platelet coagulation-inhibiting properties (that is, we synthesized a substance that is identical to a natural substance in a flask). We have also synthesized biologically active substances such as antibacterial and bactericidal substances and pheromones.Associate Professor Nishii took his current position in 2007 after serving as a doctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh and participating in the Special Postdoctorate Research Program at RIKEN. His principal areas of research include organic chemistry for natural substances, organic synthetic chemistry, and organic reactions.Exciting potential applications made possible by examination at the molecular level include development of medications that learn from natural substances, development of medicinal treatments for previously untreatable diseases, treatments for crop diseases, capture of harmful organisms using pheromones, and control of valuable organisms through the use of pheromones.Outlook for researchMost graduates are employed by pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers. They are active in a wide range of research domains throughout society.Outlook for students after graduationMy lab has been successful in synthesizing several natural substances with antiviral and anti-HIV properties as well as blood platelet coagulation-inhibiting properties.OOOMeOMeOOOOOMeOMeOOMeOWe are conducting R&D work to create a bactericidal substance to help farmers deal with a disease that aects the trunks of pear and apple trees.We are also involved in research to uncover sh pheromones and explain their molecular structure and the relationship between structure and activity.Yasushi NomuraAssociate ProfessorApplied Molecular ChemistryUsing a computer to examine the properties of substances in a “dry lab,” thereby performing chemistry without experimentationDepartment of Chemistry and MaterialsI am examining numerous properties, including optical properties, without actually carrying out experiments by performing molecular computation based on quantum chemistry. This approach makes it possible to understand the true nature of those properties and to discover the roots of the properties of the substances one wishes to investigate. Currently, my lab is focusing its research primarily on carbon substances such as fullerenes.Associate Professor Nomura took his current position in 2005 after working in the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology at Shinshu University as an assistant professor. His area of focus is theoretical chemistry based on quantum chemistry. Recently, he has been researching the electronic properties of carbon materials such as fullerenes, the glow of certain organic molecules, and their quenching process.Currently, organic synthesis using molecular computation to predict reaction pathways has been addressed in the scientic literature. In this way, researchers expect that by calculating an ecient reaction in advance, it will be possible to carry out experiments without wasting test reagents or time.Outlook for researchWhile graduates pursue numerous career paths, many aim to become system engineers, teachers, or public ocials.Outlook for students after graduationThere are abundant electrons in the large red and blue areas of this molecular orbital model related to electron distribution for a certain fullerene.One subject my lab is investigating is carbon nanotubes.