معرفی
Professor Susan Quinn is a distinguished academic at University College Dublin's School of Chemistry, where she has been a tenured faculty member since 2012. Her research focuses on the intersection of photochemistry, DNA interactions, and nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on understanding light-activated processes that influence DNA integrity. She leads the Quinn Research Group, which investigates both direct UV-light excitation damage to DNA and indirect damage caused by photoexcited molecules and nanoparticles bound to DNA.
Her research interests span DNA photochemistry, time-resolved spectroscopy across femtosecond to microsecond timescales, nanoparticle design for DNA imaging, and development of novel methods to characterize binding interactions with DNA. Quinn's work has significant implications for photodynamic therapy and medical applications. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on G-quadruplex DNA structures, chiral resolution of transition metal complexes, and sustainable nanomaterials derived from waste products.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications shows a consistent pattern of interdisciplinary research bridging chemistry, biochemistry, and nanotechnology. Her work frequently employs time-resolved infrared spectroscopy to study DNA interactions with metal complexes, with growing interest in biomedical applications of carbon-based nanomaterials. Recent publications demonstrate increasing collaboration with biomedical researchers for applications in cancer therapy, osteoarthritis treatment, and environmental monitoring.
- RSC Rita and John Cornforth Award (2016) for structural work on DNA-transition metal complexes and proof of the origins of the 'light-switch' effect
Professor Quinn has supervised numerous PhD and undergraduate students through their research projects, with many publications resulting from these collaborations. Her group has secured significant research funding including the SUGARCOAT project (2023-2024) focused on smart carbohydrate-based materials for medical device coatings. The Quinn Research Group maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines to develop new methods for observing and understanding DNA in living cells, with potential applications in drug discovery and medical diagnostics.
